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 Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, and The Carter Family, often cited as major influences.[8] Another major influence was country rock, the result of fusing country music with a rock & roll sound. The artist most commonly thought to have originated country rock is Gram Parsons (who referred to his sound as "Cosmic American Music"), although Michael Nesmith, Steve Earle[9] and Gene Clark are frequently identified as important innovators.[10] The third factor was punk rock, which supplied an energy and DIY attitude.[9]
Attempts to combine punk and country had been pioneered by Nashville's Jason and the Scorchers, and in the 1980s Southern Californian cowpunk scene with bands like the Long Ryders[3] and X,[11] and the Minneapolis-based band The Jayhawks, but these styles merged fully in Uncle Tupelo's 1990 LP No Depression, which is widely credited as being the first "alt-country" album, and gave its name to the online notice board and eventually magazine that underpinned the movement.[4][12] They released three more influential albums, signing to a major label, before they broke up in 1994, with members and figures associated with them going on to form three major bands in the genre: Wilco, Son Volt and Bottle Rockets.[4] Bottle Rockets signed, along with acts like Freakwater, Old 97's and Robbie Fulks, to the Chicago-based indie label, Bloodshot, who pioneered a version of the genre under the name insurgent country.[3][13] The bands Blue Mountain, Whiskeytown, Blood Oranges and Drive-By Truckers further developed this tradition before most began to move more in the direction of rock music in the 2000s.[14]
^"Alternative Country-Rock Music Genre Overview". AllMusic.
^"The story of No Depression" January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, No Depression, retrieved May 19, 2010.
^ abcW. C. Malone, Country Music, U.S.A. (Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 2nd edn., 2002), ISBN0-292-75262-8, p. 451.
^ abcdC. Smith, 101 Albums That Changed Popular Music (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009), ISBN0-19-537371-5, pp. 204–9.
^K. Wolff and O. Duane, eds, Country Music: the Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides, 2000), ISBN1-85828-534-8, p. 549.
^C. K. Wolfe and J. E. Akenson, Country Music Annual 2001 (University Press of Kentucky, 2001), ISBN0-8131-0990-6, pp. 78–80.
^A. A. Fox, "Alternative to what?": O Brother, September 11 and the politics of country music", in C. K. Wolfe and J. E. Akenson, Country Music Goes to War (Lexington, KY: University Press of Kentucky, 2005), ISBN0-8131-2308-9, p. 164.
^G Smith, Singing Australian: a History of Folk and Country Music (Melbourne: Pluto Press Australia, 2005), ISBN1-86403-241-3, p. 134.
^ abK. Wolff and O. Duane, eds, Country Music: the Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides, 2000), ISBN1-85828-534-8, p. 396.
^M. Demming, "Gene Clark: biography", Allmusic, May 3, 2014.
^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.
^K. Wolff and O. Duane, eds, Country Music: the Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides, 2000), ISBN1-85828-534-8, p. 550.
^K. Wolff and O. Duane, eds, Country Music: the Rough Guide (London: Rough Guides, 2000), ISBN1-85828-534-8, pp. 549–92.
Bibliography
Alden, Grant; & Blackstock, Peter (1998). No Depression: An Introduction to Alternative Country Music. Whatever That Is. Dowling Pr. ISBN1-891847-00-7.
Goodman, David (1999). Modern Twang: An Alternative Country Music Guide and Directory. Dowling Pr. ISBN1-891847-03-1.
Wolff, Kurt; Duane, Orla (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides. pp. 557–8. ISBN978-1-85828-534-4.
Kasten, Roy (April 29, 2008), Fifteen Things You Might Not Know about The Bottle Rockets, on Their Fifteenth Birthday, Riverfront Times.
Hogeland, William (March 14, 2004), Emulating the Real and Vital Guthrie, Not St. Woody, New York Times.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alternative country.
