Alternative Rock was the rock genre that came out of the late 80’s as a post product of punk, new wave, synth-pop, glam, classic, progressive, hard and blues-driven rock. According to the limited media coverage and its relatively small commercial effect and, in turn, success, it was portrayed as the “antithesis” to heavy metal. Although, some might argue this for several bands might have been very much influenced by it. Nonetheless, it defined a whole generation of devotees and followers like me. You might have heard terminologies from groupies and non-followers alike referring to it as alternative or experimental rock, noise pop, dream pop, shoegazing, grunge, dark-wave or even post-punk. Each of these so called music categories have their own distinct bands and sounds and, to my apparent belief, as of the ‘07 there is a bit of a revival going on. I will write this post about some of the most important and influential bands that defined this generation and also that I find particularly good. I’m gonna work in chronological order and will add some media that I have from past gigs and from the Web.
First of all, let me pitch some band names and artists in the form of a “cloud” (see image above) so that you get a picture as to what this music style encompasses and is inherently composed of. As I like to call it, the global term for this genre is Alternative Rock, no tags or labels necessary. I’m gonna take a grounds up approach starting from the bands and some labels that laid the foundation, to the initiators, then the followers who solidified the scene. Finally, I’ll mention the last advocates, who put an end to this awesome music wave by outselling themselves or perhaps because it was an ephemeral wave in and of itself. A music wave that splashed down washing out too soon on the shores of both sides of the Atlantic for people to fully grasp its vivid and harmonious essence and impact. That’s why we are now seeing its revival. Go to the cloud above to see some of the band names and labels.
There you have the bands and artists I consider vital from this scene. Bands that laid the foundation and gave it its unique shape and colors. Most of these are personal favorites of mine: Pixies, Joy Division, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Cocteau Twins, and The Jesus and The Mary Chains. My Bloody Valentine is considered the backdrop of Shoegazing, as is The Jesus and the Mary Chains of Noise Pop and Nirvana of grunge. David Bowie, by all means, is the most vital and single-most influential source of Alternative Rock. Let’s start with the beginnings. As you will see, there are some bands that I didn’t include because I simply don’t know them. Perhaps it’ll be appropriate to pick up on those. Refer to the “Shoegazing” wikipedia time-line to see the chronological order.
In addition to explaining the alternative essence of this music style, I would like to cover the nuanced aspects in terms of aesthetics and the cult-like following that emerged. People in general were very artistic in nature and sensitive in character. The name “Shoegazing” came up after some performers -specifically My Bloody Valentine’s leader, Kevin Shields- played live with guitar in hand and starring down at his shoes. It was kind of sad and boring but the true essence here relied in the music. It was cohesive with somewhat dark lyrics, noisy/edgy and at times dreamy guitars, jazzy drums, heavy bass, some pop synths, re-verb effects, and an all rounded experimental and definite approach. Punk attitude without Mohawks and spikes flirting with Andy Warhol’s pop-like imagery. Abstaining from wearing make-up and spandex, think of Kurt Cobain adopting Ziggy Stardust’s persona. It was almost as if urban fast paced city life suddenly met with suburban casual and polite livelihood. That’s exactly what it was, punk meets dumb and out comes grunge. As has been the case for many other rock styles and music scenes, it was almost an urgency that took place as a means for a youth to define their generation. In the end, we all need to be heard at a certain time of our lives, and we all ask questions in search of answers that have to do with equality, love and hate, society, and life in general. That’s why we feel compelled to belong and to feel comfort within. Alternative rock was the perfect antidote to a Western Society poised with larger than life questions and answers.
From Grangemouth, Scotland, Cocteau Twins was the first band that arouse with this rather shy and surreal sound in 1979. Having a passive aggressive approach, sound mixing was very detail oriented and a carefully crafted deed. In the form of atmospheric and melodic textures, it evoked melancholic emotions appealing to one’s own imagination. This band was very much into spacey driven guitar riffs alongside obscure bass pounding and jazzy pop drums. As if Brian Eno’s The Roxy partnered with Robert Smith’s The Cure for a darker and more organic sound. High tenor-like notes are delivered in such precise delight by the lead singer Liz Frasier that it’s just mesmerizing to the ears. I believe this band single handily invented the “shoegazing” sound and, to a certain extend, unleashed the right elements that shaped the form and gave it its unique colors right from the start. Key songs include Heaven or Las Vegas, Song to the Siren, Iceblink Luck to name a few. Cocteau Twins could not have achieved this if it wasn’t for their label: 
4AD is a “British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today.” It’s home to some amazing acts that include The Pixies, Bauhaus, The Breeders, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil, TV On The Radio, Stereolab, Blonde Redhead, among others. Back when I was 14 and living in Potomac, MD, I was actually introduced to it and its bands, (Pixies being at the core of it all), by my next door neighbors from Santiago, Chile.
