LinuxBBQ

Alternative rock (also called alternative music, alt-rock or simply alternative) is a genre of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s. The "alternative" definition refers to the genre's distinction from mainstream rock music, expressed primarily in a distorted guitar sound, subversive and/or transgressive lyrics and generally a nonchalant, defiant attitude.

Heh. So there's that. Thanks wikipedia, you saved me from having to spend a half-hour formulating a half-assed introduction. Anywho, I didn't see a place dedicated to this (bump me off, moderator of the month, if there happens to already be one) so I thought I might just plop a little one down right here.

I'll start us off with Pixies' album, Doolittle (which is a YouTube playlist... able to be scrobbled), apparently the quintessential alt-rock album to many. I guess I can see why, with all of those catchy hooks... ”WANNA GROW UP TO BE! BE A DEBASER! (debaser) DEBASER! (debaser) DEBAAAAASER!” (What is a debaser? What are be debasing? I don't know, but I want to do it anyway.)

Then I might toss in Sonic Youth's equally(?) epic album, Daydream Nation. Concerning this peice, a rateyourmusic reviewer said it best:

I love this record because it was made by $30,000 in the era when dreadful over-the-top production was the order of the day. But most of all, I love this album because it makes beauty out of chaos and distortion and noise and feedback, and doesn't compromise on anything.

Lastly, I might throw in an Arctic Monkeys song, "Fluorescent Adolescent," as they seem to be all the rage amongst my peers. Personally, I prefer Radiohead, specifically OK Computer, over the more recent stuff.

A lot of good stuff in the genre, I'm sure. I should spend more time lurking through reviews online, but for the most time I just pick an album on Spotify to stream while doing work and don't spend my time sorting through hip, undiscovered bands. Oh well.

I had thought of starting the "alt rock" thread, but then promptly forgot it. So, excellent!

Yeah, I own both Doolittle and Daydream Nation, definitely classics. Saw Sonic Youth a couple of times, but never did get to see the Pixies. One of my favorite alt-rock, post-punk (and perhaps psychedelic?) bands was the Butthole Surfers. Saw them a few times. The first time I saw them, they had two drummers and go-go dancers. ALL times that I saw them, I was highly *ahem* altered. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tWsBw3lB64

Jane's Addiction - Nothing's Shocking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brQ-EWz ... ZnQUg8wz5C

Oh dear: Pixies, Sonic Youth, Jane's Addiction... I grew up with this music. Too old for this shit now (kidding, I'll see what I can do here.)

^ I resemble this comment. :)

Seriously, I guess the trip down memory lane is kinda cool, but any more my tastes run toward somafm (Groove Salad, Defcon Radio, Suburbs of Goa) and classical music. Popular music and rock, etc., not so much. I don't like to be "beat over the head" by music much, any more, know what I mean? *grumpy old man, been there, done that*

It seems Alternative actually transformed to mainstream Rock music of today that is really boring, every band sounds the same.

Pixies, yes, the real ones.

Not sure if this fits here or in a separate 'Indie' or what, I treat it as Alternative, too -- this is Deerhunter's Microcastle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_jMTjO-OFc

For luck youtube has suggestions -- this was between them: Ducktails - The Flower Lane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22Bex_LB97U

A bit more shoegaze :D Could also be in Very New Wave, or not? I never heard of DIIV before (thanks youtube!), DIIV - Oshin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBERG3rgUA0 -- sounds very fluffy. Heavy use of reverb.

/puts youtube in block list, have to get work done :/

How about Placebo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3UVHT4tcMM

and from across the pond - The Dandy Warhols

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8b2y87Jz7c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh1MpBBRutI

More UK stuff from The Bloc Party:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvNrsuieMLs

^ Placebo, definitely :)

Smashing Pumpkins maybe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFOLiPg526U

Pearl Jam's Ten must be here, for sure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xXp_XJzgC4

Don't get me started on Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails and Tool. I can go on for months about how I used to listen to them EVERY day.

Definitely guys, great music.

I put on this while I was cleaning this morning. I had to stop cleaning, because I started jumping around the house, screaming the lyrics. I have to confess I shed a couple of tears remembering how it was being 16 years old, listening to this record and getting asked "how can you stand his crappy voice?".

Just a couple of songs:

1979 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUen_3kbQo
Tonight, Tonight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOG3eus4ZSo

Next I took my beloved Adore LP and tears came again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUekVmpT70k

Damn you, emotions.

In a very interesting (for me) way, Tool made my marriage happened.

Aenema - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCXrgASzf50 (my favorite)
Lateralus - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCDjP4JnpGU
10,000 Days - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ajx-ABtbVM

The Downward Spiral - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5lQwJqrjkM
The Fragile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky8tTrb_dQI

I remember a Nine Inch Nails gig where I was in the front row with my sister. It was VERY intense, crowded, everybody pushing, crowd-surfing. After 5 songs my sister couldn't take it anymore. She closed her eyes, passed out and let the security took her away. Still, a great concert. ;)

^^^ yesss, Tonight Tonight is an insanely good song. i will check out the entire album. i always loved Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, especially the loud tracks, about the rat in the cage and zeroes and such. teenage angst, yeah? still good shit though. thanks for the reminder G!

One more:

Pixies - Doolittle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P3lhrw ... 103B08A22D

Whenever someone came to me saying "why don't you listen to Guns'n'Roses?" or "how can you not like AC/DC?", I smiled and answered with this record.

Hmm. *strokes chin* Good stuff, Gekko :) As I re-listen to this stuff I am almost reminded of a band I saw play at a outdoor venue last summer. Would this count as a sort of alt-rockish sound? I really don't know where to classify them - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX3jR5TmbPI

The lyrics are a little shocking at first; just a heads up.

Another one by Emery, "The Curse of Perfect Days" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOrILA9j0Fc

As I google it (like I should have), it looks like they are classified as Emo/Post-hardcore/Alt-rock :) http://www.altpress.com/reviews/entry/e ... t_we_want/
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Emery/183/

^ Yes, they are alternative rock.

Oh my....Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, Veruca Salt, and such was a major part of my life. I went to see so many of these bands live. To be totally honest, while most people were all about Seattle in the early 90's, I preferred the music coming out of Chicago.

Let's add a few more to the list:
Urge Overkill
Liz Phair