Overview
The genre of alternative rock emerged during the 1980s in the wake of punk rock, new wave, and music released on independent labels. In this lesson, we will consider the origins of alternative rock and two of the most successful early alternative rock bands. We will then survey several major subsets of the alternative rock movement that were popular in the early 1990s, including grunge rock, the riotgrrrl movement, and jam bands. The music of alternative rock is bound not by a specific sound or musical style but rather by a rejection of corporate or commercial values.
Objectives
- Recall the primary values and ideas of alternative rock
- Identify the main stylistic and aesthetic elements of grunge rock
- Identify the main stylistic and aesthetic elements of the riotgrrrl movement
- Identify the main stylistic and aesthetic elements of jam bands
Riot Grrrls
Another genre of music within the alternative scene focused on the angry voices of women. The riot grrrla genre of alternative rock that took the anger and intensity of punk rock and communicated issues specific to women, such as rape, domestic violence, and abuse movement took the anger and intensity of punk rock and communicated issues specific to women, such as rape, domestic violence, and abuse. Riotgrrrls used their music to speak openly about issues that they felt earlier generations of women had ignored or downplayed. They also mocked messages that they had been given as little girls. Riotgrrrls also sang about women's rights and standing up for oneself in the face of oppression.
According to a manifesto published in a Seattle-area fanzine, the riotgrrrl movement existed "because a safe space needs to be created for girls where we can open our eyes and reach out to each other without being threatened by this sexist society and our day-to-day bullshit." By providing a musical forum for women to talk about abuses they had suffered, riotgrrrls wanted to create a safe and protective environment for future generations of women.
Bikini Kill was one of the prominent voices of the Riotgrrrl movement. Fronted by singer and songwriter Kathleen Hanna, guitarist Billy Karren, bassist Kathi Wilcox, and drummer Tobi Vail, Bikini Kill was active in Seattle at the same time as Nirvana. True to the alternative rock movement, Bikini Kill refused to sign with a major label, preferring instead to record on the independent label Kill Rock Stars. Their debut album Pussy Whipped was released in 1993, and it featured the single "Rebel Girl ♫." "Rebel Girl ♫" is representative of Bikini Kill's style, with its heavy guitars, semi-shouted lyrics, punk-inspired lack of polish, and steady drumming in the verses that are reminiscent of a military lockstep. In the song, lead singer Hanna praises and admires the "rebel girl" of the title, noting, "In her kiss, I taste the revolution." In "Rebel Girl ♫" and other songs, Bikini Kill promotes both platonic and romantic love between women, encouraging women to be empowered and free from male-dominated perspectives.
Sleater-Kinney was another riotgrrrl band from the Seattle area. Formed in 1994, the group initially had only two members: guitarists Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein. They added drummer Janet Weiss in 1996, but the group never had a bass player. Instead, Tucker tuned her guitar to a lower range than Brownstein's, which allowed her to flesh out the harmonies without the use of a bass. Like Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney sang about rage, lust, and depression from a feminist perspective. "I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone ♫" from 1996's Call the Doctor reflects the group's punk influences and female perspective.
“There is a lot to say about what Bikini Kill and other 'riot grrrl' bands were able to achieve when they first set out. They were not some momentary, convulsive, creative spasm of independent music. There was a very real, relevant point of view being expressed.”
