RHCP Question (alternative, funk, indie, rock, single)

Seltzer · 10-10-2007, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProggyMan

Alternative Rock? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Alternative can mean anything from grunge to funk-rock. What's mainstream can be anything from Led Zeppelin to Mariah Carey. RHCP is a mainstream band, and have been since BSSM was released. Mainstream doesn't have a definable sound.

I'm not saying I like the genre-tag of alt. rock, because I don't. But seeing as we have no choice here as to whether there is an alternative section, we have to use it. And I've justified why I think RHCP could be classified as an alt. rock band.

Yes, alternative rock is a very broad category. That's why I sort my modern rock (i.e. not classic rock) into grunge, stoner, funk, ska, singer/songwriter, pop rock etc... and chuck the rest in alternative. There are certain bands that can't be described in many other ways other than 'alternative rock', i.e. Smashing Pumpkins. And there are bands that can be justified as being alternative rock, even though they could fit in other categories, i.e. RHCP.

You're absolutely right. Mainstream doesn't have a definable sound... it's an adjective relating to how popular something is. And as Boo Boo explained, RHCP can be mainstream, yet have an alternative rock sound.