Rasputina

There's a fine line between obscure and niche, and Rasputina might cross that line. After all, "cello rock" isn't exactly a genre that has received wide play. Yet through some not entirely obvious connections, Rasputina could be the most popular cello rock band in existence. Though Melora Creager toured with Nirvana, a single off their first album was remixed by Marylin Manson, and the band has opened for such artists as Manson and Porno for Pyros, Rasputina maintains a decidedly Victorian/steampunk/goth edge. Even Creager's lyric and vocal have a demure, yet subversive tone. Her song writing isn't afraid to touch on history and every album has one dryly humorous spoken track that mirrors Creager's concert banter.

"Transylvanian Concubine" from 1996's Thanks for the Ether:


Rasputina's first album, Thanks for the Ether, was released by Columbia Records in 1996, five years after the band formed. Columbia released How We Quit the Forest, their second effort, as well. Chris Vrenna of Nine Inch Nails joined them as drummer and producer on this second album, leading to slightly harder, distorted sound. Neither was particularly appealing to a wide audience. The band's next two albums would be released on Instinct Records and 2007's Oh Perilous World was released independently. All albums are currently available through Amazon.com as downloads and selectively in other formats.

kidneythieves

The intersection of industrial metal and female-driven rock can be interesting. Such a crossroad is inhabited by Kidneythieves. Primarily a duo consisting of Free Dominguez' vocals and Bruce Somers' engineering talents, the band's uncommon sound earned them some soundtrack notice with only two albums of original music produced. Dominguez' voice may lack the purity and range of some (Evanescence' Amy Lee for example), but the fierce emotion imparted in her lyrics is unrivaled.

"Zerospace" off of the 2002 album of the same name: (mostly work safe)


Kidneythieves first album, Trickster, was released in 1998. Despite its remaster/re-release as Trickstereprocess in 2004, it remains a difficult album to find. Zerospace, released in 2002 by Warner Bros., is readily available (as is its complimentary remix EP Phi in the Sky). As of mid-2008, there has been news of Somers and Dominguez working on a new album. The track "Dark Horse" is available in streaming form at the band's MySpace. The album Fake Western Vista is NOT by this band, but by a different The Kidneythieves.

Sister Machine Gun

Sister Machine Gun might be the best industrial jazz band to have ever existed. Indeed, they might also have had the title of "only" industrial jazz band if not for Die Warzau's occasional dabbling. The two bands are closely linked. Van Christie and Jim Marcus of Die Warsau were instrumental in Chris Randall's first Sister Machine Gun demos for Wax Trax! Records in ~1990.

The band's first two albums, Sins of the Flesh and The Torture Technique, are primarily industrial efforts, but with more melodious qualities than is common to the genre.



The Torture Technique is a perfect product of the CD format; each track flows one to the next to create an entire experience that could not have been attained in the era of A-side/B-side records and cassettes, and is undervalued in today's playlist culture. Much of Sister Machine Gun's music is better enjoyed in album form, and perhaps it was this lack of "singles" that contributed to the band's eventual departure from Wax Trax! in 1997.

Albums subsequent to The Torture Technique contained more jazz influences. Sax solos crept into Burn (1995) and Randall's natural jazz vocals were highlighted in such tracks as "Temptation" off of Metropolis (1997) and "Closer to Me" from 1999's [R]evolution.



[R]evolution marked the band's first album on Positron! Records, a label founded by Chris Randall and his wife Lisa. In 1999, internet opportunities for independent musicians were in their infancy, but Positron! Records was willing to take chances, offering full sample mp3s, non-DRM albums for purchase, and Creative Commons licensing. Sister Machine Gun released two more full length albums as well as several interstitial EPs before disbanding in 2007. Randall has since released an album of straight-forward jazz/blues.

Sister Machine Gun's albums are available through Positron! Records, Amazon.com, or other online retailers.