Alternate CurrentsAlternate Currents

The 1990sThe 1990s

Alternate CurrentsAlternate Currents By the end of the 1990s, almost every By the end of the 1990s, almost every

major genre had sprouted an alternative major genre had sprouted an alternative subcategory.subcategory.

Range of alternative genres:Range of alternative genres:– Alternative dance Alternative dance – Adult alternative pop/rock Adult alternative pop/rock – Alternative country Alternative country – Alternative country rock Alternative country rock – Alternative contemporary Alternative contemporary – Alternative metal Alternative metal – Alternative rap Alternative rap – Alternative pop/rockAlternative pop/rock

““Alternative”Alternative”

Difficult to establish a one-size-fits-all Difficult to establish a one-size-fits-all definition of “alternative music” definition of “alternative music”

The term is used to advance two different The term is used to advance two different and often conflicting agendas:and often conflicting agendas:– ““Alternative”—“underground” and Alternative”—“underground” and

“independent”; challenges the status quo. “independent”; challenges the status quo. – Music industry’s use of “alternative” Music industry’s use of “alternative”

To denote the choices available to consumers via To denote the choices available to consumers via record stores, radio, cable television, and the Internetrecord stores, radio, cable television, and the Internet

This sense of the term is bound up with the need of This sense of the term is bound up with the need of the music business to identify and exploit new the music business to identify and exploit new trends, styles, and audiences. trends, styles, and audiences.

Alternative Rock, 1980s–Alternative Rock, 1980s–1990s1990s

Strong underground rock scenes Strong underground rock scenes developed in towns across the United developed in towns across the United StatesStates

The most influential indie rock bands The most influential indie rock bands of the 1980s were R.E.M. (formed in of the 1980s were R.E.M. (formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia) and New 1980 in Athens, Georgia) and New York’s Sonic Youth (formed in New York’s Sonic Youth (formed in New York City in 1981).York City in 1981).

R.E.M.R.E.M.

R.E.M.’s reinterpretation of the punk R.E.M.’s reinterpretation of the punk aesthetic incorporated aspects of folk aesthetic incorporated aspects of folk rock and a propensity for catchy rock and a propensity for catchy melodic hooksmelodic hooks

Sonic YouthSonic Youth

Pushed underground rock music in a Pushed underground rock music in a different direction. different direction. – Influenced by avant-garde Influenced by avant-garde

experimentalists such as the Velvet experimentalists such as the Velvet UndergroundUnderground

– Developed a dark, menacing, feedback-Developed a dark, menacing, feedback-drenched sound, altering the tuning of drenched sound, altering the tuning of their guitars by inserting screwdrivers and their guitars by inserting screwdrivers and drumsticks under the strings at random drumsticks under the strings at random intervals, and ignoring the conventional intervals, and ignoring the conventional song structures of rock and pop musicsong structures of rock and pop music

Hardcore Hardcore

Developed in clubs on the West CoastDeveloped in clubs on the West Coast An extreme variation of punk, pioneered An extreme variation of punk, pioneered

during the early 1980s by bands in San during the early 1980s by bands in San Francisco (the Dead Kennedys) and Los Francisco (the Dead Kennedys) and Los Angeles (the Germs, Black Flag, X, and the Angeles (the Germs, Black Flag, X, and the Circle Jerks)Circle Jerks)

These groups—and others, such as the These groups—and others, such as the Texas-based Butthole Surfers—took the Texas-based Butthole Surfers—took the frenzied energy of the Ramones and the frenzied energy of the Ramones and the Sex Pistols and pushed it to the limit.Sex Pistols and pushed it to the limit.

““Holiday in Cambodia” by the Holiday in Cambodia” by the Dead KennedysDead Kennedys

Released on the independent label Alternative Released on the independent label Alternative Tentacles in 1981Tentacles in 1981

The lyrics—written by the band’s lead singer, Jello The lyrics—written by the band’s lead singer, Jello Biafra (Eric Boucher, b. 1959 in Boulder, Colorado)Biafra (Eric Boucher, b. 1959 in Boulder, Colorado)—brim with merciless sarcasm.—brim with merciless sarcasm.

The song is directed at the spoiled children of The song is directed at the spoiled children of suburban yuppies.suburban yuppies.

The recording opens with a nightmarish display of The recording opens with a nightmarish display of guitar pyrotechnics, a series of Hendrix-inspired guitar pyrotechnics, a series of Hendrix-inspired whoops, slides, scratches, and feedback, evocative whoops, slides, scratches, and feedback, evocative of a war zone. of a war zone.

The band—guitar, electric bass, and drums—The band—guitar, electric bass, and drums—gradually builds to an extremely fast tempo gradually builds to an extremely fast tempo (around 208 beats per minute). (around 208 beats per minute).

““Holiday in Cambodia” by the Holiday in Cambodia” by the Dead KennedysDead Kennedys

The Dead Kennedys’ variant of The Dead Kennedys’ variant of hardcore was lent focus by the hardcore was lent focus by the band’s political stance. band’s political stance.

They opposedThey opposed– American imperialism overseas,American imperialism overseas,– the destruction of human rights and the destruction of human rights and

the environment, andthe environment, and– what they saw as a hypocritical and what they saw as a hypocritical and

soulless suburban lifestyle.soulless suburban lifestyle.

