Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - The Donkey Headed Adversary of Humanity Opens The Discussion

[Suckassloser]

Anyone understand the symbolism of the adversary of humanity being donkey headed? Interested to hear interpretations.

[trooubermensch]

@Suckassloser There's no interpretation. The band stated back when this came out that it was a fictitious dialogue between two different facets of anti-humanist philosophy - the futurists/dadaism and the naturalists. This song is representative of the naturalists, but they're using the ideals of Ted Kaczynski (the "Unabomber") in this one to represent the naturalists.

[SariaSmiles]

They must of been on a) extreme drugs b) the biggest music rush ever writing.. this stuff is beyond nature... a mix of hard rock and world music... i just lost my musical virginity all over again....

[SouMelhorQueTu]

IN NOMINE DIE NOSTRI SATANAS LUCIFERI EXCELSI

[THEREALMOSH2]

@SouMelhorQueTu No :(

[Gordobier]

The most incredible thing to ever grace human consciousnessss!

[enoughtalkhaveatyou]

The dhaoh could also be seen (Though I know it's not the intended interpretation) as a personification of the natural processes that will be wrecking India, Bangladesh, et al in the next century or so. Everything, man, plant, and animal (Not just man. Antihumanism is lazy. If you think humanity must go extinct to save the Earth, by all means get a head start while the rest of us work on actual solutions) is ruinous to nature if it grows out of check. If you overstay your welcome, the ...

[enoughtalkhaveatyou]

@enoughtalkhaveatyou ... Earth will cast you off through the aforementioned natural processes (The donkey-headed adversary), famine, disease, etc. until you're once again living within your means.

Not to imply those forces are willful, of course.

[alfredthegr]

Now THIS is a band for me.

[rottenvenetic]

@cthulhu996 Apep is a better equivalent, esp. with greatmahoo's comments in mind, but also too specific.

[kingsmountainview]

@cthulhu996 I thought it was about Republicans the first time I heard it. But Satan, Republicans, same difference, right?

[greatmahoo]

@cthulhu996

Sort of. The Adversary in this case, is not adversarial towards god (who in this cosmology does not exist) but is a personification of antihumanist forces. Specifically, the line "I am not yours to invoke" is a statement, that such wrath cannot be called to do the bidding of man, since it is literally out to destroy humanity. It is the anger generated by the spoilage of the earth, which causes DHAoH to manifest.

I think the preceding track "hymn to the morningstar"...

[greatmahoo]

(cont.) Is a sort of misguided prayer by a bunch of idiot humans who think they can curry favor with something that wants to kill them.

It could also be the Unabomber, which this album seems to be sort-of-but-not-really about.

[greatmahoo]

Of course, I hadn't given much thought to any of this when I uploaded the track two years ago. I just liked the song, and it remains one of my favorites, because the more I look into/explore it, the more I find.

[THEMANOUTOFTHECAVE]

@greatmahoo There's also the opposing force of progress, in this case impersonified by futurists (at the end of Bring Back the Apocalypse there is a sample Filippo Tommaso Marinetti reciting one of his compositions). The whole concept of the album is mindblowing!

[greatmahoo]

@THEMANOUTOFTHECAVE

Indeed!

"The future sticks out it's tongue at the eyes of the gentle past."

@enoughtalkhaveatyou

I don't personally agree with the sentiments expressed by the band, firstly,. I'm merely offering my interpretation of the song within the scope of the album, rather than as a standalone track. Basically, it's the DHAoH speaking -to- humanity, opening the discussion with "I want you to die. I will now describe the mechanisms by which I will achieve this end."...

[greatmahoo]

@greatmahoo

Of course, we're all still here.

[MrAglassofwater]

im so bummed i couldnt see them live before they split up

[trimags]

wow very experimental/avante garde..i like very much

[MrDzoni955]

nice song

[ANTIanitmetalclub]

The description makes me feel good about myself. Thank you, greatmahoo.

[whatthemeh]

This may be my favourite song now

[BananaBobCheeseHat]

THIS SONG IMPROVES MY CHESS SKILLS 100%!!

[ATGODZ]

Hooray for the Experimental Movement. These guys, Bungle and Estradasphere RULE!!!!

[evangelos94]

5:34 AND ON MAN!!!

[Nycthemeral]

Even now in this, our finest hour, I feel the hate from every stone, tree and flower

[paquitolaborde]

So sad they broke up.

[insidiom]

THE DONKEY-HEADED ADVERSARY OF HUMANITY CLOSES THE DISCUSSION

[insidiom]

it's sad they are breaking up next week. this is one of the greatest prog-metal live shows i have ever seen. nothing compares to SGM. i will miss them forever. :(

[crescentfreshbret]

@insidiom Fuck! Why did I pass up seeing them the last time they came to Chicago?!?!

[CarlAfuPhace]

This song is basically species-ist against humans.

[RudraNightmare]

can someone give me a lead on what the lyrics are about ?

