Jangle pop
Jangle pop was an American
musical genre that arose in the middle of the
1960s, combining angular, chiming guitars and
power pop structures. Jangle pop wasn't mainstream music â€" the bands' lyrics were often deliberately cryptic and their sound was raw and amateurish, bearing all the signs of do-it-yourself productions. The first and most famous jangle pop band was
The Byrds, who eventually became one of the biggest bands in the world. Their twelve-string guitar style was the basis for jangle pop's diversification later in the 20th century. Jangle pop was closely related to the
power pop genre, including bands like
The Raspberries and
Big Star, who blur the line between the two styles.
Jangle pop became an important force in the development of
alternative rock in the early
1980s, as exemplified by the early albums of
R.E.M. and
The Connells. It was primarily a southern and midwestern US phenomenon, though a group of bands called the
Paisley Underground led a more
psychedelic movement on the West Coast. There were also vibrant scenes in the UK (
Brilliant Corners,
Jazz Butcher,
Monochrome Set,
Popguns,
Loft,
Family Cat,
Felt,
James), Australia (
The Go-Betweens,
Hummingbirds) and New Zealand (
Clean,
Mad Scene,
Jean Paul Sartre Experience,
The Bats,
Chills).
*
The Bats*
The Byrds*
Chris Stamey*
Oh-OK*
The Hummingbirds*
Let's Active*
Miracle Legion*
R.E.M.*
Uncle Green*
Blake Babies*
Guadalcanal Diary*
Love Tractor*
The dB's*
The Smiths*
Mitch Easter*
Dreams So Real*
The Feelies*
The Connells*
10,000 Maniacs*
Pylon
