The modern rock charts are closely followed by music fans who adore the hard, cutting edge style of this genre. Although the word “modern” is used, modern rock was many decades in the making. It is commonly referred to as alternative rock and in most cases the terms are interchangeable. Both terms may be used, but they refer to a very diverse collection of bands. Guitar plays a huge role in the genre however drums, bass and the occasional keyboard are also usually heard.
There was a time when the modern rock charts did not exist. Similar music through the last three decades was listed by different names, including post-modern rock and alternative music. The generally accepted sound of modern rock also differs slightly depending on where the band and its influences are from. American modern rock usually features a harder sound with lyrics that speak about the rejection of commercialized mainstream culture. The British version usually has a sound that is akin to the pop genre, with lyrics focusing on British concerns.
Before the appearance of the first modern rock charts, punk was going strong. As the genre waned, a new sound was born out of it. This post rock genre of music used many of the same elements, but had its own style and character. During the 1980s, the term “modern rock” was often used to describe the genre and set it apart from the ever popular classic rock genre. Throughout the 1980s, modern rock stations began broadcasting. These included Long Island’s WLIR-FM and Boston’s WFNX.
By 1988, modern rock became an officially accepted radio format when the American music industry publication, Billboard, created the modern rock charts. That same year, an episode of I Love the 80s aired on VH1 covered the bands Morrissey, INXS, the Cure, Erasure and Depeche Mode, describing them as the year’s representative modern rock artists. Although this could easily be viewed as an indication of the growth of the genre, it truly came into its own with the rapid popularity of Nirvana’s grunge music in 1992.
After Nirvana expanded the genre, brought in new fans and reintroduced old ones, the modern rock charts became very popular. A number of radio stations switched to the grunge format. Even today, many stations still play some of the most remarkable music from the genre, usually including songs from bands that were popular in the 1990s and later. This would include songs by Nirvana, Primus, Soundgarden, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Pearl Jam, Bush, Stone Temple Pilots, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Blur and Oasis.
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