How Country Music Shaped These 4 Alternative Rock Bands

Alternative rock was once unconventional until it became a dominant mainstream force in the 1990s. Many bands mixed classic sounds from the 60s or 70s with the spirit of punk. These opposing philosophies created evident discomfort with alt-rock stars, which gave the whole thing a left-of-center vibe. But country music also shaped some of these bands, who mixed outlaw twang with punk and rock and roll.

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The Dandy Warhols

The Dandy Warhols have blended country music with psychedelic rock since the dusty “Just Try” on the band’s 1995 debut Dandy’s Rule OK. However, Courtney Taylor-Taylor and his Portland bohemians perfected psych-country on “Minnesoter”, which appeared on their Capitol Records debut, The Dandy Warhols Come Down. Then came The Dandys’ commercial breakthrough: Thirteen Tales From Urban Bohemia. It’s loaded with alternative rock and country jams like “Get Off”, “Horse Pills”, and “Country Leaver”. Woo-hoo-hoo!

The Lemonheads

If you only know The Lemonheads’ cover of “Mrs. Robinson”, let this tiny paragraph help. Evan Dando’s best song might be “My Drug Buddy”. It echoes the lonely, cosmic country of Gram Parsons, but also showcases Dando’s ability to quietly write anthems. The Lemonheads often layered acoustic guitars, giving Dando’s grunge a little jangle. Then there’s the title track to It’s A Shame About Ray, a heartbreaking song about a forgotten kid who drops out of school and winds up on the street.

Soundgarden

When Rick Rubin introduced Johnny Cash to “Rusty Cage”, Cash wasn’t sure what to do with it. But after Rubin demoed the song, Cash saw the light. What makes Rubin such a genius producer is his ability to notice the obvious before others see it. Like when he wondered why early hip-hop records didn’t have the power of a live DJ. Chris Cornell wrote a Southern Gothic lyric and stuck it over a Black Sabbath-inspired guitar riff to create Soundgarden’s claustrophobic banger. Cornell once commented that it took Cash’s voice for people to appreciate the lyrics.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

After a stint surviving the glorious chaos of The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Peter Hayes shifted his focus toward his own group. Though Hayes and Robert Levon Been are known for blending psychedelia and shoegaze, on the band’s third album, Howl, the pair looked to Johnny Cash for inspiration. They, too, wear black, and songs like “Fault Line” show the band adding Americana and country roots to its alternative rock.

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