Favorite Side Projects
 

I know I have always been really into side project bands. For one, it gives you a different look at an artist that you may or may not be familiar with. It gives artists a chance to explore different avenues in terms of their musical tastes or perhaps even a directional change in their career. In order to put some sort of boundary on this to avoid chaos - I'm going to use the wiki definition of side project to keep us in line here.

"Usually these projects emphasize a different aspect of that person's or that band's musical interests that they feel they cannot explore within the boundaries established by their main project. Side projects can later become full-time endeavours, but shouldn't be confused with quitting a band for a solo career or another band."

I am also going to include "Supergroups". This is your chance to surprise some people! Write up a review or a blurb on a favorite band of yours, highlight some qualities that would make them seem attractive as per usual. There is no limit on time period - you can do David Bowie's involvement in Tin Machine to Pinhead Gunpowder to The Traveling Wilburys to Temple of the Dog.


As you can tell from the lineup; the blues are strong with this one. Derek and the Dominos only released one album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs (an album appreciated by the MB community, it has been included in one of our prestigious lists, I believe). This was one of the first albums I had on vinyl. It was included in a huge box of albums that a friend's mom gave me. I I have since downloaded the album, and bought it in CD form - but nothing is quite like putting this album in my vintage record player and pretending like I can play the blues like these gents. The band was short lived, however, and due to problems with Clapton's mental stability (affected by the death of Hendrix, a close friend of Clapton) and, of course, the tragic death of Duane Allman.

Cream (the first supergroup)
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Plastic Ono Band
Gorillaz
Oysterhead
Temple of the Dog
Liquid Tension Experiment
Transatlantic

The Layla album is phenomenal. I hate Clapton, but his playing blends perfectly with Allman's.

My favorite side project is the Traveling Wilburys. I'm no fan of Harrison, Petty, or Lynne solo, but combined with Orbison and Dylan, they form an amazing pop group. Both albums are equally good, in my opinion. Vol. 3 is more of a split Tom Petty/Bob Dylan record than a group effort, but it's still fantastic.


I've heard good things about Electronic, but I've only heard a few samples. I'll have to check them out.

Arcturus - Simply amazing black/avant garde metal supergroup...They experimented quite a bit.

Liquid Tension Experiment - Dream Theater without vocals...More on the experimental side though(duh).

The Tangent - If you like the flower kings/VDGG you'll love them...very versatile modern prog band.

A Perfect Circle - Basically an extended version of tool...more on the ambient/industrial side.

Broken Social Scene - Indie rock, kinda post-rockish(whatever you want to label them as)

Bloodbath - Just a death metal super group...not many would like them i guess, but if you don't mind harsh vocals, then they can be quite a treat.

Demons & Wizards - Blind Guardian+Iced Earth...and they exactly do that.(not that hard to imagine what it would be if they combine)

Blotted Science - Progressive technical metal/Jazz fusion...Love them with the rest of their related acts, such as Spastic Ink/watchtower/Behold… the Arctopus.
The guy from cannibal corpse should focus more on this imo.

I'll do a bigger write up later.

YES! one of my favs....Mad Season is another favorite of mine.

Byrne and Eno for My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts.
Peter Murphy and Mick Karn...Dali's Car.
Raconteurs, if that counts.

Edit: Brilliant.

What's this Ghost Bush you speak of?

Ataxia is quite a nice side project... Frusciante (RHCP) on guitar/vocals, Lally (Fugazi) on bass and Klinghoffer on drums. Really cool minimalist type music.

And Botch/Minus the Bear is quite a nice coupling. :D

Elliott Smith easily.

I hate you.:bonkhead: