Alternative: Style or status? (indie, rock, genre, REM, pearl jam)

~~euphoria z~~ · 12-30-2008, 05:55 PM

Alternative pop/rock is essentially a catch-all term for post-punk bands from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. There is a multitude of musical styles within alternative rock, from the sweet melodies of jangle-pop to the disturbing metallic grind of industrial, yet are all tied together by a similar aesthetic — they all existed and operated oustide of the mainstream. In some ways, there are two waves of alternative bands, with Nirvana's unprecedented crossover success in 1991 acting as a dividing point. Throughout the '80s, the majority of alternative bands were on independent labels; those that eventually signed to major labels, such as Hüsker Dü and the Replacements, didn't break through to the mainstream and thereby were able to keep their hip credentials alive. If anything, Alternative Rock of the '80s was even more diverse and fractured than the mainstream; among the styles classified as alternative was roots rock, alternative dance, jangle-pop, post-hardcore punk, funk-metal, punk-pop, and experimental rock. All of these genres made into the mainstream, in some form or another, after Nirvana's success in 1991, but their edges were sanded down since many of the new alternative bands were signed by majors. Consequently, '90s altenative rock often sounds more sanitized and homogenous than its counterpart, especially since the heavier material proved to have greater commercial appeal than the quieter or quirkier elements of alternative rock. Most of these idiosyncratic bands didn't sign to majors (those that did quickly disappeared), deciding to stick to independent labels, where they had more artistic freedom. These bands were grouped together under the term indie rock. Although the term had been around since the '80s, in the '90s it connotated bands that were dedicated to their own independent status, either for musical or hipness reasons.

scottsy · 12-30-2008, 08:38 PM

Wow you pretty much hit the nail right on the head there - great comprehensive definition of what Alternative really means and represents, and a good potted history of the term... nice post!

mr dave · 12-30-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoria z

Alternative pop/rock is essentially a catch-all term for post-punk bands from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. There is a multitude of musical styles within alternative rock, from the sweet melodies of jangle-pop to the disturbing metallic grind of industrial, yet are all tied together by a similar aesthetic — they all existed and operated oustide of the mainstream. In some ways, there are two waves of alternative bands, with Nirvana's unprecedented crossover success in 1991 acting as a dividing point. Throughout the '80s, the majority of alternative bands were on independent labels; those that eventually signed to major labels, such as Hüsker Dü and the Replacements, didn't break through to the mainstream and thereby were able to keep their hip credentials alive. If anything, Alternative Rock of the '80s was even more diverse and fractured than the mainstream; among the styles classified as alternative was roots rock, alternative dance, jangle-pop, post-hardcore punk, funk-metal, punk-pop, and experimental rock. All of these genres made into the mainstream, in some form or another, after Nirvana's success in 1991, but their edges were sanded down since many of the new alternative bands were signed by majors. Consequently, '90s altenative rock often sounds more sanitized and homogenous than its counterpart, especially since the heavier material proved to have greater commercial appeal than the quieter or quirkier elements of alternative rock. Most of these idiosyncratic bands didn't sign to majors (those that did quickly disappeared), deciding to stick to independent labels, where they had more artistic freedom. These bands were grouped together under the term indie rock. Although the term had been around since the '80s, in the '90s it connotated bands that were dedicated to their own independent status, either for musical or hipness reasons.

STOP PLAGIARIZING PEE HOLE!

allmusic

~~Farfisa~~ · 12-31-2008, 12:27 AM

It would have been acceptable if he used quotes or a quote box.

~~euphoria z~~ · 12-31-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loose_lips_sink_ships

It would have been acceptable if he used quotes or a quote box.

Sorry im not up on internet "rights n wrongs".

ikvat · 12-31-2008, 02:50 AM

It's a commercial concept created by major for taking money into pockets of poor morons who think they're different.

jackhammer · 12-31-2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by euphoria z

Sorry im not up on internet "rights n wrongs".

What they are quite rightly saying is that you have just cut and pasted your text from another website which is both lazy and gives us no idea whatsoever concerning your OWN views and writing style. Allmusic messed up anyhow as 'metallic grind of Industrial' was only arrived at when metal was introduced into the equation. Industrial music originally started as a concept that you could get alien sounds out of known and unknown instruments and adding a monotonous tone to certain aspect. So Allmusic can bugger off!

