Driving > Disco

Like many of some of you, I was just starting to get into music during the early 1990's. If I remember correctly, the first CD I purchased was Pearl Jam's Ten. Shortly thereafter (or before?), I got Nirvana's Nevermind and Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger. There was a ton of quality music cropping up, long before the likes of American idol crap-factory mentality...are we so in need of music now that we have to have shows to come up with more bands?!? (Whats next, American Lawyer - The search for America's next great lawyer!) Anywho, it was easy to get on a single track mindset and listen to "alternative" music. I got stuck in that rut and was an "alternative" rock kid. If someone labeled it alternative, then I'd check it out. If it wasnt alternative, I assumed it was main stream sonic pollution. No thank you. Come full circle, I'm now going back and checking out some music that I would've never touched before. I was recently exposed to what is called "alternative country," which is apparently anything with a country sound, that is not straight up honky-tonk country (I'm not sure what any of that means). As you can see, the whole "label" concept is starting to lose favor with me. I recently picked up some Wilco cds (not that they are/arent alternative country or mainstream, I just didnt ever hear anything by them before). I must say, I'm quite impressed. So far, I've only made it through their first cd "A.M.", but I think its great. You've probably already checked them out, but if not, DO IT! On a totally unrelated note (hah), though same topic, I've uncovered a relatively new group called Battlestar America. Something new, which I think is being called "hick-hop" or "hip hopera" (basically country rap). I've only checked out a few of their tracks, but I've been impressed with them too. I guess I'm getting into anything that blends genres or puts a new spin on something old. Sorry for the length.