Left of the Dial: An Introduction to Underground Rock, 1980 - 2000

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2005

Keywords

popular music, indie rock music

Abstract

This essay is a brief history of American underground/independent music from 1980 to 2000. The authors examine twenty-one of what they believe are the best and most influential bands of the period and provide an annotated list of representative recordings. These artists provide the inspiration and sonic blueprint for much of today’s cutting edge music. Even so, their recordings are often absent from library collections and many librarians and patrons are unfamiliar with them. The groups discussed are Bad Brains, Beat Happening, Big Black, Bikini Kill, Black Flag, Camper Van Beethoven, Dead Kennedys, Fugazi, Galaxie 500, Hüsker Dü, Melvins, Minor Threat, Minutemen, Mission Of Burma, Pixies, R.E.M., the Replacements, Sleater-Kinney, Sonic Youth,Throwing Muses, and Uncle Tupelo.

Publication Title

Music Reference Services Quarterly

Volume

9

Issue

4

First Page

43

Last Page

75

Comments

Copyright 2005 Haworth Press. Published in Music Reference Services Quarterly 9 (4), 2005, 43-75.

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Rock music--United States--1981-1990; Rock music--United States--1991-2000; Punk rock music--United States; Alternative rock music--United States; Underground music--United States

Geographic Coverage

United States

Genre/Form

articles

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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