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The Alternative Rock Portal
Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s (see Timeline of alternative rock). The name "alternative" was coined in the 1980s to describe punk rock-inspired bands on independent record labels that didn't fit into the mainstream genres of the time. As a specific genre of music, alternative rock consists of various subgenres that have emerged from the indie music scene since the 1980s, such as grunge, indie rock, Britpop, gothic rock, and indie pop. These genres are unified by their collective debt to the style and/or ethos of punk, which laid the groundwork for alternative music in the 1970s.
Though the genre is considered to be rock, some of its subgenres are influenced by folk music, reggae, electronic music and jazz among other genres. At times alternative rock has been used as a catch-all phrase for rock music from underground artists in the 1980s, all music descended from punk rock (including punk itself, New Wave, and post-punk), and, ironically, for rock music in general in the 1990s and 2000s.
Selected article
David Lovering is an American musician and magician. He is best known as the drummer for the alternative rock band Pixies, which he joined in 1985. After the band's breakup in 1993, Lovering drummed with several other acts, including The Martinis, Cracker, Nitzer Ebb and Tanya Donelly. He also pursued a magic career as The Scientific Phenomenalist; performing scientific and physics-based experiments on stage. When the Pixies reunited in 2004, Lovering returned as the band's drummer.
As a drummer Lovering was inspired by bands from a variety of genres, including Rush and Steely Dan. His musical style while in the Pixies was highly acclaimed by critics. Author Ben Sisario described him as the "great unacknowledged anchor" of the band, and stated that his unique influences gave "a precision and versatility essential to following Black Francis's songwriting quirks". However, since the band's breakup, Lovering has received fewer critical accolades for his musical output.
Selected album
By the Way is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers, released on July 9, 2002 on Warner Bros. Records. It sold over 282,000 copies in the first week, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. The singles from the album included "By the Way", "The Zephyr Song", "Can't Stop" and "Universally Speaking". The lyrical subject matter vocalist Anthony Kiedis addresses in By the Way is a divergence from previous Chili Peppers' albums, with Kiedis taking a more candid and reflective approach to his lyricism.
By the Way was applauded by critics as a departure from the band's previous styles, and is recognized for the melodic and subdued emotions given by the Chili Peppers. Guitarist John Frusciante is credited with writing most of the album's melodies, bass lines, and guitar progressions, therefore changing the direction of the recording dramatically: "his warm, understated guitar work and his doo-wop style vocal harmonies are king this time around." The album therefore contained virtually none of the signature funk-punk fusion the band had become known for playing. Frusciante considered writing "By the Way [to be] one of the happiest times in my life."
Selected picture
The members of 50 Foot Wave. From left to right: Rob Ahlers, Bernard Georges, Kristin Hersh Did you know...
- ...that Nirvana recorded "You Know You're Right" in 1994, but didn't release it until 2002 due to legal entanglements with Courtney Love?
- ...that Pixies frontman Black Francis wrote the song "Crackity Jones" after a stay in Puerto Rico with a "weirdo, psycho, gay roommate" as a student?
- ...that, when writing their breakthrough single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", Nirvana's Kurt Cobain revealed he "was trying to rip of the Pixies"?
Portal:Alternative music/Did you know/19
Major topics
- Alternative rock artists: R.E.M., Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Replacements, Green Day, Wilco, Pixies, The Smiths, Radiohead
- List of indie rock musicians: Elliott Smith, Death Cab for Cutie, Pavement, Sonic Youth, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Arctic Monkeys, Electric Six
- Alternative music genres: Alternative rock, Britpop, College rock, Dream pop, Gothic rock, Grunge, Indie pop, Indie rock, Madchester, Noise pop, Paisley Underground, Post-rock, Shoegazing, Twee pop
- Instruments: Bass guitar, Drums, Guitar
Categories
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WikiProject Project page talk Collaborations Assessment To-do list Newsletter Media - The Alternative music WikiProject is a project that helps to assemble writers and editors interested in Alternative music related articles.
- The aim of this project is to standardize and improve articles related to Alternative music, as well as to create missing articles.
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