Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Alt-country / Americana1990

Second genre

Country rock1968

Head to headAlt-country / Americana vs Country rock
Alt-country / Americana: heaviness 3, melody 9, speed 4. Country rock: heaviness 2, melody 10, speed 4.Heaviness3 / 2Melody9 / 10Speed4 / 4
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Country rock came from rock musicians going to country in 1968 with major-label budgets. Alt-country came from punk musicians doing it in 1990 on independent labels, and it is rougher on purpose.

Both are sung cleanly and move at much the same pace, around 80 to 120 bpm. To hear the difference, play Uncle Tupelo next to The Eagles. Alt-country / Americana grew out of country rock, 22 years later.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Alt-country / Americana3
Country rock2
−1
Speed
Alt-country / Americana4
Country rock4
level
Melody
Alt-country / Americana9
Country rock10
+1

Alt-country / Americana

1990 · USA

Where it sits

Rock › Folk rock › Country rock › Alt-country / Americana

In short

Country filtered through punk and indie: same instruments, very different attitude toward Nashville.

How it sounds

  • Country instrumentation with indie rock dynamics and distortion.
  • Deliberately unpolished production, opposed to the Nashville standard.
  • Lyrics about declining small towns, work and disappointment.

Key acts

  • Uncle Tupelo
  • Wilco
  • Drive-By Truckers

Start here

The pickWilco - Being There. A double album that cannot decide on a genre, to its benefit.

Full page →

Country rock

1968 · California, USA · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Rock › Folk rock › Country rock

In short

Pedal steel and three-part harmony over a rock rhythm section. The sound of Laurel Canyon.

How it sounds

  • Pedal steel and acoustic guitar over a rock rhythm section.
  • Vocal harmony in thirds and sixths, sung loosely.
  • Moderate tempos and warm, airy production.

Key acts

  • The Eagles
  • Gram Parsons
  • Neil Young

Start here

The pickThe Flying Burrito Brothers - The Gilded Palace of Sin. Cannabis embroidered on the suits, serious music inside.

Full page →