.TRENDS
‘Underground' music is branching out
By Momotose Nishiyama
Emerald Contributor
The term alternative mu
sic" is a broad name used to
encompass the whole gamut
of non popular music genres
The label is normally used
to designate new music that
is not commercialized
through other existing genres
such as top 40. country and
western, and heavy metal But
just what can be classified as
"alternative"?
Unlike the alternative music
scene of the '80s. the music
of the 90s isn't so easy to
classify It used to be that al
ternative meant either post
punk or hardcore music But
diversity and increased acces
sibility are current trends in
alternative music
According to John Ether
idge. program director for
community radio station
KRVM the only station in Eu
gene which airs modern mu
sic. the trend in non commer
cial radio programming is the
acceptance of diversity of
styles by radio programmers
and stations There is defi
mtely a diversity of musical
styles We no longer have |ust
punk or new wave."he said
The wide range of styles un
der the alternative umbrella
is enormous Included are the
aforementioned post punk,
hardcore and new wave, but
that s only the tip of the ice
berg Some of the latest
trends in modern music in
elude "new beat (electronic
hypnotic music often heard in
dance clubs, which originated
a few years back in Belgium),
industrial (nihilistic, gloomy
electronic music), and even
rap
Many artists combine a
number of elements of exist
mg forms to create their own
distinct sound Among them
are The Red Hot Chili Pep
pers. which fuses rock, funk
and rap and punk. The
Pogues, which mix elements
of traditional Irish folk with
rock and punk, and Bad
Brains a hardcore reggae
band
The 60s psychedelia meets
80s rock style is also widely
used The exponents include
The Primitives, The Jesus and
Mary Chain, The Church
REM and the critically ac
claimed Smithereens
Electronic ("techno-pop")
music is still going strong in
the 90s, with groups like
Camouflage. Erasure, Xymox.
and New Order leading the
way Even modern rock fla
vored country artists, such as
k d lang and Lyle Lovett, are
considered to be alternative
However, the biggest trend
in alternative music seems to
be the emergence and accept
ance of world" music When
asked about the future of the
alternative music scene Eth
eridge said. We will see
more world music mixed
in — music from all over the
world that is He mentioned
South America. Africa and
the Caribbeans as likely
sources of this genre
Unlike the 80s. when world
music usually meant reggae
styles from all over the world
are gaining more exposure
Brazilian music has gotten a
huge amount of help from
Talking Heads David Byrne
who compiled and released
two albums of Brazilian pop
songs along with a solo al
bum of his own which incor
porates Brazilian styles
Music from Pakistan Zaire
and Cuba have been released
in the States through the Real
World label, which was co
founded by Peter Gabriel Oth
er recording artists who have
their international sounds re
leased in America include
Kassav , Kaoma. Ladysmith
Black Marnbazo and the Bui
garian State Radio and Televi
Sion Female Choir
Another trend in alternative
music is the increased acces
sibility to this music More al
ternative artists are being
signed by maior record com
panics than ever before, and
therefore are distributed wide
iy
Some major label artists
such as The Cure and The B
52's have recently received
mainstream attention al
though they initially started
out in alternative circles
Up and coming groups like
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry the
Stone Roses, Severed Heads,
and Passion Fodder have
been recently released in the
U S through major labels, and
therefore are more accessible
to the public
Although alternative music
in general does not sell as
well as commercial pop mu
sic there exists a market for
the style Even though some
underground artists are dis
tributed with ease by big re
cord companies, many are
still found through indepen
dent or import record labels
According to Charlie Simp
son, an employee at House of
Records. Import records are
hard to get The demand is
high but the supply is low
Therefore, most alternative
music distributed through irn
ports are less accessible But
they do sell well, Simpson
said
When asked about which al
ternative artists sell well at
House of Records. Simpson
said that Sub Pop (a Seattle
based label with groups like*
Mudhoney Soundgurden, and
Nirvana) are the rage now and
4AD (a British record compa
ny with the Pixies, Cocteau
Twins and Throwing Muses
on their rosier) sells well also
He added that groups like
Ministry, a nihilistic, hard driv
ing rock band, and The Red
Hot Chili Peppers are fast
sellers as well
There will always be a chan
nel for those who prefer new
and cutting edge music over
the predictable top 40 music
But for those alternative fol
lowers increased diversity
and accessibility will expose
them to more variety within
the field
— Alpine Import Service_
I he VOIVO Spec i.ilists
12th & Main
Winter Fitness Analysis
• Oil change, genuine VOLVO filter and 4 quarts
of nil
•Complete maintenance < hec k of major
c omponents
• Inspection of
joints, battf*
terns,cool slai
systems, tire's, wipers and all fluid levels
For Appointment call
726-1808
wh^Byour
WVOLVO
Defining
Men's Fashion
For the 90's
DlSIOXIR Cjioh-m Irxxiiir s nixv
ONIONS I OR Ml \ IN ( OMIORIXHII
N XII R XI IIHRI ( l()l IIIN(> I ROM
XROt NO INI XXORII) l Sill I
I R XX I I I’RODI ( IS I OR XII
(.IOHI IROI MRS XM) l NIQl I
I (II k XRI I’ll < I S
.Jill SI I'l Ml l( \I\KKI I
IXIWNSI MRS
EASTSIDE LAUNDROMAT
1430
Orchard St.
345-6133
COIN OP
DROP OFF
ATTENDED
10-5:30
MWF
DRY CLEANING
iujme: Boai Gaub > •" Hi to ft/v ft/' Sewujeti1 /tan VuatW. B •
Gjrgr,it'IHol'f ft/v ft/- 'Se<f\id- Ar
Sen'not'h 'A/n
■ H
• K
Hrt V
Ray Ban / Serengm
i Set
i nan
\amet Bolle
goyle Hobie
by Ban Ser
Ingeh Ziati
barnet I Boiit
ftgoyle Hobie
lay Ban I Ser
Now Open1 774 E. 13th (Smith Family Bldg.) 343-8318
_f—L
1.1 1
■'N
jji'u c wmm,
■—
IT'S THE BIGGEST TREND TO
HIT THE MUSIC BUSINESS
IN DECADES!!! (
n~\ *
£'C. GT
THE COMPACT DISC REVOLUTION
wmm
IS READY TO HELP WITH ALL YOUR NEEDS
OVER 12,000 TITLES
IN STOCK AT ALL TIMES
EROM ROCK, BLUES, ]AZZ,
NEW AGE, REGGAE, SOUL,
CLASSICAL, COUNTRY & MORE
TOP 40 HITS
ARE AL WAYS ON
SALE!!
NEW RELEASES ARE
DISCOUNTED FOR THE
FIRST 30 DAYS
BUY, SELL, AND TRADE
USED DISCS
683-6902
2100 W. 11th Ave.
(Atrmv frim* VNurmurli
(
OPEN
7
DAYS
A
WEEK