Alt country

Alternative Country ( Alt Country ) - Substyle of country music . For a long time it was mainly used to characterize country music with an unconventional sound, “alternative” to the directions prevailing in different periods. So, honky tonk in the 1940s became an alternative to the prevailing early country (old-timey) and pop western swing , in the 1950s “Bakersfield sound” (Bakersfield sound) was considered the first alternative to the commercial-oriented Nashville sound. However, later the honorary title of "main opponent of pop country" will move to another direction - outlaw country (outlaw country).

By the 1980s, a real revolution had taken place in the California country scene: out-country and punk rock trends were combined in the work of numerous local bands. Country rock and Nashville sound dominating in the 1980s and 1990s got worthy rivals on the West Coast: young people preferred a raw sound with a dedicated rhythm section and harsh sounding guitars in the best traditions of honky tonka , rockabilly and, of course, punk rock , alternative rock and post-rock .

A characteristic feature of the new direction was the use of social and political motives, western cowboy-gangster themes in the texts, and outsiders and marginals often became lyrical heroes, as well as in out-of-town countries. The authors of the texts and deliberately gloomy "Gothic" images, as well as biblical motifs (gothic Americana) did not ignore.

The alternative country movement was replenished in two ways. Firstly, many pop country performers deviated from the rules established by the producers in their work, trying to return to the rebellious, freedom-loving roots of the country, to revive the "unkempt", raw sound of ballads of the first settlers and cowboys. Their efforts arose the genres of " American ", "alt-country folk", " insurgent country." Secondly, country music was drawn by alternative rock and punk rock inspired by country rock and other American “root” styles . They enriched the music with their alt country rock, country punk and cowpunk punk.

The greatest influence on the formation of aesthetics and alt-country sound was exerted by their work: Graham Parsons , Neil Young , Bob Dylan , John Fogerty , Towns Van Zandt , JJ Cale , Johnny Cash , Guy Clark , Joe Ely , Steve Earle and other country performers rock , country , rockabilly , south rock , heartland rock . But "The first alt-country rock album" is considered to be No Depression (1990) by Uncle Tupelo ^[1] .

The most famous alt country bands and artists were Cowboy Junkies , Giant Sand , 16 Horsepower , Whiskeytown , Jayhawks , The Old 97's , The Bottle Rockets , The Drive-By Truckers , Wilco , The Walkabouts , Blue Mountain , Blue Rodeo , Freakwater , Grant Lee Buffalo . Today, the leaders of alt-country are Calexico , Woven Hand , Slim Cessna's Auto Club , Lambchop , O 'Death , Son Volt , Ryan Adams , Nico Case , Lucinda Williams , Gillian Welch , The Handsome Family , Will Oldham , Cross Canadian Ragweed , Willard Grant Conspiracy , Jim White , Andrew Jackson Jihad . In addition to the US and Canada, alternative country is also common in the Netherlands and Scandinavia .