Grunge
Grunge (sometimes referred to as the Seattle sound) is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song dynamics, «growling» vocals and apathetic or angst-filled lyrics. The grunge aesthetic is stripped-down compared with other forms of rock music, and many grunge musicians were noted for their unkempt appearances and rejection of theatrics.
Birth: 1986 Bloom: 1991 Death: 1998
The early grunge style depends on the Seattle indie label Sub Pop in the late 80s. Grung became commercially successful in the early 90s due to releases Nirvana`s «Nevermind» and «Ten» by Pearl Jam. Their success increased the popularity of alternative rock and made grunge more popular type of hard rock music. In spite the fact that most grunge bands broke up by the end of the 1990s, their music still has a great impact on contemporary rock music.
Grunge`s sound partly results from Seattle`s isolation from other music scenes. As Sub Pop`s Jonathan Poneman noted, «Seattle was a perfect example of a secondary city with an active music scene that was completely ignored by an American media fixated on Los Angeles and New York.» Mark Arm claimed that the isolation meant, «this one corner of the map was being really inbred and ripping off each other`s ideas». Grunge evolved from the local punk rock scene, and was inspired by bands such as The Fartz, The U-Men, 10 Minute Warning, The Accüsed, and the Fastbacks. Additionally, the slow, heavy, and sludgy style of the Outside the Pacific Northwest, a number of artists and music scenes influenced grunge.
Alternative rock bands from the Northeastern United States, including Sonic Youth, Pixies, and Dinosaur Jr., are important influences on the genre. Through their patronage of Seattle bands, Sonic Youth «inadvertently nurtured» the grunge scene, and reinforced the fiercely independent attitudes of its musicians. The influence of Pixies on Nirvana was noted by Kurt Cobain, who commented in a Rolling Stone interview, «I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.»
Grunge, as well as other music styles, gave a birth to the original subculture.
As a rule, grungers listen not only to grunge, but also to classic rock, punk, and many others music styles. Grungers have their own style in clothes - ripped or skinny jeans, plaid or striped shirts, jeans and leather jackets, gumshoes (Converse All Star), and second hand clothes.
Umbrellate style: Rock
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