Before I get any arguements on how music is music you either like it or you don't I would like to point out that this question is purely out of interest. Some years ago my Uncle said that Neil Young is Grunge, he more recently told me that so is R.E.M. He told me that they played a softer style of Grunge, also a friend I know who likes Sonic Youth said that they were aswell. Wikipedia does not define any of them as Grunge and lots of other people say that Sonic Youth are more Noise rock/experimental. Taking that into consideration an Australian alternative rock band Beasts of Bourbon who were around at roughly the same time and released their album 'The Low Road' the same year that Nirvana released 'Nevermind' are not considered Grunge by Wikipedia but they are by many people from what I've seen. Can anybody help with the confusion by answering the above question?
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Neil Young = Folk rock
R.E.M. = College rock, Alternative rock
Sonic Youth = Alternative rock, noise rock, indie rock
So no, they are not grunge.
Humm.. Lets ponder this for a minute, Neil Young, Canadian born song writer performer, very unique style, very deep lyrical presence. Grunge, basically originated in the northwest US, now lets put these two concepts together, Think about it for a second and now you know why Neil is considered the father of Grunge, Unless you live under a rock, I don't care who you are where your from or what you think, you've been influenced by a Neil Young tune as have many a inspiring musician, Thus Grunge.
Neil Young did some work that might resemble grunge in Rust Never Sleeps and an omage to Kurt Cobain called Sleeps with Angels. he also put out an pseudo electronica album when pushed by his record company to produce an album of folk music. he is primarily a rock/folk artist.
REM was an 80's product of alternative rock.
I don't have but one Sonic youth CD. I would call them alternative progressive rock.
No, no and no. Your uncle is sadly mistaken. Beasts Of Bourbon are more Alternative Country influenced rather than Alternative Rock and also started in the early 80's long before Grunge came out (I have some of their albums). Their 1st album The Axeman's Jazz (an Aussie classic!) was released in 1984.
Neil Young is Classic Rock
R.E.M. Is Alternative rock
Sonic Youth is Noise Rock
Grunge isn't even a f*cking genre, so no.