Thinking about genres and sub-genres is a favorite past time of mine. I run into serious problems, however, when an era of music conflicts with a genre. For example, one of my favorite eras in music, which is also considered a genre, is post-punk, basically the a period of music stretching from 1978 to roughly 1984, though there was plenty of spillover into the later 90s. There are some bands which are obviously post-punk, like Joy Division, Public Image Ltd, Simple Minds, Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle, Gang Of Four, and The Fall are just a few. I would feel comfortable categorizing any of these bands as post-punk at any point in there career. I run into trouble when I get into a band like Depeche Mode, whose beginnings root them firmly in the post-punk scene, but who grew to be a true arena rock outfit with post-punk/dancefloor roots. So how do I categorize Mode? Just put their first few albums as post punk and the rest as something else? I hate putting one band in different genres. At what point does electronic influenced pop post-punk become synthpop? At what point does loud abrasive art rock post-punk (The Fall) become just simple "punk"?
To further complicate matters, there has been a resurgence in the post punk sound in recent years, bands like Bloc Party, LCD Soundsystem, British Sea Power, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, and Interpol among others. Do I categorize these bands as "neo post-punk"?
But perhaps my biggest confusion of all is the use of the term "alternative". One of the funniest things about iTunes (which I don't use anymore) for me was always the premade genre "Alternative & Punk". I mean, how much vaguer can you get? 90% of the music I listen to can fall under this "genre", making it none to useful for music organization. That aside, I like to use the term alternative to describe the college radio type music recorded primarily in the late 80s and early 90s, bands like the R.E.M., They Might Be Giants, and The Smiths. But then there enters a clear delineation: R.E.M. and The Smiths are clearly rock bands, so are they Alternative Rock? While They Might Be Giants is just Alternative? Okay, and how about once all of these bands redefined the common definition for popular music, and so called "alternative" music became popular music?!.
Okay thats enough for now, you get my point.
To further complicate matters, there has been a resurgence in the post punk sound in recent years, bands like Bloc Party, LCD Soundsystem, British Sea Power, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, and Interpol among others. Do I categorize these bands as "neo post-punk"?
But perhaps my biggest confusion of all is the use of the term "alternative". One of the funniest things about iTunes (which I don't use anymore) for me was always the premade genre "Alternative & Punk".
I mean, how much vaguer can you get? 90% of the music I listen to can fall under this "genre", making it none to useful for music organization. That aside, I like to use the term alternative to describe the college radio type music recorded primarily in the late 80s and early 90s, bands like the R.E.M., They Might Be Giants, and The Smiths. But then there enters a clear delineation: R.E.M. and The Smiths are clearly rock bands, so are they Alternative Rock? While They Might Be Giants is just Alternative? Okay, and how about once all of these bands redefined the common definition for popular music, and so called "alternative" music became popular music?!.Okay thats enough for now, you get my point.
