Alternative country
Alternative country can refer to several ideas. Most generally, any musician that plays a sound unlike the dominant trends in
country music at the time plays "alternative country". By this standard, the
Bakersfield sound was alternative in the
1950s, and the
Lubbock, Texas musicians were alternative in the
60s for example. More specifically, however, "alternative country" refers to a group of socially aware country singers, often with a strong
punk- and
hard rock-influenced sound. The roots of alternative country are in
1970s and
80s artists like
Steve Earle. The genre continued in earnest with
Uncle Tupelo's
1990 LP
No Depression.
Alternative country refers to country bands that play traditional country but bend the rules slightly. They don't conform to Nashville's hitmaking traditions, nor do they follow the accepted outlaw country route to notoriety. Instead, alternative country bands work outside of the country industry's spotlight, frequently subverting musical traditions with singer/songwriter and rock & roll lyrical (and musical) aesthetics.
Alternative country is popularly referred to, especially in print, as "alt-country or sometimes "alt.country."
Alternative country musicians