Thrash Thrash Blended the fast tempos and rebellious Blended the fast tempos and rebellious

attitude of hardcore with the technical attitude of hardcore with the technical virtuosity of heavy metal guitar playingvirtuosity of heavy metal guitar playing

Harder, faster version of the commercially Harder, faster version of the commercially successful speed metal style played by bands successful speed metal style played by bands such as Metallica, Megadeath, and Anthraxsuch as Metallica, Megadeath, and Anthrax

The 1991 album The 1991 album Metallica Metallica was the ultimate was the ultimate confirmation of heavy metal’s mass confirmation of heavy metal’s mass popularity and newfound importance to the popularity and newfound importance to the music industry:music industry:– Number One on album charts, sold over five Number One on album charts, sold over five

million copiesmillion copies– Stayed on the charts for 266 weeksStayed on the charts for 266 weeks

ThrashThrash

Unlike speed metal, thrash didn’t Unlike speed metal, thrash didn’t produce any superstars, but it did produce any superstars, but it did exert an influence on alternative rock exert an influence on alternative rock bands of the 1990s. bands of the 1990s.

Thrash never developed a mass Thrash never developed a mass audience; dedicated fans kept the audience; dedicated fans kept the style alive as an underground club-style alive as an underground club-based phenomenon through the based phenomenon through the 1990s.1990s.

NirvanaNirvana

In 1992, the commercial In 1992, the commercial breakthrough for alternative rock breakthrough for alternative rock was achieved by Nirvana, a band was achieved by Nirvana, a band from the Pacific Northwest. from the Pacific Northwest.

Between 1992 and 1994, Nirvana Between 1992 and 1994, Nirvana released two multiplatinum albums.released two multiplatinum albums.– Moved alternative rock’s blend of Moved alternative rock’s blend of

hardcore punk and heavy metal into the hardcore punk and heavy metal into the commercial mainstreamcommercial mainstream

NirvanaNirvana

Trio centered on singer and guitarist Trio centered on singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain (b. 1967 in Hoquiam, Kurt Cobain (b. 1967 in Hoquiam, Washington; d. 1994) and bassist Washington; d. 1994) and bassist Krist Novoselic (b. 1965 in Compton, Krist Novoselic (b. 1965 in Compton, California)California)

Nirvana’s debut album, Nirvana’s debut album, Bleach Bleach (1989)(1989)– Sold thirty-five thousand copiesSold thirty-five thousand copies

NevermindNevermind

In 1991, the group signed with major label In 1991, the group signed with major label DGC.DGC.– The album The album Nevermind Nevermind was released in was released in

September, 1991, quickly selling out its initial September, 1991, quickly selling out its initial shipment of fifty thousand copies and creating shipment of fifty thousand copies and creating a shortage in record stores across America. a shortage in record stores across America.

– By the beginning of 1992, By the beginning of 1992, NevermindNevermind had had reached Number One.reached Number One.

– Remained on the charts for almost five yearsRemained on the charts for almost five years Eventually sold more than ten million Eventually sold more than ten million

copiescopies

““Smells Like Teen Spirit”Smells Like Teen Spirit” One source of One source of Nevermind’sNevermind’s success was success was

the platinum single “Smells Like Teen the platinum single “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” a Top 10 hit. Spirit,” a Top 10 hit.

Combination of heavy metal instrumental Combination of heavy metal instrumental textures and pop songwriting techniquestextures and pop songwriting techniques– The band’s sound is sleek and well focused.The band’s sound is sleek and well focused.

Combines a four-chord heavy metal Combines a four-chord heavy metal harmonic progression with a somewhat harmonic progression with a somewhat conventional formal structure, made up of conventional formal structure, made up of four-, eight-, and twelve-bar sectionsfour-, eight-, and twelve-bar sections

Carefully crafted pop recordCarefully crafted pop record

Phish Phish

Created a loyal following by extending the Created a loyal following by extending the approach of the quintessential 1960s approach of the quintessential 1960s concert band, the Grateful Dead, and concert band, the Grateful Dead, and embracing their eclectic tastes and embracing their eclectic tastes and influences. influences. – A typical Phish concert would weave together A typical Phish concert would weave together

strands of rock, folk, jazz, country, bluegrass, strands of rock, folk, jazz, country, bluegrass, and pop. and pop.

– A band devoted to improvisation, Phish A band devoted to improvisation, Phish required a live performance environment to be required a live performance environment to be fully appreciated. fully appreciated.

““Stash”Stash” Twelve-and-a-half-minute track from the concert Twelve-and-a-half-minute track from the concert

album album Phish: A Live OnePhish: A Live One (1995) (1995) Exemplifies the band’s loose-jointed, Exemplifies the band’s loose-jointed,

freewheeling approach to collective improvisation freewheeling approach to collective improvisation The song—in the sense of a verse-chorus The song—in the sense of a verse-chorus

structure with a more or less fixed melody and structure with a more or less fixed melody and lyrics—takes up only a small proportion of the lyrics—takes up only a small proportion of the track.track.

Most of the track is an extended collective Most of the track is an extended collective exploration of the improvisational possibilities of exploration of the improvisational possibilities of a minor-key chord progression, carried along on a a minor-key chord progression, carried along on a rhythmic groove indebted to Latin American rhythmic groove indebted to Latin American music.music.

PhishPhish

Often dismissed by rock critics, in part Often dismissed by rock critics, in part because their music did not make sense in because their music did not make sense in terms of the rock-as-rebellion scenario terms of the rock-as-rebellion scenario that dominated such criticism that dominated such criticism – Their popularity as a touring act never Their popularity as a touring act never

translated into massive record sales.translated into massive record sales.– By the mid-1990s, Phish was able to pack By the mid-1990s, Phish was able to pack

stadiums— selling out Madison Square Garden stadiums— selling out Madison Square Garden in merely four hours.in merely four hours.

– None of their albums has sold as many as a None of their albums has sold as many as a million copies.million copies.