alt rock
Non-mainstream guitar music
Alt rock is a shorthand for alternative rock, a broad category of rock music that emerged in the 1980s as an alternative to mainstream commercial rock.
The genre encompasses diverse styles united mainly by existing outside—or originally outside—the pop mainstream: I grew up on alt rock bands like R.E.M. and Nirvana.
Many alt rock acts eventually achieved mainstream success, blurring the distinction.
Release from earthly existence
- Pearl JamSeattle grunge pioneers
- SoundgardenSeattle grunge rock band
- RadioheadBritish art rock band
- R.E.M.Dream-heavy sleep phase
Pixies · Weezer · Beck · Sonic Youth · The Cure · Depeche Mode · Stone Temple Pilots · Foo Fighters
Accumulated dirt or filth
- indieProduced outside majors
- post-punkExperimental rock after '77
- shoegazeDistortion-heavy ethereal rock
- college radioStudent-operated broadcast outlet
power pop · dream pop · emo · new wave · lo-fi · experimental · underground · subgenre
Twisting from original state
- guitarFretted stringed instrument
- drumsStruck membrane instruments
- bassDeep pitch or fish
- feedbackReturned response data
fuzz · amplifier · riff · power chord · melody · harmony · vocals · rhythm
Below ground or countercultural
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- flannelSoft napped cloth
Doc Martens · zine · slacker · Gen X · hipster · mosh pit · crowd surf · college radio
1990-1999
- Warped TourTraveling rock music festival
- mixtapeInformal song compilation
- cassetteMagnetic audio cartridge
- MTVYouth-oriented video network
TRL · CD single · record store · music video · Seattle sound · post-grunge
Nirvana
Release from earthly existence
- Pearl JamSeattle grunge pioneers
- SoundgardenSeattle grunge rock band
- RadioheadBritish art rock band
R.E.M. · Pixies · Weezer · Beck · Sonic Youth · The Cure · Depeche Mode · Stone Temple Pilots · Foo Fighters · Blur
grunge
Accumulated dirt or filth
- indieProduced outside majors
- post-punkExperimental rock after '77
- shoegazeDistortion-heavy ethereal rock
college radio · power pop · dream pop · emo · new wave · lo-fi · experimental · underground · subgenre · crossover
distortion
Twisting from original state
feedback · fuzz · amplifier · riff · power chord · melody · harmony · vocals · rhythm · reverb
underground
Below ground or countercultural
- subcultureGroup with alternative norms
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
flannel · Doc Martens · zine · slacker · Gen X · hipster · mosh pit · crowd surf · college radio · indie label
nineties
1990-1999
- Warped TourTraveling rock music festival
- mixtapeInformal song compilation
- cassetteMagnetic audio cartridge
MTV · TRL · CD single · record store · music video · Seattle sound · post-grunge
concert
Live musical performance
venue · club · arena · tour · setlist · encore · crowd · audience · front row · stage dive
- musicmusic, song, songs, singing, singer
- music genresblues, pop, jazz, classical, country
- American musicjazz, blues, country music, country, hip hop
- rock genresheavy metal, metal, punk, grunge, Britpop
- band music stylesjazz, pop, blues, funk, soul
- rock musicelectric guitar, guitar solo, guitar riff, guitar riffs, power chords
alt rockpop rock
Catchy guitar-driven commercial music
arena rock · pop music · adult contemporary · hair metal · glam metal
alt rockheavy metal
Aggressive amplified rock genre
hair metal · thrash metal · death metal · metal · pop
alt, rock, alternative, alternatively, rocks, rocked, rocking, rocker, rocky