Alternative Rock

St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture, Jan 29, 2002 by Perry Grossman

Despite its mass appeal, alternative rock has been critiqued on several grounds. Punks argued that alternative bands "sold out." Others argued that it alternative was a largely white and male-dominated enterprise. As Eric Weisbard states in the Spin Alternative Record Guide, "[alternative rock] is too indebted to a white American vocalist screaming about his betrayed entitlements over an exquisitely layered squall of guitars, bass and drums." In this sense, alternative rock, while espousing diversity and originality, became somewhat conventional. Many suggested that the term "alternative" may have outlived its usefulness. Alternative rock gained such popularity in the 1980s and 1990s that its music, style, and ideology were in many ways incorporated into the mainstream.