Alternative+Rock


 * Alternative Rock**

"Alternative rock" is essentially an umbrella term for underground music that has emerged in the wake of the punk rock movement since the mid-1980s. Throughout much of its history, alternative rock has been largely defined by its rejection of the commercialism of mainstream culture. Alternative bands during the 1980s generally played in small clubs, recorded for indie labels, and spread their popularity through word of mouth. As such, there is no set musical style for alternative rock as a whole, although //The New York Times// in 1989 asserted that the genre is "guitar music first of all, with guitars that blast out power chords, pick out chiming riffs, buzz with fuzztone and squeal in feedback."

R.E.M. and The Cure achieved commercial success and mainstream critical recognition as did many alternative rock artists during the 1980s were cult acts that recorded on independent labels and received their exposure through college radio airplay and word-of-mouth, as well as Nirvana.

Popular Alternative Rock Songs:
 * When You Were Young - The Killers
 * Tears Don't Fall - Bullet For My Valentine
 * Stay Away - Nirvana

Literary Movement Music of the 20th Century (Home)