Research into musical genres

Musical genres influencing Radiohead's 'Kid A'

Electronic music

Electronic music is a type of music making use of electronic musical instruments and technology in it's performance and production, examples of such instruments and technology mainly used in electronic music are the telharmonium, Hammond organ, electric guitar, Theremin, sound synthesizer, and certain softwares on the computer. Electronic music is an expanding style of music in this age, becoming increasingly popular with more and more artists, either in the experimental art music industry and popular music industry such as dance music.

Krautrock

This music genre is created from a mix of psychadelia, moody progressive rock, 20th century classical music along with free jazz of the 60's and 70's. The structure of Krautrock songs often stray from the conventional structure of standard rock music, driving the music to have a more electronic, mechanical structure. The reason the word 'rock' is part of the genre 'Krautrock' is mainly because of the rock energy shown by the music. The reason the music strayed from convention was because in the 1960's and 70's it was after the second world war and music was made for escapism, they rejected this culture to make their own innovative, experimental style.

Jazz

Jazz originated from many different genres coming out of African American communities in the United States, It originated from a mix of African American traditions and popular music traditions. It is characterized by it's use of blue notes, swung rhythms, swung notes, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation and call-response. Sub-genres of jazz are Dixieland style from the early 1910's, Big Band, Swing and Be-Bop from the 1930's and 40's. Free jazz and a variety of Latin Jazz fusion, such as Afro-Cuban jazz from the 1950's and 60's. Jazz fusion from the 1970's, acid jazz from the 1980's combining funk and hip-hop. Also Nu-Jazz from the 1990's and onwards.

Experimental Rock

Often also called 'avant-garde rock', this genre of music is a rock-based genre experimenting with the basic forms of the genre such as time-signatures, instrumental tuning, harmony, key signatures, compositional styles, lyrical techniques, conventions of the genre, singing styles, instrumental effects and instruments themselves. For example they may use their own custom-made instruments. The song 'Kid A' uses almost all of these techniques.

Alternative Rock

A broad term used for any rock music without the standard conventions of the genre, such as a loud distorted guitar sound. It is often a term given to an underground rock band when gaining mainstream recognition. The band often doesn't stick to the conventions of rock music, often writing their own independent songs with a D.I.Y. ethos, brought on by punk rock of the 1970's. These alternative rock bands are usually known to be signed to independent record labels also. Examples of successful Alternative rock bands are R.E.M., The Smiths, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Oasis, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Flaming Lips, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Weezer, The Strokes, The Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, Muse and The Black Keys.