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Music- sheet 10
Course: Popular Music and Diversity in American Society (MUSI 1003)
36 Documents
Students shared 36 documents in this course
University: University of Connecticut
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Review Sheet 10
The 1990s-2000s: Alternative Rock, EDM, and New Technologies
o Alternative Rock: By the 1990s, almost every genre of popular music had an “alternative”
version; artists were looking for new approaches, through lyrics, instruments, combining various
styles, incorporating new technologies, or revisiting old ones. Alternative Rock is one of the
most enduring genres (although of course the term can describe so many different styles,
artists, etc. Our focus is on the genre that emerged in the early-1990s, through Nirvana and the
Grunge Rock (or the “Seattle Sound”). [Note: Alternative Rock began as an extension of punk
rock traditions; hardcore rock (Metallica, for example) was an extreme version of punk (loud,
fast, and angry); by the early 1990s, we see a sleeker, more commercial style emerging, with
some of those elements still in place.]
• “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana, 1991) From the surprising hit album Nevermind. This
single was basically an anthem for teenage angst, and Nirvana (led by Kurt Cobain) had the
perfect image for Grunge Rock (or the Seattle Sound). The song has several sections, with
different styles of singing and instrumental accompaniment. Traditional rock instruments
(electric guitar, bass, percussion) and Cobain’s moody singing. The guitar hook at the beginning
is highly recognizable in pop culture today, featuring a four- chord progression that is heard at
various points in the song. Cobain’s signing is at times tired and depressed, and at other times,
angry and agitated. The video shows, on the surface, a stereotypical high school scene, with
teenagers at a dance, cheerleaders, etc., but the overall scene is dark, nihilistic, and anarchic
(without order or structure). Cobain’s face is darkly shadowed throughout most of the video.
o Electronic Dance Music (EDM): Digital synthesizers were widely in use in urban dance clubs
by the mid-1970s (remember, the struggling economy contributed to this use for practical
reasons, but the style soon captured the interest of those who attended such clubs.) Rather
than hiring a live band to provide music, a DJ would spin records, looping samples, adding
digital effects through synthesizers and drum machines, to create new musical pieces in a new
kind of live performance. Hip-hop DJs did this also, but with EDM as it started to emerge as
House music (Chicago, mid-1970s) and Techno (Detroit, mid-1980s), there was a specific
focus on the electronic instrumental elements, rather than rapped verses. Both House and
Techno are similar in technique and style, using digital technologies, samples, etc., although
Techno tends to feature more “futuristic” sounds and special effects. (Some also argue a
difference in tempo, but that is another topic.) The overall sound traditionally has a “thumping”
steady beat, a fast tempo, and loud volume—this was music one would hear in a rave club (it
still is, from all reports.) Today, EDM style is widely in use, and is often applied to existing songs
(as a remix) in any number of styles. [There are too many subgenres to address in class, e.g.,
Dubstep, Freestyle, Trance music, various genres that incorporate “electronica” in their names,
etc., etc., etc.]
o NewTechnologies:
o Digital Recording and Editing
▪ Computer programs, such as ProTools (1991), were designed for professional studio use, or
home studio use. Allowed the user to adjust various sound elements, add effects, and make
corrections and other edits to digital audio files. Home recordings could be very sophisticated
using this type of program. Many other similar programs exist today, such as Garage Band,
