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Chapter 11
Alternative Rock (1982-1987)
Outline
I. Three trajectories of alternative rock music
a. Punk attitude
b. College radio
c. Indie Rock
II. U2
a. Defined the restlessness of alternative rock
b. Charismatic frontman
c. The Joshua Tree
i. Dark themes
ii. Hopeful elements in a left-leaning global political message
iii. Broadly anthemic
iv. Shimmering guitar textures over a pulsing beat
d. Stadium rock staple
III. R.E.M.
a. Charismatic, enigmatic frontman
b. Murmur
i. College rock staple
ii. Haunted, cryptic, mumbled lyrics
iii. Personal politics
iv. Spread-out guitar chords
IV. Bruce Springsteen
a. Born in the USA (1984)
i. Liberal message
ii. Blue-collar mainstream appeal
iii. Anthemic arena rock
V. American Hardcore
a. Aggressive sonic onslaughts
b. Bands
i. Sonic Youth
ii. Bad Brains
iii. Teens Idles
iv. Minor Threat
v. Fugazi
vi. Black Flag
vii. Henry Rollins
viii. The Minutemen
ix. Husker Du
x. The Replacements
c. Hardcore culture trends
i. Stage diving
ii. Slam dancing
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iii. The “Straightedge” variant
iv. Hardcore tribalism
v. Low-budget labels
d. The music
i. Thrashing beats
ii. Distortion
iii. Screamed rants
iv. Rage rock
e. Independent labels
i. Dischord Records
ii. SST Records
f. DIY tours
i. Everything crammed into a van
VI. England’s alternative music scene
a. Divergent styles
i. A quieter alternative
b. Bands/artists
i. Pop rock, Kate Bush
ii. Goth rock pioneers, Bauhaus
iii. Goth pop, The Cure
VII. Benefit concerts
a. George Harrison (1971—Concert for Bangladesh)
b. Bob Geldof (1985—Live Aid)
i. Geldof knighted for his efforts
c. Michael Jackson (1985—We Are the World)
d. Willie Nelson (1985—Farm Aid)
e. Bob Geldof (1999—Net Aid)
Suggested Activities and Discussion Topics
1. U2, R.E.M., and Bruce Springsteen have all entered the mainstream pop arena. What
does each band bring to the table? What are the similarities? The differences? Compare
“In the Name of Love,” Losing My Religion,” and “Born in the U.S.A.” Which song
seems quirky? Which song seems to have a Christian message? Which song comes from
a populist stance? SEE: Suggested Listening.
2. Sonic Youth—“Tuff Gnarl”—detuned, down-tuned guitars and sheets of distorted
sound. The sound is deliberately noisy and urban.
3. Black Flag. “Six Pack” is an angry rant, but is there an underlying affection for the
audience? What is the over-riding philosophy? Perhaps a sense of brotherhood. SEE:
Suggested Listening.
4. Kate Bush. Not available on iTunes.
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5. Bauhaus and the Cure. Gothic rock for the masses. Vocals seem colored by the New
Romantic craze in England.
Chapter 11 – Suggested Listening
Artist
Song/iTunes Preview
Representative Style
U2
“Pride (In the Name of
Love)”
Christian roots;
Alternative superstars; in
tribute to Martin Luther
King
“I Still Haven’t Found
What I’m Looking For”
Stadium rock anthem
R.E.M.
“Losing My Religion”
1st pop song lyrics that do
not rhyme; banned in
Ireland
Bruce Springsteen
“Born in the U.S.A.”
Populist mainstream rock;
stadium rock anthem
“One Step Up”
Blue collar theme
“Tunnel of Love”
Trials and tribulations of
middle class teen romance
Sonic Youth
“Kool Thing”
Jarring (ugly) guitar
sounds
Bad Brains
“Attitude”
Black punk band
Teen Idles
“Getting In My Way”
Aggressive hardcore
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Minor Threat
“Straight Edge”
Music of the straightedge
movement; Ian MacKaye
Fugazi
“Waiting Room”
MacKaye’s next band;
hardcore
Black Flag
“Six Pack”
Aggressive hardcore rock;
vocals from front man
Henry Rollins; sarcasm,
irony, with an underlying
respect for his audience
“Depression”
Henry Rollins
“Liar”
Irony-laden; the music
video is recommended
The Minutemen
“Jesus and Tequila”
Front man D. Boone,
vocals and guitar, killed in
an auto crash 1985;
alternative rock
Hüsker Dü
“Makes No Sense At All”
Punk/pop fusion
The Replacements
“Alex Chilton”
Paul Westerberg’s tribute;
alternative
Kate Bush
“Running Up That Hill (A
Deal With God)” N/A
England’s own darling
songstress; literary art rock
at its finest
“Hounds of Love” N/A
Bauhaus
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
Gloomy, spooky
atmospheric Gothic rock;
their 1st release
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The Cure
“Boys Don’t Cry”
Gothic rock; led by Robert
Smith
“Friday I’m In Love”
Goth/pop; nominated for a
Grammy; won an MTV
award
George Harrison/Concert
for Bangladesh
“My Sweet Lord”
Sued successfully for
copyright infringement –
“He’s So Fine”
“Bangladesh” N/A
Signature song of the
event
Band Aid (Bob Geldof &
Midge Ure)
“Do They Know It’s
Christmas?”
All-star benefit to raise
money for the 1984-1985
famine in Ethiopia
USA for Africa (Michael
Jackson & Lionel Richie)
“We Are the World”
Not to be outdone,
Jackson’s all star benefit