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Exotica definition

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siLLy puPPy View Drop Down
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    Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 8:26am
I m confused about the exotica definition here. I noticed that swing revival bands like Squirrel Nut Zippers are under this subgenre due to the anochronistic nature included in the definition but other clearly anochronistic jump blues acts like Joe Jackson with Jumpin Jive or the band Roomful of Blues are not under the exotica sungenre. Can anyone explain this phenomenon?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote js Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 9:05am
First of all, we don't tag artists, we tag albums. 
If you will notice, Joe Jackson's name is followed by five different tags and he has only one album tagged Jump Blues, and that album is "Jumpin Jive". That album was tagged as Jump Blues because its a straight up jump blues album without the sort of self-aware ironic kitsch that goes into a modern day exotica album.
Joe Jackson's album is fairly sincere and far different from the more nuanced and complicated approach of the Squirrel Nut Zippers' albums.
Likewise, Roomful of Blues puts out more or less straight up jump blues albums with little sense of the sort of irony and kitsch that is usually associated with exotica.

Tagging Squirrel Nut Zipper albums is not easy, some more lazy music sites tag them as jump blues because their albums can contain jump blues songs, but their albums also contain a myriad of other styles as well. 
All the same, we have to put some tag on the albums or they can't be added. The Zippers are a San Francisco band, and like other SF bands of their ilk, the Zippers pay a lot of attention to the total package, particularly appearance and nuance. You can bet much period knowledge goes into their presentation and this is what led to exotica being their best tag. They are a blend of many styles and anachronistic settings, all done with a degree of self aware ironic hipness, very much a San Francisco band. Joe Jackson could never understand all this and he doesn't need to.


Edited by js - 10 Nov 2014 at 9:24am
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siLLy puPPy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote siLLy puPPy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 10:57am
Thanks so much for the clarification. It makes a lot more sense now :--)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote js Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 12:44pm
You are very welcome. (emoticon tipping hat)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote siLLy puPPy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Nov 2014 at 11:31pm
RYM lists the Squirrels as swing revival. Does that sound good to you? The term exotica always brings loungy jazz to mind for me. Or even exotica plus another term. Is it even possible to add new nuances to subs? Just wondering. I know there are many grey areas
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote js Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Nov 2014 at 12:03am
They were definitely part of the "swing revival" fad of the mid 90s, along with Indigo Swing and some others as well.
The so called "swing revival" fad of the mid to late 90s was not so much about real swing music, but often had more to do with jump blues, or even rockabilly. The Zippers were one of the bands that helped kick off that fad, but their music was different from their imitators.

The Zippers were actually knowledgeable about a lot of early jazz (20s etc) as well as other early American music. The music they played was often very sophisticated and authentic and covered a lot of pre-swing music. 

Much of the bands that followed in the so-called 'swing revival' were not so near talented or knowledgeable as the Zippers. As always, I was a working musician at this time and watched in disgust as so many musicians jumped on this phony 'swing' bandwagon. Much of the music was just the same old corny blues and rockabilly, just dressed up in different drag.

Our Swing section at JMA is for real swing music, the Zippers are too diverse to be a swing band, although they do play their share of swing music and play it very well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Frederic_Alderon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 2:11pm
According to Webster dictionary thats - things excitingly different or unusual
especially: literary or artistic items having an exotic theme or nature
As to the music,some unusual way to perform I think, like playing jass on a piano
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