"So what is insurgent country anyway?"
from American Studies at the University of Virginia
May 10, 2023
alternative, country, alternative, country, rock, sometimes, country, insurgent, country, americana, allternative, loosely, defined, subgenre, country, music, country, rock, that, includes, acts, that, differ, significantly, style, from, mainstream, country, m. Alternative country or alternative country rock 1 sometimes alt country 2 insurgent country 3 Americana or y allternative 4 is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream country music mainstream country rock and country pop Alternative country artists are often influenced by alternative rock Most frequently the term has been used to describe certain country music and country rock bands and artists that are also defined as or have incorporated influences from alternative rock indie rock punk rock heartland rock Southern rock progressive country outlaw country neotraditional country Texas country Red Dirt honky tonk bluegrass rockabilly psychobilly roots rock hard rock folk revival indie folk folk rock folk punk cowpunk blues punk blues rock grunge emocore post hardcore and rhythm n blues Alternative countryStylistic originsCountryalternative rockcountry rockoutlaw countryneotraditional countryprogressive countrypunk rockindie rockheartland rocksouthern rockfolk rockCultural originsLate 20th centuryOther topicsAmericana cowpunk folk punk gothic country indie folk Southern metal Contents 1 Definitions and characteristics 2 History 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDefinitions and characteristics Edit Son Volt performing in 2005 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 cliches 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 EditAlternative country drew on traditional American country music the music of working people preserved and celebrated by practitioners such as Woody Guthrie Hank Williams and The Carter Family often cited as major influences 8 Another major influence was country rock the result of fusing country music with a rock amp roll sound The artist most commonly thought to have originated country rock is Gram Parsons who referred to his sound as Cosmic American Music although Michael Nesmith Steve Earle 9 and Gene Clark are frequently identified as important innovators 10 The third factor was punk rock which supplied an energy and DIY attitude 9 Blue Mountain on stage in 2008 Attempts to combine punk and country had been pioneered by Nashville s Jason and the Scorchers and in the 1980s Southern Californian cowpunk scene with bands like the Long Ryders 3 and X 11 and the Minneapolis based band The Jayhawks but these styles merged fully in Uncle Tupelo s 1990 LP No Depression which is widely credited as being the first alt country album and gave its name to the online notice board and eventually magazine that underpinned the movement 4 12 They released three more influential albums signing to a major label before they broke up in 1994 with members and figures associated with them going on to form three major bands in the genre Wilco Son Volt and Bottle Rockets 4 Bottle Rockets signed along with acts like Freakwater Old 97 s and Robbie Fulks to the Chicago based indie label Bloodshot who pioneered a version of the genre under the name insurgent country 3 13 The bands Blue Mountain Whiskeytown Blood Oranges and Drive By Truckers further developed this tradition before most began to move more in the direction of rock music in the 2000s 14 See also EditList 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 punkReferences EditNotes Alternative Country Rock Music Genre Overview AllMusic The story of No Depression Archived January 13 2010 at the Wayback Machine No Depression retrieved May 19 2010 a b c W C Malone Country Music U S A Austin TX University of Texas Press 2nd edn 2002 ISBN 0 292 75262 8 p 451 a b c d C Smith 101 Albums That Changed Popular Music Oxford Oxford University Press 2009 ISBN 0 19 537371 5 pp 204 9 K Wolff and O Duane eds Country Music the Rough Guide London Rough Guides 2000 ISBN 1 85828 534 8 p 549 C K Wolfe and J E Akenson Country Music Annual 2001 University Press of Kentucky 2001 ISBN 0 8131 0990 6 pp 78 80 A A Fox Alternative to what O Brother September 11 and the politics of country music in C K Wolfe and J E Akenson Country Music Goes to War Lexington KY University Press of Kentucky 2005 ISBN 0 8131 2308 9 p 164 G Smith Singing Australian a History of Folk and Country Music Melbourne Pluto Press Australia 2005 ISBN 1 86403 241 3 p 134 a b K Wolff and O Duane eds Country Music the Rough Guide London Rough Guides 2000 ISBN 1 85828 534 8 p 396 M Demming Gene Clark biography Allmusic May 3 2014 Fechik Mariel May 7 2020 Interview X s Exene Cervenka on LA Punk Legends Return amp New Album ALPHABETLAND Atwood Magazine Retrieved May 8 2020 M Deming No Depression Bonus Tracks Allmusic retrieved January 26 2009 K Wolff and O Duane eds Country Music the Rough Guide London Rough Guides 2000 ISBN 1 85828 534 8 p 550 K Wolff and O Duane eds Country Music the Rough Guide London Rough Guides 2000 ISBN 1 85828 534 8 pp 549 92 BibliographyAlden Grant amp 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 Hogeland William March 14 2004 Emulating the Real and Vital Guthrie Not St Woody New York Times External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alternative country So what is insurgent country anyway alt country what is this stuff from American Studies at the University of Virginia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alternative country amp oldid 1153473399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
