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What exactly is Alternative Rock 'n' Roll music? It's difficult to say with any precision because that term has been historically used to classify music that is different from whatever is considered mainstream at the moment. I remember, for example, seeing Tears for Fears' CDs back in the late 90s in the "Alternative" Rock section of a music store, which struck me as odd at the time, but when I really think about TFF's "Elemental" and "Raoul and the Kings of Spain," I see why. Perhaps it makes sense to say that the "Alternative" classification can cover any genre or sub-genre that is not derived in context to current, formulaic fads. Also, artists and bands who are not generating commercialized music targeted primarily at youth culture might also be considered Alternative. Several of the artists and bands I enjoy generally fit this definition, and many are not from the United States. Also, we should point out that bands such as Alice in Chains were at first part of the Alternative Grunge Rock scene on the West Coast but are now regarded, at least arguably so, as mainline Rock.
How should we classify bands such as The Doves from England or Pond from Australia? It's hard to answer that question, but it does seem to make sense that they loosely fit inside this category and that they, like Beck, Spoon, New Order, Tame Impala, and the Kongos, are not generally part of Electronica or Chillwave. Moreover, those bands do not fall under the umbrella of Prog Rock or R&B - not exactly, anyway. What about Empire of the Sun? Do they fit more in Electropop, which is to say Dance Electronic, or is their music Alternative Rock with a strong R&B Vibe? What about their remixes that clearly move toward House and Techno? I've placed three eclectic, Alternative mixes below with three special features that I hope you enjoy. These bands and artists share in common, regardless of timeline or fluid genre classification, this universally infectious quality: they all utilize catchy hooks and beautiful arrangements. I think you may come to love these artists. They are some of my favorites.
Charles Calvin Best
Above: Late in the Day by Supergrass • 413,731 Views
Below: Do You by Spoon • 3,794,422 Views
MUSICQUEST ALTERNATIVE ROCK MIX #1
Spotify Combined Playlist • 45 Songs • 3 Hrs 8 Min
O B 1 - Jagwar Ma
La Breeze - Simian
Intro - Doves
Words - Doves
Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve
Can't Say No - The Helio Sequence
Beautiful People - Supergrass
Do I Have to Talk You Into It? - Spoon
Where Will You Go? - Jacco Gardner
Sunny - Jim Noir - Jimmy's Show
I Wish You Could Be Here - The Cyrkle
Sunshine Superman - Donovan
Oh No the Radio - Owsley
Beat the Curse - Jimkata
Paint Me Silver - Pond
World of Magic - Iyam.
Chissà Perché - Antoine Diligent
We Are the People - Empire of the Sun
Crime Pays - Bear Hands
Solid Ground - Pnau
Flesh and Blood - Half Moon Run
Who Feels Love? - Oasis
In It (for Me) - Aqueous
2 in the Morning - Kongos
Space Walrus - Professor and the Madman
Uh-Oh - The Blank Tapes
Feel Every Beat - Electronic
Everything Happens for the First Time - Eli Mardock
Another Permanent Address - Chroma Key
Gwendoline - Housse de Racket
Go - M83, Mai Lan
January Again - Nature's Neighbor
Breathless - Electric Youth
Yes I'm Changing - Tame Impala
Rockin' Back Inside My Heart - Julee Cruise
Los Reyes Catolicos - Tears for Fears
Sorry - Tears for Fears
Strangles - Snake River Conspiracy
(Do The) Act LIke You Never Met Me - TV Girl
A World of My Own - Inner Odyssey
God Old Days - Owsley
The Truth - Pnau
20 Million - YUS
Agora - Bear Hands
Alive - Empire of the Sun
MUSICQUEST ALTERNATIVE ROCK MIX #2
Spotify Combined Playlist • 45 Songs • 3 Hrs 9 Min
Young Man, Old Man - The Dissociatives
Fallen Horses - Smash Mouth
Space and Time - Sons of the Sea
Back Seat Driver - Bear Hands
Dangerous (feat. Joywave) - Big Data (Oliver Remix)
Times Change - New Order
Your Love - Supergrass
Sonny Boy - Owsley
Entertainment - Phoenix
Brill Bruisers - The New Pornographers
Privilege - Incubus
Spotlight - Black Grape
Humdrum and Humble - Tears for Fears
Gas Panic - Oasis
Rise - Doves
Valentine - Justice
'Cause I'm a Man - Tame Impala
Another Rise, Another Fall - Miami Horror
Back for More - Breakbot
Reverb Island - Thomas Giles
Andrei Rublev - The Vryll Society
The Underdog - Gum
Tasmania - Pond
Secret Days - School of Seven Bells
The Loop - 77s
We're the Kids - The New Division Remix
Nice Day - Persephone's Bees
Twist of Fate - Pnau
Jello on My Mind - Half Moon Run
Claudia Lewis - M83
Beautiful Way - Beck
On My Own - Electric Youth
Fool Killer - The Kickdrums
In It (For Me) - Aqueous
Pulses & Rain - C. Duncan
Natural - Imagine Dragons
