Alternative country
Alternative country | |
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Stylistic origins | |
Cultural origins | Late 20th century |
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Alternative country (commonly abbreviated to alt-country;
Definitions and characteristics
In the 1990s, the term alternative country, paralleling alternative rock, began to be used to describe a diverse group of musicians and singers operating outside the traditions and industry of mainstream country music.[4] Many eschewed the increasingly polished production values and pop sensibilities of the Nashville-dominated industry for a more lo-fi sound, frequently infused with a strong punk and rock and roll aesthetic.[5] Lyrics may be bleak or socially aware, but also more heartfelt and less likely to use the clichés sometimes used by mainstream country musicians. In other respects, the musical styles of artists that fall within this genre often have little in common, ranging from traditional American folk music and bluegrass, through rockabilly and honky-tonk, to music that is indistinguishable from mainstream rock or country.[6] This already broad labeling has been further confused by alternative country artists disavowing the movement, mainstream artists declaring they are part of it, and retroactive claims that past or veteran musicians are alternative country. No Depression, the best-known magazine dedicated to the genre, declared that it covered "alternative-country music (whatever that is)".[7]
History
Alternative country drew on traditional American country music, the music of working people, preserved and celebrated by practitioners such as
Attempts to combine punk and country had been pioneered by
See also
- List of alternative country musicians
- Americana (music)
- Heartland rock
- Red Dirt (music)
- Southern rock
- Southern metal
- Outlaw country
- Gothic country
- Indie folk
- Texas country music
- Progressive country
- Country rock
- Cow punk
References
- Notes
- ^ "The story of No Depression" Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, No Depression, retrieved May 19, 2010.
- ^ "Alternative Country-Rock Music Genre Overview". AllMusic.
- ^ ISBN 0-292-75262-8, p. 451.
- ^ ISBN 0-19-537371-5, pp. 204–9.
- ISBN 1-85828-534-8, p. 549.
- ISBN 0-8131-0990-6, pp. 78–80.
- ISBN 0-8131-2308-9, p. 164.
- ISBN 1-86403-241-3, p. 134.
- ISBN 1-85828-534-8, p. 396.
- ^ Fechik, Mariel (May 7, 2020). "Interview: X's Exene Cervenka on LA Punk Legends' Return & New Album ALPHABETLAND". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ M. Deming, "No Depression Bonus Tracks", Allmusic, retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ISBN 1-85828-534-8, p. 550.
- ISBN 1-85828-534-8, pp. 549–92.
- Bibliography
- Alden, Grant; & Blackstock, Peter (1998). No Depression: An Introduction to Alternative Country Music. Whatever That Is. Dowling Pr. ISBN 1-891847-00-7.
- Goodman, David (1999). Modern Twang: An Alternative Country Music Guide and Directory. Dowling Pr. ISBN 1-891847-03-1.
- Wolff, Kurt; Duane, Orla (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. pp. 557–8. ISBN 978-1-85828-534-4.
- Kasten, Roy (April 29, 2008). "Fifteen Things You Might Not Know about The Bottle Rockets, on Their Fifteenth Birthday". Riverfront Times. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011.
- Hogeland, William (March 14, 2004), "Emulating the Real and Vital Guthrie, Not St. Woody", New York Times.
External links
- "So what is insurgent country anyway?"
- alt.country: what is this stuff? from American Studies at the University of Virginia