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

Country rock1968

Second genre

Jangle pop1980

Head to headCountry rock vs Jangle pop
Country rock: heaviness 2, melody 10, speed 4. Jangle pop: heaviness 1, melody 10, speed 4.Heaviness2 / 1Melody10 / 10Speed4 / 4
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

Both descend from the Byrds. Jangle took the twelve-string and the melancholy; country rock took the harmony and the pedal steel.

Both are sung cleanly, but jangle pop is a little faster: 110 to 150 bpm against 80 to 120. To hear the difference, play The Eagles next to R.E.M. Both grew out of folk rock, country rock first and jangle pop twelve years after.

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

In figures

Heaviness
Country rock2
Jangle pop1
−1
Speed
Country rock4
Jangle pop4
level
Melody
Country rock10
Jangle pop10
level

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 →

Jangle pop

1980 · Athens, Georgia / Australia

Where it sits

Rock › Folk rock › Jangle pop

In short

Clean, chiming Rickenbacker guitars and melody everywhere. The building block of indie rock.

How it sounds

  • Compressed Rickenbacker guitar with no distortion - the jangle itself.
  • Melodic bass with its own lines, often moving in counterpoint.
  • Clear melodies, with vocals sometimes mixed lower than radio expected.

Key acts

  • R.E.M.
  • The Smiths
  • The Go-Betweens

Start here

The pickR.E.M. - Murmur. Don't try to decipher the lyrics; the band didn't want you to.

Full page →