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- Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne (1993) The last entry in the band’s catalog before Jeff Tweedy and Jay Farrar parted ways saw the band at its most fully realized.
- Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) Up until this album Lucinda Williams was primarily known for her songwriting, earning a Grammy for Best Country Song with Mary Chapin Carpenter’s crossover hit “Passionate Kisses.”
- Gillian Welch – Revival (1996) Gillian Welch and her musical partner may have hailed from Los Angeles and Rhode Island, respectively, but they arrived on the alt-country scene in 1996 as if they’d just melted out of Depression-era Appalachian Mountain ice.
- Son Volt – Trace (1995) Long before there was Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, it looked like Jay Farrar was the genius behind Uncle Tupelo, as Trace was a near-perfect collection of laid-back alt-country ballads like the brilliant windows-rolled-down “Windfall” and guitar-charged college rockers like lead single “Drown.”
- The Jayhawks. Formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, veteran roots-rockers The Jayhawks’ sparkling back catalogue includes nine full-length albums. Recorded for Rick Rubin’s Def American label, 1992’s Hollywood Town Hallarguably remains their acme.
- Giant Sand. Based in Tucson, Arizona, Giant Sand are the brainchild of the feverishly proficient Howe Gelb, whose catalogue has so far yielded over 30 studio albums including 1999’s magnificent Chore Of Enchantment.
- Uncle Tupelo. This influential Illinois trio brilliantly melded their love of artists as disparate as The Carter Family, The Replacements and The Stooges on their 1990 debut No Depression.
- Wilco. Post-Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy formed Wilco, gaining sustained critical plaudits for albums such as Being There, the experimental alt.rock classic Yankee Hotel Foxtrotand 2004’s Grammy Award-winning A Ghost Is Born.
This is a listing of bands and musicians in the alternative country genre. Contents: Top. 0–9. A. B. C. D. E. F. G. H. I. J. K. L. M. N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. U. V. W. X. Y. Z. 0–9. 16 Horsepower [1] A. Ryan Adams [2] Jill Andrews [3] The Autumn Defense [4] Backyard Tire Fire [5] Del Barber [6] Eef Barzelay [7]
- Uncle Tupelo
- Lyle Lovett
- Rosanne Cash
- The Jayhawks
- Nanci Griffith
- Lucinda Williams
- Patty Griffin
- Steve Earle
- Gillian Welch
To some extent, the alt.country movement crystallized in the early 90s around the fanbase of the country-influenced rock group Uncle Tupelo. The trio’s first album, No Depression, is considered a turning point that will forever place them among the best alt.country musicians. Jeff Tweedy, who had much success with Uncle Tupelo from 1989-1993, left t...
Lyle Lovett was championed as one of the best alt.country musicians by the great singer-songwriter Guy Clark, who, along with Townes Van Zandt, did much to inspire the Texan to express his individuality in his songs. Lovett’s music has always been an innovative fusion of rock’n’roll, country, folk, blues, and gospel, and what made him a key alt.cou...
Rosanne Cash is the eldest daughter of Johnny Cash and his first wife, Vivian, but has gained a celebrated reputation through her own brilliant work rather than her illustrious music parentage. She made five excellent albums in the 80s, but perhaps the finest is the 1996 recording 10 Song Demo(which actually runs to 11 songs) for Capitol Records. T...
The Jayhawks were formed in 1985 by singer Mark Olson, guitarist Gary Louris, bassist Marc Perlman and drummer Norm Rogers – a collection of the best alt.country musicians of the period. The band, who hailed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, are still going strong without the departed Olson, and they have collaborated with R.E.M. and Ray Davies of The K...
In the 80s, when the music world really began to take notice of Nanci Griffith, Nashville was mainly promoting traditional male singers with great voices, such as Randy Travis. But a small band of female alt.country singers, including kd Lang and Mary Chapin Carpenter, were contributing to one of the most artistically fertile periods in country mus...
Lucinda Williams was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in 1953, and raised in an academic environment. Her father, Miller, a poet and professor, was her mentor. She says her influences were as much musicians such as Hank Williams as they were the poets ee cummings and Charles Bukowski. It is no wonder she has described her songs as “little short sto...
Patty Griffin cut her teeth around the Boston folk club scene, and this hugely talented singer-songwriter is a good example of someone whose work covers so many genres of music. A lyricist of unflinching honesty and beauty (as is alt.country luminary Mary Gauthier), she has a powerful soprano voice. During her distinguished career Griffin has moved...
You could never describe Steve Earle as a middle-of-the-road country musician. A passionate, volatile man who owes as much to Bruce Springsteen as he does Hank Williams and Townes Van Zandt, Earle’s first albums for MCA include a run of classics: Guitar Town, Exit O and Copperhead Road. He revelled in his divergence from the Nashville establishment...
Gillian Welch went to the University Of California to study photography, and, uniquely among the best alt.country musicians, began playing bass in a goth rock band in her teens. A pivotal moment came when she heard bluegrass legends The Stanley Brothers for the first time. That’s when, she believes, she had an epiphany. “I found my music,” she said...
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- Uncle Tupelo. Uncle Tupelo was an Illinois music group that was active between 1987 and 1994. The trio of Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy and Mike Heidorn recorded four studio albums during that time frame.
- Lucinda Williams. Three-time Grammy winner Lucinda Williams has said that she never felt part of the "straighter country music industry of Nashville." Her 1979 debut album featured a more traditional country style and received little interest from radio stations.
- Cowboy Junkies. Canadian alternative country band Cowboy Junkies formed in Toronto in 1985 and features siblings Michael Timmins, Peter Timmins, vocalist Margo Timmins, as well as bassist Alan Anton.
- Steve Earle. Singer-songwriter-producer-author Steve Earle released his first EP in 1982. The "Copperhead Road" and "Guitar Town" singer has won three Grammy awards and has released 21 studio albums to date, including 2021's J.T.
Most frequently, the term has been used to describe certain country music and country rock bands and artists that are also defined as or have incorporated influences from alternative rock, indie rock, punk rock, heartland rock, Southern rock, progressive country, outlaw country, neotraditional country, Texas country, Red Dirt, roots rock, indie ...
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Nov 25, 2009 · Alt Country Music Artists. 1. Lyle Lovett. 2. Meat Puppets. 3. Uncle Tupelo. 4. Jason & The Scorchers. 5. Wilco. 6. Whiskeytown. 7. The Mekons. 8. Lone Justice. 9. Cowboy Junkies. 10. Lucinda Williams. 11. Jeffrey Frederick. 12. Steve Earle. 13. Johnny Cash (1990's-2000's work) 14. Blue Rodeo. 15. 16 Horsepower. 16. Drive-By Truckers.
