Alternative rock is an umbrella genre that encompasses subgenres like grunge, punk, and post-punk music. These genres pushed against mainstream rock’s boundaries to form more diverse music scenes.
Nirvana’s success with songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit helped launch grunge into mainstream pop music and boost alternative rock’s popularity, and pave the way for DIY bands with smaller audiences to find success.
Punk
Punk was an underground movement that developed an alternative form of music and style as a reaction against traditional society and culture. Punk rock featured loud, energetic music with harsh lyrics that criticised many aspects of modern life; furthermore it rejected commercial pop that dominated radio stations; instead bands used independent record labels and fanzines to distribute their music and wore clothing with torn, torn and stained clothing while using symbols with clashing messages to spread it further.
Many of these songs explored social issues and inner turmoil. Songs like Talking Heads’ “Once in a Lifetime” addressed issues related to aging and death; others, like Brand New’s “Jesus Christ” explored deeper subjects like spirituality and loneliness.
Though punk had only a short life span, its influence was profound. It quickly rose to become one of the most influential genres in music history. Punk inspired sounds and lyrics used by later alternative artists and was also the precursor for melodic subsets like Emo featuring acoustic guitars and keyboards.
Nirvana propelled this genre into prominence, which saw several bands following in its wake such as R.E.M. who relied heavily on college radio and an enthusiastic fan base to stay popular.
Today, alternative genre music flourishes in various forms. Characterized by experimental sounds and lyrics that explore themes such as depression, sexuality and suicide – alternative music has had an immense influence on contemporary musicians (social media influencers and SoundCloud artists alike) while some bands such as My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy even went on to achieve mainstream success.
Grunge
Grunge rocked alternative music during the 90’s. A mix of heavy metal and hard rock, grunge was defined by its rough sound and introspective lyrics – elements borrowed from punk, hardcore punk and noise rock as well. Notable bands that defined grunge include Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Mudhoney The Melvins and Alice in Chains among many others. Sub Pop Records in Seattle coined the term in 1988 to describe these acts; taking its cue from “grungy,” which described filthiness or disorganization in their work; quickly it caught on and became synonymous with Seattle music scenes across its borders.
Grunge bands embodied the anti-establishment attitude of their generation and were heavily influenced by post-punk, an experimental variation on punk which first gained popularity during the 1970s. Their signature sound combined guitar distortion with anguished vocals for an inimitable mix that was both hard and catchy; their disillusioned lyrics allowed audiences to connect with these artists as they sang about life experiences they could all relate to.
Their songs were often short, catchy and addressed contemporary social issues; this made them appeal to younger listeners and become successful. Grunge bands also spurred a resurgence in alternative rock, eventually entering mainstream popularity.
Though grunge has faded away since its peak, its influence remains clear today in alternative music. Tame Impala and Twenty One Pilots, for example, have been labeled grunge because of their genre-bending experiments with distortion guitars; others such as these bands may also fall under alternative pop’s category of hybrid rock/pop music; ultimately it’s up to listeners themselves to decide what makes a band grunge or not.
The 90’s
The 1990’s marked an inflection point for alternative music. They saw the birth of indie rock, an independent record label-dominated genre marked by DIY ethics and women artists such as Alanis Morissette and Tori Amos becoming more visible within its ranks.
During this era, neo soul emerged, which blended 1970’s soul influences with hip hop music. Artists like D’Angelo and Erykah Badu helped blend R&B and hip hop elements together into their songs by using elements from each genre to craft their sound.
Alternative musicians were no longer afraid to speak their minds or break from tradition in their music, with The Black Keys, White Stripes, and Radiohead using their music as platforms to address topics many public figures would rather keep silent about or were too fearful to bring up in discussion.
The 1990s also witnessed a revival of the singer-songwriter movement, with artists like Norah Jones, Sarah McLachlan, and Dido enjoying great success. This trend continued into the 2000’s; Mariah Carey and Sheryl Crow also capitalized on it to become household names.
This period also marked the dawn of grunge music with bands such as Nirvana and Alice in Chains becoming prominent figures within this subgenre. Their signature combination of screaming vocals and muggy guitar paved way for future artists such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Third Eye Blind to follow in its footsteps.
Grunge promoted female-fronted bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Lush to gain huge followings among young fans, challenging traditional gender roles while encouraging many male alternative musicians to ditch machismo for femininity and embrace femininity instead. Grunge also had an influence on fashion: many members of alternative communities adopted ripped jeans, Doc Martens, and flannel shirts as signature looks.
The 00’s
In the 2000s, alternative music continued its rapid transformation, expanding beyond mainstream rock and pop into genres such as synth pop and alt-pop – an alternative response to mainstream rock and pop that were dominating the music industry at that time. Today’s alternative scene remains vibrant; its fans now being younger and more diverse. While hard to define precisely, alternative can best be described as music which breaks from tradition, produced by independent artists with homemade production techniques, and drawing elements from punk rock, pop music, funk music, even hip hop! Bands such as Nine Inch Nails and Red Hot Chili Peppers have achieved worldwide recognition as examples of alternative genre.
Punk, grunge, and new wave were key influences on alternative music in the 70’s and 80’s. Bands like Blondie, Jane’s Addiction, and Dinosaur Jr. rose to stardom during this era; early examples of alternative music that mixed punk attitude with rock melodies and song structures can be found among this genre of music.
The 2000’s witnessed an alternative music renaissance with bands like Yellowcard, My Chemical Romance, Interpol, the Killers and The 1975 enjoying great success. Their high energy music addressed contemporary youth issues while tapping into 9/11-induced anger and frustration to find their place within the music industry as unique expressions. This allowed these bands to stand out in ways mainstream artists couldn’t.
Post 9/11
After 9/11, alternative music emerged as an expression of disillusionment among its listeners. Artists adopted a DIY aesthetic and rejected the commercial model that had dominated popular music for so long. Many bands began self-releasing albums and booking their own shows; using various instruments as they established an identifiable look featuring ripped jeans, Doc Martens, and flannel shirts as signature features; some groups led by female performers challenged traditional gender roles within rock. This new wave of alternative rock revolutionised music industry and encouraged an entire generation to pursue their passions as never before! This phenomenon had an immense effect upon both parties involved – industry as well as inspiring musicians everywhere to pursue their passions!
Kurt Cobain’s death left an indelible mark on the alternative scene. Nirvana brought grunge into mainstream consciousness, with their raw sound and lyrics striking a chord with many listeners. Their success served as an indication that rock music could be more than a loud, hyper-masculine genre; their success helped pave the way for female-fronted bands such as Siouxsie & the Banshees and Lush to gain success while inspiring male artists to forsake their previous macho posturing in favor of more inclusive styles that had long been associated with their genre.
Alternative music has long been associated with countercultural movements and youth culture. As an artistic form that represents shifting societal norms and beliefs of its audience and provides an outlet for creative expression and individuality, alternative music offers a platform for artistic freedom. There is an impressive variety of subgenres within alternative music that span different eras and influences, from punk to power pop; its pace and instrumentation varies from fast tempo tunes to slower tunes; alternative musicians utilize unconventional sounds, styles, and instruments to craft original, innovative music that challenges the status quo.