Alternative country

"Alternative country (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, or Americana) is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music. It has been used to describe country music bands and artists that have incorporated influences ranging from roots rock, bluegrass, rockabilly, honky-tonk, alternative rock, folk rock, and particularly punk."

We now enter a phase of genres, all preceded with the word "alternative". Personally, I think the word alternative used in front of a genre is a very lazy way to describe subtle differences in a style. It also smacks of a music industry that has to find new categories for music, or they have need to revive a genre that has become unpopular, so they use the word alternative. When I first heard the alternative music term used, it must have been in the early 90's. Even then it was used to describe a very vague combination of genres that didn't quite fit the usual perception of the main genre.

So, alternative country. Country has has to be one of my least favourite genres so this has been tough and my  mind has not been changed. This video seems to sum up alternative country, if that's possible!