The Sky Is Falling - Owsley
Out of Control - Lush
Leila - Miami Horror
Better for Me - Fake Laugh
Cold - Tears for Fears
Normal Boy - Bill Bressler
Laser Gun - M83, Mai Lin
Safety in Low Numbers - The Disappointed
123 Forever (Robotaki Mix) - Apparat Organ Quartet
MUSICQUEST ALTERNATIVE ROCK MIX #3
Spotify Combined Playlist • 45 Songs • 3 Hrs 1 Min
Where We're Calling From - Doves
N.Y. - Doves
Flesh and Blood - Half Moon Run
Dark Places - Beck
You Were Right - Bibio
Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
Waste - Smash Mouth
1901 - Phoenix
Jetstream (Radio Edit) - New Order
Do You - Spoon
One of Those Days - Adrian Belew
You Can Talk to Me - The Seahorses
Something New - Kongos
Reunion - M83
The Life - Electric Youth
Driving South - The Stone Roses
Helena Beat - Foster the People
Pets - Porno for Pyros
Kettering Road - Steve Hughes
Your Love - Supergrass
Swords and Knives - Tears for Fears
Electroconvulsive Therapy - Professor and the Madman
It Could Have Been Cheryl - The Brotherhood of Lizards
Spotlight - Black Grape
Everybody - Pnau
Intro - M83
Now Now - Electric Youth
K Is for Kelson - Bibio
Eyes Be Closed - Washed Out
Sound - Colorama
Safety in Low Numbers - The Disappointed
It Makes the Babies Want to Cry - George Clanton
Scarecrow - Beck
Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down - XTC
Holiday Home - C. Duncan
Say - WInter
Girl of My Dreams - Donny Benet
Schrodinger's Cat - Tears for Fears
Go Let It Out - Oasis
Mystery Train - Sunchild
Find Yourself - Jacco Gardner
How Soon Is Now? - Snake River Conspiracy
Celebration - Condor and Jaybird
Clockwork Train - The Brotherhood of Lizards
Wait for the Sun - Menswear
BECK
Beck is one of my favorite artists and has been for years. I continue to be intrigued by his eclectic approach to making music, and he's done that throughout all 14 of his albums. Because of that, he's just about impossible to classify. Is he Dream Pop, Psychedelic Rock, or Chillwave? If you are new to Beck or simply have not had a chance to investigate his discography, then please consider listening to the below Spotify playlist. If you do, you will likely be very pleased because Beck really is one of the most creative musicians in the world right now.
TEARS FOR FEARS
Other than the Beatles, this has been my favorite Rock band over the decades. I feel completely at home in their melodies, harmonies, and arrangements. Tears for Fears continues to enjoy a long, successful career even though their last album, "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending," which is excellent, was released in 2004. Kim and I saw Roland Orzabal and Kurt Smith live in 2013, and they were as good as I hoped they would be. It was just a great experience and an important one for me. It's so cool to see live -- finally -- one's musical heroes. I've assembled a thorough playlist below with other helpful links. Update: TFF released their latest album, "The Tipping Point," on February 25, 2022!
XTC
In the summer of 1982, I heard several XTC songs when visiting a co-worker at his home.
I immediately loved their distinctive music. XTC has had a long, productive career, so there is an extensive discography. I've assembled a comprehensive playlist located below this text and urge you to give them a try if you do not already know about them. They are also talented, astute wordsmiths, so their lyrics are insightful, playful, and often challenging. XTC is a legacy, highly creative, Alternative Rock band with a firm place in music history.
THE KONGOS
This band is "relatively" new in that they released their first album in 2007 with their second one arriving in 2012, followed by three more. These four brothers grew up in South Africa in a very musical family but now make their home in Austin, Texas.
I think the Kongos are without a doubt one of the most original bands in the world right now. They are extremely creative and musically interesting, generating their own, unique sound that gets into the listener's heart and mind. Please be sure to check out the Spotify playlist.
Please check-out these two outstanding Alternative bands. MusicQuest has already showcased them on Page One.
Just click their image to go to that area for Spotify playlists, videos, and links.
OASIS
Yet another outstanding band from England, Oasis was exceedingly successful in general but especially so in the 1990s, selling 22 million copies or more of just their album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? The band shifted its lineup over the years with the exception of its core members, brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, calling it quits in 2009. Below, please find helpful links and a mini-playlist I think you will really love.
