Alternative: A term to describe a family of rock-related, punk-inspired styles that began in the early eighties and continues into the twenty-first century.
Dance-oriented rock (DOR): A term coined by Robert Christgau to describe an array of musical styles which emerged in the 1980s, specifically synthesis of the post-punk and post-disco sounds.
Grunge: A style of rock music which emerged in the late 80s which fused punk disaffection with the power and distortion of heavy metal.
Harmonics: Sound created on a stringed instrument by depressing the string only partway at certain points, creating higher-pitched sounds with a distinctive ring
Headbanging: An high-energy, sometime violent, dance which evolved around heavy metal.
Heavy metal: Heavily distorted alternative rock of the 1980s, characterized by both power and defiance.
Lilith Fair: All-female music festival from 1997-1999, created by Sarah McLaughlan in response to the unspoken idea that more than one woman could not be on the same performance bill.
Lollapalooza: A music festival during the 90s which featured alternative bands.
No wave: Post-punk substyle, characterized by the music of Sonic Youth.
MTV: A cable network which began broadcasting music videos in 1981.
Queercore: A movement which reacted against mainstream gay and lesbian views and musically centered around punk and industrial rock.
Riot grrrl: A 90s militant feminist movement which supported post-punk bands.