Alternative Rock Subgenres:
Alternative rock, as a music genre, consists of several subgenres which have emerged from the scene of independent music since the eighties, like Britpop, grunge, indie pop and gothic rock. All of these genres were unified by all of their collective debt to the punk ethos and styles, which is known to have laid the basic groundwork in the seventies for alternative music.
Even though this music genre is thought to be rock, many of its subgenres are known to be influenced by reggae, folk music, jazz and electronic music in addition to several other genres. Alternative rock at times has been known to be used for a type of catch all phrase from the underground artists for rock music during the eighties, all the music that has descended from the punk rock music genre and for the rock music genre in general for a few decades.
Commercial Success:
Even though there are only a couple of artists such as The Cure and R.E.M. that have been able to achieve commercial success as well as critical recognition among the mainstream, there are many artists that performed alternative rock during the eighties that were cult acts which recorded on several independent labels and as a result, received all of their exposure through airplay on college radio and word of mouth. Because of the Nirvana breakthrough and the popularity that surrounds Britpop and grunge movements of the early nineties, the alternative rock music genre has successfully entered into the musical mainstream and there are many alternative bands that have become successful commercially.
Alternative rock has stylistic origins in post-punk, punk and hardcore music genres and cultural origins in the United States and the United Kingdom during the early eighties. The typical instruments that are used in alternative rock music is the bass, guitar and drums. The mainstream popularity of alternative rock was limited before the Britpop and grunge success during the nineties. Since then, it has been widespread even though there are many artists that have remained underground.
Subgenres:
The subgenres of alternative rock music includes college rock, Britpop, dream pop, grunge, gothic rock, indie rock, indie pop, noise pop, post rock, paisley underground, shoegazing and twee pop. The fusion genres of alternative rock consists of psychobilly, alternative metal, industrial rock, post punk revival, madchester and riot grrr. |