~~euphoria z~~ · 12-31-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

What they are quite rightly saying is that you have just cut and pasted your text from another website which is both lazy and gives us no idea whatsoever concerning your OWN views and writing style. Allmusic messed up anyhow as 'metallic grind of Industrial' was only arrived at when metal was introduced into the equation. Industrial music originally started as a concept that you could get alien sounds out of known and unknown instruments and adding a monotonous tone to certain aspect. So Allmusic can bugger off!

I' m not a music expert and I figured Allmusic probably knows more then anyone else on here, thus better definition. My logic.

Plus the 'metallic grind' section makes no indication of time, so I' m not completely sure what you mean.

jackhammer · 12-31-2008, 11:59 AM

So why post if you are not a music expert? By cutting and pasting other sites you are not making any contributions whatsoever. That is the third cut and paste you have posted on the forums. The rest of us can post intelligently about music and don't need another website to tell us what we already know. Those people are critics. We are merely fans and that usually means WE are better informed about music than they are because we are impartial and don't need cool points.

As for the 'industrial' aspect, I was commeting on their (allmusic) inaccuracy which then validates my above point.

~~euphoria z~~ · 12-31-2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

So why post if you are not a music expert?

That' s rather offputting to new members, amirite?

12-30-2008, 08:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
scottsy Untalented Drummer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sussex, Wisconsin Posts: 2,900	Wow you pretty much hit the nail right on the head there - great comprehensive definition of what Alternative really means and represents, and a good potted history of the term... nice post! __________________ "If you're like me, then it's possible you're a clone generated from my stolen DNA. I suggest you turn yourself in for destruction immediately" - Shaun Micallef.

12-31-2008, 02:50 AM	#16 (permalink)
ikvat Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 625	It's a commercial concept created by major for taking money into pockets of poor morons who think they're different. __________________ But who cares ?

12-31-2008, 11:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	So why post if you are not a music expert? By cutting and pasting other sites you are not making any contributions whatsoever. That is the third cut and paste you have posted on the forums. The rest of us can post intelligently about music and don't need another website to tell us what we already know. Those people are critics. We are merely fans and that usually means WE are better informed about music than they are because we are impartial and don't need cool points. As for the 'industrial' aspect, I was commeting on their (allmusic) inaccuracy which then validates my above point. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

12-30-2008, 05:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
~~euphoria z~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 50	Alternative pop/rock is essentially a catch-all term for post-punk bands from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. There is a multitude of musical styles within alternative rock, from the sweet melodies of jangle-pop to the disturbing metallic grind of industrial, yet are all tied together by a similar aesthetic — they all existed and operated oustide of the mainstream. In some ways, there are two waves of alternative bands, with Nirvana's unprecedented crossover success in 1991 acting as a dividing point. Throughout the '80s, the majority of alternative bands were on independent labels; those that eventually signed to major labels, such as Hüsker Dü and the Replacements, didn't break through to the mainstream and thereby were able to keep their hip credentials alive. If anything, Alternative Rock of the '80s was even more diverse and fractured than the mainstream; among the styles classified as alternative was roots rock, alternative dance, jangle-pop, post-hardcore punk, funk-metal, punk-pop, and experimental rock. All of these genres made into the mainstream, in some form or another, after Nirvana's success in 1991, but their edges were sanded down since many of the new alternative bands were signed by majors. Consequently, '90s altenative rock often sounds more sanitized and homogenous than its counterpart, especially since the heavier material proved to have greater commercial appeal than the quieter or quirkier elements of alternative rock. Most of these idiosyncratic bands didn't sign to majors (those that did quickly disappeared), deciding to stick to independent labels, where they had more artistic freedom. These bands were grouped together under the term indie rock. Although the term had been around since the '80s, in the '90s it connotated bands that were dedicated to their own independent status, either for musical or hipness reasons.

12-31-2008, 12:27 AM	#14 (permalink)
~~Farfisa~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,773	It would have been acceptable if he used quotes or a quote box.