What's alternative about alt rock?

It was the White man's guitar rock alternative to the increasingly popular homosexual Negro electronic dance music of the day.

at the time, the aesthetic

At the time alt rock differentiated itself from pop rock with different lyrical themes, innovative guitar tones and techniques, and more experimental song structures

It's an alternative to good rock

It contains different chords lol

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>>70374655
tell me what is this album cover of and what it represents

Are R.E.M. the best American alt rock band of all time? Seriously, think of any other American alt rock band that had two decades of great music.

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>>70375108
I would guess it's some sort of architecture/signage from a 50s/60s building similar to pic related. Probably a comment on the loss of of optimism in the myth of the american dream or some such thing

>>70375813
Sonic Youth
Flaming Lips
Yo La Tengo

>>70375108
http://www.feelnumb.com/2009/09/04/story-behind-the-rem-automatic-for-the-people-star-cover/

>>70375108
neon star from sinbad motel

the memes

R.E.M. isn't "Alt Rock" it's "College Rock"

It's got a different name