The key to understanding any genre or type of music is to examine its beginnings. So the topic of this post will be a quick look at some of the roots of the alt-rock grouping of music. Odds are wonderfully high that you will be familiar with the following bands - that’s good. I’d like you to post in the comments as to which of these bands you feel had the biggest impact on the kind of music that you (and viewers of this site) enjoy.

The Talking Heads
Strangely enough, my father got me into this band when I was a little kid. I remember hearing Burning Down the House before I ever really listened to music. This band from Rhode Island (imagine that!) pushed the envelope in the 80s with their artsy ideas about what it means to be music.
Famous Fans: Radiohead (who got their name from a TH song), Bishop Allen

Psycho Killer
Burning Down the House

Joy Division
Odds are great that you’re familiar with their work, but not so great that you’re familiar with them. While they were undeniably 80s in style, their music is timeless. If you’re not willing to give synth or a driving bass a chance, then you might be turned off and deny their impact.
Famous Fans: U2, Smashing Pumpkins

Love Will Tear us Apart
Twenty Four Hours

The Pixies
In a perfect world, I wouldn’t have to include a blurb here because everyone would already be familiar with them. However, let’s assume that some of you aren’t. The Pixies are often credited with pulling music out of the gutter in the later 80s. If you aren’t a fan, you should be.
Famous fans: Nirvana, Radiohead, Weezer, Blur… everyone

Where Is My Mind
Here Comes Your Man

The Velvet Underground (incl. Lou Reed solo)
What can I say about VU that hasn’t already been said a thousand times. They were “discovered” by none other than crackpot artist Andy Warhol and were exploited for a while afterwards. Their songs deal with more drugs, trans-gender folk and all around scary things than I would think could be in a good song.

Heroin
Rock and Roll
Walk On the Wild Side (Lou solo)

The Smiths
Arguably one of the greatest bands ever to walk the earth, and I’m saying that as only a singles fan. Their impact is huge and their reach is far. Morrissey and Marr were quite possibly the 80s answer to Lennon and Mcartney.

How Soon Is Now
Death of a Disco Dancer

So there you have it. David Bowie wasn’t posted for reasons of time. I’m sorry to all those fans of Ziggy Stardust. I definetly feel ya. So if you would, post your pick for the most influential band. If this gets a decent turnout, I’ll talk to Kristine and do a Indie version of this (that will basically be all of Elephant 6).