Also, is it pronounced like the chord, A-minor? A-Minor Forest? Or is the emphasis on the word "minor" rather than "A"?

Holy crap! I can't remember a goddamn thing about this band.

Here is the "official" answer (after a bit of kidding around) to why they are called A Minor Forest, from the zine Cool Beans in 1997:

CB: Ok, here’s a dumb question. A lot of A minors or a small forest?

John (bass): I recently found out that loosely translated A Minor Forest is a Japanese term for poetic.

Andee (drums): Not so recently I was informed that A Minor Forest is slang for a girl with no pubic hair.

John: There was that woman who came up to Erik (guitar) and hugged him and said "I could hear the trees crying."

Andee: It’s from a story. As with all bands it was an emergency and the name was chosen quickly and without much thought.

CB: So is it music or trees?

Andee: A small forest. There’s no reference to the chord A minor. It’s from a story about retarded kids who cut down trees every christmas. Every christmas they cut down A Minor Forest and then one christmas they have an altercation and kill each other.

The entire interview here.

Andee is a really swell guy and Aquarius Records is probably the finest record shop on the planet, at least that I'm aware of.

I've been to Aquarius Records in SF, and I had no idea that anyone from AMF ran it. Shitballs. Having been big into that band through their existence, it would have been worthwhile to ask to high five one of their members for a job well done. Of course I would have said "A Minor Forest", which I now see is a mispronunciation.

Edit: That's a hilarious interview. Thanks for the link.

mattw wrote: There is another band that does it better, and their name is Paul Newman.

I like this comparison. A Minor Forest seem like a less disciplined Paul Newman or even Neutrino. Almost goofy or silly at times, like they might bust out a metal riff or some ridiculous screaming at random. Levity is not without virtue, however. But I'd prefer Newman as well.

Still not crap for the "snippets".

glynnisjohns wrote:flemmish altruism is still lurking in my collection.

that's the only one i kept. it has moments of brilliance but all of it is good.

I have listened to inindependance. I'm was kind of bored by it. is there a "have to have" album by these guys? it just seemed a bit messy. part of me is drawn in, and the other tuned out. what am I missing?

sack of smashed assholes wrote:I have listened to inindependance. I'm was kind of bored by it. is there a "have to have" album by these guys? it just seemed a bit messy. part of me is drawn in, and the other tuned out. what am I missing?

I'd say you've understood the album properly. There are golden moments, and there are 'messy' moments. Someone may recommend Flemish Altruism but it, too, has that dichotomy.

nah

As I mentioned before in the Boredoms thread, I talked to the drummer of A Minor Forest after the 77 drummer event. He said that they almost did a reunion a few years ago for some Thrill Jockey event, but one of the members wasnt into it.

Andee (the drummer) is in a band now he said with the bassist of A Minor Forest and the owner of Temporary Resistance records. This might be the new line-up, or theyll do AMF songs and new stuff too from their new project? Im not 100% sure how it will work.

He said over the years, post-breakup, slowly people have been coming up to him and confessing their love of AMF.

He told me to email him (which I did), and I guess if anyone sees him let me know that AMF was and still is appreciated! If we drum up enough support, I bet it will happen in one form or another.

- Chet

Not Crap, their music is impossible to get tired of, it's everlasting.