[Electricj]

@RudraNightmare Satan?

[RudraNightmare]

@Electricj I assumed that haha. Could be....maybe I've been searching high and low for a really simple explanation.

[baheffron]

@RudraNightmare Think of it like this: you are an animal. Your home has been destroyed by mankind. Now take that rage that the animal (or collectively, nature as a whole) must feel against man, and put it in a song.

[RudraNightmare]

@baheffron That's an interesting way of seing it. It actualy reminds me of the bed time stories my parents used to tell me.

[gravecactus]

it speaks to me, makes me wish i was more. but i can't take wishes to the bank. i am the plague and it's killing me

[danevati]

thumbs up if your going to their concert!

[Inimoulleb]

Best band I have ever seen live, hands down.

They dress up, say weird gibberish talk on stage, change instruments multiple times MID song. Also most of the people knew the lyrics at the show, and everyone screaming along made the songs sound even better, which almost seems impossible, but it was crazy good. If you get the chance, see them DO IT , they're cheap and play in small venues.

[Snardbafulator]

I dunno about Zeuhl vibes, exactly (just listened to a ton of it tonight), but RIO for absolute certain (Bungle vibes need no mention).

[BlankoTV]

This kind of singing reminds me of a song in the video-game Jammer Lammy xDDD

Gotta love avant-garde

[bokma7]

The beginning of the song is so victoriously metal and headstrong. "I AM THE ADVERSARY" - it just punches me in the gut and shovels more metal in face.

...I'm in love.

[MrDrokmor]

´bah life sucks, im the only guy in my class that loves this kinda music :/ well thats proberly how the new generation of teenagers is :/ its sad imo

[MRMOOD3]

@MrDrokmor i wish more teens listened to stf like this...keep rockin

[nohajc]

@MrDrokmor You're not alone in this situation. :)

At least we can talk about it here on the Internet.

[MrDrokmor]

@nohajc True, but it's still sucks to be alone with this music! :<

[nohajc]

@MrDrokmor On the other hand, if everyone liked this kind of music, if this became the new mainstream, we wouldn't find it so special anymore.

[XXRiotgirl12]

@nohajc

thats so true

[Astraios91]

Mankind is a plague.

[zrisezlle]

Wow this is some intense music. Anyone getting zeuhl vibes from listening to this at all?

[UltraHarrier]

This reminds of me of those first 3 seconds after a really loud alarm clock starts going off and ur all fucked up from the night before on ludes, cocaine, and xanaflex and you don't know what the fuck is going on. This is some good stew.

[BloodPigggy]

Your mom died.

[hadomaru]

What did i just listen too lol.

[mrdevecseri]

it's like if secret chiefs 3 and unexpect combined.... aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah... wtf this is so sick.

[threelegduck]

woa i don't know how these guys ended up on my favourites but i like

[Giedi]

You just gott alove this tune :D

[ScrewLimbBizkit]

It sickens me to think that some people throw this band away because they're "Too weird"

[SX1995able]

@ScrewLimbBizkit Pretty much wht most of my friends think about experimental music. Hahaha it`s sad because they listen to shit like Linkin Park, Nickelback, Disturbed and just horrible bands like that.

[stiltonchees]

@SX1995able The sadest thing is when people think music that isn't experimental is. Someone said this one ambient band was experimental to me once...

[SX1995able]

@stiltonchees I know what you mean. To me Experimental is weird music, weird lyrics and a knack for doing something different with every album. Just because Limp Bizkit or Linkin Park did different genres doesn`t make them experimental it just means they`re probably trying to copy someone. I swear Linkin Park ripped off Deftones so much and now claim they`re "breaking new genres". It`s been done before damn.

[stiltonchees]

@SX1995able Yeah. Even before I heard any experimental metal or rock I had been listening to some Free Jazz on occasion (not that much, I was and still am more into Bebop, Hard Bop and such) so someone called this one ambient rock band experimental, and I was like Sun Ra is experimental, Ornette Coleman is experimental. And now I know of some Rock and Metal experimental stuff too. Cool stuff, for me I only listen to it on specific occasions though.

[NeverMind368]

If you like this track initially, it will probably grow on you....It's goin that way with me!

[Zombie1990]

I just came. Twice. AT THE SAME TIME.

[MELONMOVIES]

0:49

[TheSnather]

a robot built to subgenre bands would self destruct over this one.

[ScrewLimbBizkit]

@TheSnather

naw, he'd just cop out and say "Avant garde" and leave it at that.

[TheSnather]

@ScrewLimbBizkit  ahaha

[terrormech]

@TheSnather there's only two genres that matter: good music, and everything else.

[aRazorsEloquence]

the only thing about this song that bothers me is the dudes voice, he sounds too much like the dude from metallica. other than that, i fucking dig

[kaptainbob]

@aRazorsEloquence How you think this vocalist sounds like James Hetfield I have no idea. They don't sound similar to me at all.

Either way, glad you dig it anyway. This shit is awesome.

