Poll: Why all the hate for Alternative Rock?
- Thread starter SteakHeart
- Start date
I absoloutely love alternative rock, it is without a doubt my favourite genre. OP, your definition of alternative rock is AWFUL - this whole emo/pop-punk scene is a small sliver of alternative rock, and it is one of the most embarassing ones, frankly (although, there are MANY exceptions). For me, alternative rock can largely be compared to indie rock, and within that wonderful genre lies some of the most talented bands to ever make music - Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Pixies, Television, R.E.M., Talking Heads, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Pavement, My Bloody Valentine, The Flaming Lips, Neutral Milk Hotel, Arcade Fire, The Strokes, and (the most important alt rock band of the last 15 years) Radiohead - I could go on, but no need.
The Indie rock scene has been, and remains to this day, one of the most vibrant sources of creativity and originality in rock history, and although it's hay-day certaintly was in the late 80s/early 90s, there are still a lot of great indie bands, and I would strongly encourage people to go out and find them. *Gives Alternative Rock a big hug*
The Indie rock scene has been, and remains to this day, one of the most vibrant sources of creativity and originality in rock history, and although it's hay-day certaintly was in the late 80s/early 90s, there are still a lot of great indie bands, and I would strongly encourage people to go out and find them. *Gives Alternative Rock a big hug*
alternative rock is to wide a label to say u hate or love it
its like saying whether you like metal in all its forms
its like saying whether you like metal in all its forms
OK. This thread makes me angry.
1) Alternative Rock is a genre iTunes made up.
2) Rage Against the Machine IS NOT ALTERNATIVE ROCK i just saw someone posted that and it made me shake my head in disappointment. They are metal in the broadest sense, but rap-metal really.
3) The worst thing about pop-punk&emo, which are usually the real genres people are referring to when they say alt rock, is the song titles IMO. They're always a sentence long. So unnecessary. And they try too hard to be ironic.
4) I just saw someone list Nirvana. Also wrong. That would be grunge.
5) People who are defending alternative rock seem to have no idea what it means because they are just throwing together a bunch of their favorite rock bands which all belong in different subgenres.
1) Alternative Rock is a genre iTunes made up.
2) Rage Against the Machine IS NOT ALTERNATIVE ROCK i just saw someone posted that and it made me shake my head in disappointment. They are metal in the broadest sense, but rap-metal really.
3) The worst thing about pop-punk&emo, which are usually the real genres people are referring to when they say alt rock, is the song titles IMO. They're always a sentence long. So unnecessary. And they try too hard to be ironic.
4) I just saw someone list Nirvana. Also wrong. That would be grunge.
5) People who are defending alternative rock seem to have no idea what it means because they are just throwing together a bunch of their favorite rock bands which all belong in different subgenres.
edited my post first of all to make a comment about nirvana, but while I realize that alternative rock has been used before, iTunes' terrible job of labeling music genres has caused the term to explode and suddenly it just includes everything from prog rock to pop punk to post punk to grunge to emo. This is just fail. I've taken a few music genre classes and one of my friends worked for a website like pandora. Identifying genres of music has become incredibly technical and terms like "alternative rock" or my personal favorite, "adult rock," are just way too broad to be considered genres.Glefistus said:
Nirvana isn't grunge. They were lumped in with the grunge movement, and they were given credit for starting it, but Nirvana are a punk band at heart. They have literally no similarity to the likes of Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, etc. And yes, alt rock has a lot of sub-genres, but for the sake of simplicity, it is an accepted notion to refer to them as being "alternative rock".clairedelune said:
I can't fathom people saying they dislike alternative rock since they use that term to describe soooo many things. It's the miscellaneous folder of rock music. I'll tell you what I often have trouble listening to, and that's post-grunge. And a lot of post-grunge bands also sort of fall under the alternative label.
I like it.
I like all music.
Except techno/rave/dance/party/whatever.. That just cant be counted as music.
Anyway, I only go to metal/alternative rock concerts. Going to see Black Dahlia Murder, Carnifex, Three Inches of Blood and so on in january ;o
I like all music.
Except techno/rave/dance/party/whatever.. That just cant be counted as music.
