Indie rock: Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produced and was initially used interchangeably with alternative rock. As grunge and punk revival bands in the US and Britpop bands in the UK broke into the mainstream in the 1990s, it came to be used to identify those acts that retained an outsider and underground perspective. [from Wikipedia]
This class will explore indie rock from 1988 to 1998. It will be a firsthand account of album (cassettes/CDs) buying and concert going during that time period. We will discuss bands and solo artists within their cultural and historical contexts. We will analyze albums, song lyrics, music videos, and footage of live performances. We will have discussions based on these materials. Students are expected to participate enthusiastically. There will be weekly homework that relates to the in-class topics. There will be a midterm essay test and a final presentation.