[NeverMind368]

These guys make Bungle sound somewhat normal...lol. Not gonna hear any complaints from me on any experimental/ Avant-Garde video's, pretty sweet.

[Mariafication]

I've never heard anything like this before in my life. I want to hear more.

[smellyrachally]

Sleepytime Gorilla Museum is one of my favorite bands ever, along with Faun Fables. I saw them both together for the first time in WI, and have seen them twice since.. I love their musical creativity, their lyrics, and their vocal melodies.. so beautiful!

[rstokesberry]

Ive seen those dudes, and chic, live several times several years ago. They are fucking INSANE!

[HinataSayuri]

this is the second song i've heard from them

i really like this song

and its making me fall for Sleepytime Gorilla Museum ^_^

[smokejc]

How can you not love Sleepytime?

[myxini]

If you haven't seen this guys live, you will seriously never totally understand.

It's a revelatory experience :P  I adore them

[Boomslang93]

@myxini If only they came to Italy, I would >__>

[vaguelyhumanoid]

I love the sheer evil of a lot of their songs, this being a prime example. The first two songs on this album are just so dark and insane, it's like listening to the bleeding edge of music itself.

[danevati]

@vaguelyhumanoid Totally dude! hahaha and don't even mention In Glorious Times!! :O!!!! Oh how much I love them :D

[cw9123mingus]

i have an ignorant brother that said "This sucks...its just a guy screaming and a bunch of noise"  he doesn't understand good music...i suppose thats what hip-hop on MTV does to you.

[LivesUnderABridge]

@cw9123mingus

Hip Hop is rad too, notsomuch the type churned out by MTV, but if you think Hip Hop has made your brother ignorant towards music, apparently SGM has done the same thing to you.

[p717]

Anyone who compares this to Mr. Bungle should be punched in the face. This is miles beyond.

[ashlinnes]

Hah,  They can't be compared, totally separate!

[MareBellator]

It tastes liek.... cheese blood.

[akqumee]

It's similar to Unexpect, Quebec band

[vaguelyhumanoid]

@akqumee

I disagree.

[Ssalamanderr]

Holy Shit. This is something. I'm kind of reeling right now, but I think I liked it.

[draphlan]

I think my ears just came on my brain!

[Astraios91]

Pure brilliancy ... it's simple as that ...

[allgdpple]

it's death metal on a genius level....

[allgdpple]

it's brilliant!

[OfficialGKD]

Godfuckingdamn I love this band, this kind of musick,  and this motherfucking masterpiece of a song!!!!!!!!!!

[draphlan]

@OfficialGKD

Fuck yeah!

[FacialHat]

People who don't care about this comment won't thumb it at all.

[Greensmurf]

Your comment gave me a boner

[MidgetMassacre]

mmhmm

[ImprobusVisio]

awesome song, thank for putting it up

[MidgetMassacre]

Pretentious snobs will thumb down this comment.

[Israfvel]

Understanding upstarts will thumb this comment up.

[Thelaofkazi]

I thumbed it up. That made me chuckle precisely 5 times.

[dethmtl4lyfe]

I love experimental and art genres of music.

[evaengineer]

i just found this band i love what thay do!

[sacredcow024]

I got what I deserved. Thanks man!

[rushguy1]

GEEZ. What an awesome cacophony of madness this is.

Must see these guys live.

[blurabbit147147]

if you get a chance to, DO IT! their music is amazing on cd, but their live show is mind blowing. they are all incredibly charming and approachable too.

[WonderIsGood]

it's not cacophony. it's an answer to the decay humanity suffers because of technology.

[McLeod54]

Love it!

[frankbombs]

they kill the shit out of this live!!!!

love that little zappa esque stuff at 2:00.

[mattyphurley]

future vs primitive

[vaguelyhumanoid]

@mattyphurley

Exactly.

[doedicurus]

this is the shit!

[KeizerrO]

Great stuff, easily my fav SGM song

[Cleofizoid]

It's a euphemism for George Stephanopoulos...I was alerted way back in 1990

[mybass101]

i have done some research and th e1st mention i can find of the donkey headed adversary is from sleepy time gorilla mueseum, tah sai i think everyone can tell what the donkey headed one is a euphamism for. :P

[Goblexter]

The name makes no sense...

[kojurama11]

There is a myth or story saying that a donkey headed beast will be the enemy or adversary of the human race when it is wiped or purged from the earth. And so the last part is just opens up the discussion of should the human race be purged to save the earth or something. This whole cd is an annalist theme.

[captaincracklins]

"Shaitan" is an ancient Persian word meaning "adversary." It's that which is in opposition to human efforts.

[betandbreakfast]

Brilliant!

[greatmahoo]

Whoops! I uploaded the wrong file i guess. need to pay more attention next time...

renaming now.

[EternalDragon87]

This isn't Phthisis. It's The Donkey Headed Adversary of Humanity Opens the Discussion.

It's a cool song anyway. Thanks for the upload :).