Anyway, I only go to metal/alternative rock concerts. Going to see Black Dahlia Murder, Carnifex, Three Inches of Blood and so on in january ;o
I like REM... grew up listening to a mix of alternative rock... hair metal... and classical music... I might not be the kinda person to ask about good music since i like pretty much EVERYthing... but a buddy of mine told me to turn of the emo shit when i had REM playing on my stereo... I punched him, he shut up and listened to it awhile without complaining... I slowly convert my friends to like it that way lols... 'course Sometimes when yer drinking and stuff music kinda sinks in. and when you hear it later you like it and don't know why... meh
Wow, no way man, no way. Listen to bands like Alice in Chains - THAT is grunge. Really moody, that unique vocal style by guys like Layne Stanley or Eddie Vetter; yeah Nirvana has way too many pop-hooks in their music, but I suppose some of their stuff (like the tunings they used) is grunge-ish, but I just hear a lot more punk in their music, but I suppose that's just me. As for the Dinosaur Jr. comment, I suppose I can see where you're coming from with that, but once again that seems more post-punk/punk to my ears.Ayrav said:
I don't consider the stuff you're talking about, alternative rock. It's hard to say what I would consider alternative rock, but only one band comes to mind.
A Perfect Circle, and they have NOTHING in common with the shit you just described.
All the "emo" crap, yes, it's bad. The most annoying thing for me is, I listen to heavy metal, all sorts, and people always say to me, "you listen to screamo, right?"
NO! I listen to metal, and the fact that people are grouping metal together with that shitty "alternative" crap is why I hate it.
A Perfect Circle, and they have NOTHING in common with the shit you just described.
All the "emo" crap, yes, it's bad. The most annoying thing for me is, I listen to heavy metal, all sorts, and people always say to me, "you listen to screamo, right?"
NO! I listen to metal, and the fact that people are grouping metal together with that shitty "alternative" crap is why I hate it.
I just thought up the most awesome lame motivational poster ever. A rock with a fringe, shawl and eyebrow piercing and big letters underneath it saying "Alternative rock - because all the other rocks suck".
Aaanyway, what do you define as 'alternative rock'? It's too big a genre for me to give one opinion on.
Aaanyway, what do you define as 'alternative rock'? It's too big a genre for me to give one opinion on.
All genres are great on their own merits and I love loads of Alt. Rock.
so I think the real question is 'WHERE is all the hate for alternative rock'
so I think the real question is 'WHERE is all the hate for alternative rock'
Not to attempt to use wikipedia as a legitimate source or anything, but let's look at their definition of grunge... "grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. The grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared to other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt appearances and rejection of theatrics."SonicKoala said:
sounds a lot like Nirvana to me...
Sorry to throw that quote at you but I think its a fair assumption to make that you wouldn't just trust my word. Nirvana is MUCH more grunge than punk. Just because they don't sound like pearl jam doesn't mean they aren't grunge, especially because (IMO) pearl jam, while at the core a grunge band, mixes in elements of other rock subgenres.
Trying to argue that Nirvana isn't grunge is kind of a lost cause. While you may find people who support that on these forums (because who doesn't like to argue over the internet just for the hell of it) it's so widely accepted that they are a defining group and pretty much founders of that genre of rock music, so it doesn't actually make any sense to say that they aren't grunge...
Yeah Red is pretty much awesome for that.Thaius said:
That said alt rock is all I listen to. It doesn't have the jarring sound of metal, you can understand the lyrics, and its still heavy enough to rock out to.
Breaking Benjamin/trapt/3DG/Red/flyleaf are all what I consider "alt rock" that said I don't know anyone who hates that genre.
If you're so insecure about your taste in music that you feel the need to create a thread asking why people hate it, then you're emo. If you like it, listen to it. I don't care much for it, but I don't hate it. Now I'll go back to listening to Tom Waits, Leningrad, Fugazi, Neutral Milk Hotel, Eisregen, Slayer, KMFDM, Dead Kennedys, Black Heart Procession, Skyforger, Murder City Devils... etc... Varied musical tastes can be a good thing, just don't get butt-hurt if people don't like your tastes.