Once punk rock had briefly seenp through into America’s cultural consciousness, most Americans settled back into consuming big-name pop artists and hair metal guitarists as they took center stage. Yet some courageous musicians kept alternative music alive on independent labels by keeping alternative flames alive at its fringes.
These acts included New Zealand-based bands such as the Chills, Sneaky Feelings and Tall Dwarfs; college radio darlings Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement from America were also represented.
Definition
Alternative rock was coined during the 1980s to describe bands not signed to major record labels or fitting into mainstream genres of the time. Bands considered alternative rock had unique styles that differed from the typical rock sound at that time and utilized different musical influences such as punk, post-punk, new wave, college rock and grunge to forge their sound.
Alternative rock music features distorted guitars and lyrics that explore generational conflict and social issues, and its rise was partly driven by the decline of traditional rock’s popularity. Furthermore, this genre became more accessible to younger audiences thanks to shorter song lengths and catchy melodies; thus influencing many modern rock groups such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Indie rock is a subgenre of alternative music with roots in the independent music scene, often employing DIY (do-it-yourself) ethics and an aesthetic that prioritizes artistic integrity over commercial success. Furthermore, this style typically utilizes various instruments and recording techniques in its musical creation to form its signature sound.
As indie rock has evolved, its definition has also adapted. No longer referring to any specific style of music, but more so to bands who choose independence over major record labels when making their recordings. Bands that cross between indie and alternative might use either label to market themselves. Once signed to one however, using only indie labels won’t help their promotion efforts anymore.
Today, indie labels promote an array of bands from around the globe. Some such acts as Coldplay and Snow Patrol have achieved widespread recognition; other bands, like The Fratellis and Kooks have had more modest successes but maintain loyal fan bases. While indie rock has fallen out of prominence recently, its genre still enjoys popularity among young people who desire something different from what can be found on radio playlists.
Origins
At its core, alternative music is an unconventional subgenre of rock. Originating from punk rock’s DIY ethic in the 70s and thriving throughout the ’80s, alternative flourished when many bands decided not to sign with major record labels but continued making music on independent ones with greater creative freedom – these idiosyncratic groups eventually came to be known as alternative and later part of an indie genre movement that eventually expanded with many subgenres emerging over time.
Nirvana was instrumental in popularizing alternative music during the early ’90s. Unfortunately, though they maintained some independence through signing to RGC Records and were no longer considered indie. Although this wasn’t considered the end of alternative, this act demonstrated how bands could lose their indie status by adapting their musical style to meet market needs; such an adaptation eventually came to be known as “grunge.”
Alternative rock has developed as both a genre and umbrella term, covering multiple musical styles and trends. Its roots lie within post-punk, new wave and other genres inspired by punk music; alternative rock has since been described as the music of the 1990s, college rock, indie pop and other similar classifications.
Today, “indie label” refers to any rock music that falls outside mainstream genres; however, originally this label meant music produced independently and featuring vocal harmonies, jangly guitars, and nostalgic sounds.
Indie music originated in England as an attempt to differentiate itself from popular pop music of its day, however in America indie is commonly interpreted as synonymous with “lad-rock,” a genre of music with melodic tracks devoid of tension or edge and polished up for modern FM radio standards.
Subgenres
Subgenres of alternative rock include numerous subgenres. Grunge or acoustic indie rock are among the more well-known subgenres, while electronica, shoegaze, and post-punk may also fall within this realm. Grunge music was initially popular in the 90s. Driven by heavy guitar riffs and rough vocals, grunge made its debut during that decade and helped pave the way for modern alternative bands such as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Green Day among many other groups that primarily played this subgenre. Other subgenres of alternative rock include electronica shoegaze and post-punk among many other subgenres of alternative music that fall under this genre’s purview.
Alternative rock has many similarities with punk music, yet differs in that it tends to be less aggressive. Instead, alternative rock’s focus tends to lie on social issues and the human experience, with music that blends energetic outbursts with more subdued elements of folk rock or jazz music. Furthermore, alternative rock is widely recognized for its emotive lyrics and visual aesthetic.
Indie rock music is one of the most diverse genres. It embraces diversity while encouraging experimentation; various instruments may be used to perform it, resulting in its unique sound that makes Indie rock an excellent way for musicians to discover their own individual style and find their unique voice.
Indie rock is well known for its DIY spirit. Unlike other genres, indie rock does not depend on big record labels or mainstream media coverage for success; therefore it remains constantly evolving – an example of how the internet is revolutionizing music industry.
Early years of alternative rock saw only a select few bands find success mainstream, such as R.E.M and Jane’s Addiction, while most bands remained independent and released albums through smaller independent labels. Today there has been an upsurge in alternative rock thanks to bands like Arctic Monkeys, Mac DeMarco, Tame Impala and Death Cab for Cutie that combine traditional indie rock sounds with modern influences such as psychedelia, folk rock as well as garage rock revival and neo post-punk styles found among modern alternative bands.
Influences
Indie rock bands revolutionized both how music was made and distributed; influencing an entirely new generation of young music lovers while producing and releasing records independently instead of through major labels like CBS, Warner or RCA. This allowed bands to create distinctive musical styles directly suited for their fans’ tastes while connecting directly with them.
Indie rock’s great draw lies in its interaction with fans; unlike genres such as hard rock or heavy metal that tend to associate themselves with specific images or lifestyles, many indie rock bands tend to focus more on emotionally connecting with their audience – this is particularly evident among female-fronted bands such as Veruca Salt, Belly, Sleater-Kinney and Garbage. Furthermore, during the 90s this style of music gave birth to an emo scene, featuring bands like Weezer, Jimmy Eat World and My Chemical Romance among many others.
Indie rock is an extremely diverse genre that has inspired several other forms of music as a result, such as post-punk, post modern and new music, synthpop and dance music. Indietronica is another variation that marries elements of indie and electronic music into an original sound that marries rock music with dance music.
Prior to the emergence of the term “alternative rock,” various terms were used to refer to this musical genre. They included “college rock”, as it was most frequently heard on college radio stations; “new music”, or modern rock as it became increasingly prominent on commercial radio during the 80s; as well as post-punk and post-rock which both featured more experimental styles that addressed contemporary social issues.
One of the primary influences on alternative rock music was punk rock. Punk was an irreverent genre that challenged authority while providing new ways of self-expression through song. This rebellious spirit can be found in some of the early alternative rock bands; for instance, Rhode Island band Throwing Muses quickly rose to critical acclaim across Britain before finding success in America without betraying their underground roots or signing with major record labels.