Alternative rock vs regular rock

Aqualung · 08-04-2006, 08:16 PM

What is the difference between alternative rock and regular rock? Is it even a genre, or is it like indie in that it's more of an exclusionary term ("this isn't exactly rock, so we'll call it alternative rock", rather than "this IS alternative rock)?

antony · 08-04-2006, 08:28 PM

I know what you're saying, but I've given up trying to catagorize the two. "Alternative" rock has been around long enough where the two inter-twine (sp?). The only time I mention, "hey, this is a good alternative rock song," is when the radio plays a song circa 89-94 that was a "buzz clip" on MTV.

But I listen to WXRT in chicago, and that plays anything good, classic rock, old rock-a-billy, alternative, jazz fusion. anything that needs full brain capacity to play. although i could go either way on jazz fusion.

Strings · 08-04-2006, 09:26 PM

By "regular rock" you mean Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, right?

ChrisP · 08-05-2006, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strings

By "regular rock" you mean Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, right?

I love a good elitist.

Regular rock has that dancing beat, alt rock is moshable... and that to me is the difference.

Strings · 08-05-2006, 11:48 AM

So Metallica is alt and Phish is regular?

Oh... and I'm not AN elitist... I'm THE elitist! Coincidentally I'm also the God of Arrogance!

And for some reason I've been the king of instigators lately...

ChrisP · 08-05-2006, 11:59 AM

Pssshhh you'll never take that title from me!

Metallica is Heavy Metal... anything outside Heavy Metal I can mosh too gets "Alternative" attached to it

Aqualung · 08-05-2006, 07:11 PM

I have been doing it on a heavy scale. There's thrash metal, heavy metal, hard rock, rock, alternative rock, and indie.

dex · 12-14-2007, 03:45 AM

I would say anything that was kinda rockish but definately not metal used to be called Alt. Now it's got it own signature sound.

Neverlife · 12-14-2007, 04:16 AM

I think the difference, is that normally alt is more punk, (Rise Against), but also other music that just doesnt fit in anywhere else (The Offspring)

Whats the difference between rock, and mainstream?

dex · 12-16-2007, 09:15 PM

Offspring is punk. Not alt.

"Rock" covers the whole spectrum to me. The Beatles are rock. Poison is rock. Amon Amarth........they're all rock. Mainstream rock = Three days grace, third eye blind, etc.

Neverlife · 12-21-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex

Offspring is punk. Not alt.

"Rock" covers the whole spectrum to me. The Beatles are rock. Poison is rock. Amon Amarth........they're all rock. Mainstream rock = Three days grace, third eye blind, etc.

yeah, that makes more sense.

08-04-2006, 08:16 PM	#1
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 270	What is the difference between alternative rock and regular rock? Is it even a genre, or is it like indie in that it's more of an exclusionary term ("this isn't exactly rock, so we'll call it alternative rock", rather than "this IS alternative rock)? __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

08-04-2006, 08:28 PM	#2
antony My Mic sounds Nice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chicago!! Posts: 183 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Rep Power: 52	I know what you're saying, but I've given up trying to catagorize the two. "Alternative" rock has been around long enough where the two inter-twine (sp?). The only time I mention, "hey, this is a good alternative rock song," is when the radio plays a song circa 89-94 that was a "buzz clip" on MTV. But I listen to WXRT in chicago, and that plays anything good, classic rock, old rock-a-billy, alternative, jazz fusion. anything that needs full brain capacity to play. although i could go either way on jazz fusion. __________________

08-04-2006, 09:26 PM	#3
Strings Multi-instrumentalist Gearhead Extrodinaire Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,106 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts Rep Power: 69	By "regular rock" you mean Ike Turner and the Kings of Rhythm, right? __________________ If you play more than two chords, you're showing off. Woody Guthrie

08-05-2006, 11:48 AM	#5
Strings Multi-instrumentalist Gearhead Extrodinaire Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,106 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts Rep Power: 69	So Metallica is alt and Phish is regular? Oh... and I'm not AN elitist... I'm THE elitist! Coincidentally I'm also the God of Arrogance! And for some reason I've been the king of instigators lately... __________________ If you play more than two chords, you're showing off. Woody Guthrie

08-05-2006, 07:11 PM	#7
Aqualung Pshaw! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Washington Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 527 Thanked 731 Times in 684 Posts Rep Power: 270	I have been doing it on a heavy scale. There's thrash metal, heavy metal, hard rock, rock, alternative rock, and indie. __________________ Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

12-14-2007, 03:45 AM	#8
dex Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 4349'19" N 8445'55" W Posts: 82 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Rep Power: 29	I would say anything that was kinda rockish but definately not metal used to be called Alt. Now it's got it own signature sound.

12-14-2007, 04:16 AM	#9
Neverlife Dungeon Master Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Newman Grove, NE Posts: 2,010 Thanks: 55 Thanked 84 Times in 75 Posts Rep Power: 0	I think the difference, is that normally alt is more punk, (Rise Against), but also other music that just doesnt fit in anywhere else (The Offspring) Whats the difference between rock, and mainstream? __________________ "Today is the tommorow, you worried about yesterday"

12-16-2007, 09:15 PM	#10
dex Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 4349'19" N 8445'55" W Posts: 82 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Rep Power: 29	Offspring is punk. Not alt. "Rock" covers the whole spectrum to me. The Beatles are rock. Poison is rock. Amon Amarth........they're all rock. Mainstream rock = Three days grace, third eye blind, etc.

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