Alternative Rock

Alternative rock is a type of Rock 'n' Roll that emerged in the 1990s. Initially, it didn't fit in with the then-popular rock groups such as Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, U2, and Guns N' Roses. It was a carryover from the 1980s college music scene when bands like the Pixies flourished away from the spotlight. Alt-rock, despite its alternative name, aired heavily on radio stations. Also, alternative bands like Foo Fighters, Green Day, Nirvana, Beck, and Nine Inch Nails had success on the Pop charts.

Notable Bands

The alternative rock scene in Boston involved notable bands such as The Lemonheads, Buffalo Tom, Dinosaur Jr., and Belly. Other famous bands include Hüsker Dü and the Replacements from Minneapolis, Liz Phair, and The Smashing Pumpkins from Chicago. Sonic Youth and the Pavement also sprang from New York City. Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Weezer, and Aimee Mann are based in Los Angeles, and Shudder To Think and Fugazi are from Washington, DC.

Another musical genre known to critics as "grunge" emerged along with Alternative Rock. Seattle-based bands such as Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, and Screaming Trees achieved commercial success and significant label contracts despite frequently resisting the grunge label. These ensembles were unmistakably influenced by popular 1970s classic rock acts such as Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Nirvana was arguably the most popular of the Seattle bands.

The Grunge Icons debuted on a major label in 1991 with Nevermind. They released their debut album in 1988, and it was very successful. The group ceased activities in 1994 as the attention of the alternative rock community had shifted elsewhere. Over time, alternative rock expanded beyond its initial presence on college radio and local music scenes. The genre encompasses a wide range of musical styles, ranging from Britpop, represented by bands like Oasis and Blur, to proto-blues, exemplified by The White Stripes and Arctic Monkeys, to more experimental sounds found in the music of Radiohead, Wilco, and My Bloody Valentine.

Characteristics of Alternative Rock

Like most rock music, alternative rock usually features prominent guitars complemented by bass and drums. Although keyboards were scarce in alternative music throughout the 1990s, they have become prevalent in several twenty-first-century bands. Many alternative bands embody the vigor and self-sufficiency of 1980s punk bands, such as Minor Threat, Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minutemen. Alternative rock musicians often create catchy, melodic tunes based on diatonic scales.

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