May 15 will decide alt-rock's fate

Back in the day, actually 1994, alternative rock ruled the radio. Combining the grunge metal of the '80s with new day catchy riffs, bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam soared to insurmountable success. Bands such as Green Day, Gin Blossoms and Tonic took this formula and created their own lighter version of alt-rock.\nBut the success would not last. Alternative rock would soon be eclipsed by the marketing power of pop, rap and R&B. Many alt-rock bands chose to venture into new, more commercial ground. Case in point, the Goo Goo Dolls and its album Dizzy Up The Girl.\nThe music market is stronger than ever. Even with the advent of Napster, Eminem, Britney Spears and 'NSync all broke sales records in 2000. While pop, rap and R&B appear to stay strong for years to come, alt-rock is poised to make a comeback with a bombardment of new albums on May 15 from some of the genre's leading artists.\nWhile they might have seemed quirky and contrived with their hit "Buddy Holly," the members of Weezer are anything but. After some problems within the band and an attempt to recover from the cursed "sophomore slump" it suffered with Pinkerton, Weezer will return with its second self-titled album. The first single, "Hash Pipe," appears to be doing well initially and could indicate that Weezer is back in full force. Weezer embodies all that is pure in alt-rock. While some songs like "Undone (the sweater song)" and "Say It Ain't So" are catchy and fun on the outside, lyrically the band tackles issues such as popularity and abused children in a subtle and meaningful way. If Weezer does well, it will show that music should be more than just catchy beats and rhyming lyrics. It has to stand for something.\nNo one captures the heavy side of alternative rock better than the dark powerhouse of Tool. After years of legal disputes and side projects, Tool will release its first album in more than four years, titled Lateralus. With heavy riffs, mysterious and often obscure lyrics, Tool flexed its muscle back in 1996 with Aenima, featuring such tracks as "Stinkfist" (or the MTV version, "Track #1"), "H" and "Aenima." Even as bands like Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock lead a "rap-rock revolution," Tool flaunts something few of the rap-rock musicians can boast: talent. Musically superior, lyrically superior and, as evidenced by the success of frontman Maynard James Kennan's side project, A Perfect Circle, vocally superior. The success, or lack thereof, of Tool's new album should be a pivotal moment for alt-rock, deciding whether rap-rock will rule the new millennium or whether true inventive music will take precedence.\nLong before anyone had heard of Kurt Cobain, Michael Stipe was walking the fine line between new wave and rock 'n' roll. This combination would soon become the core of alternative rock, and R.E.M. found itself right in the thick of things. But in the new millennium, as R.E.M. struggles to redefine itself, the band should remain the forerunners in modern-day alternative rock. Not to say that where they go musically others will go, but R.E.M. might set the standard for what is considered quality in today's market. R.E.M. seems to have found its groove with Automatic For The People but then faltered with the grungy Monster and its last release, Up. During its extensive career, R.E.M. has shown it can be inventive, adventurous and creative all while making commercially successful music. If R.E.M. can show it still has staying power, it might open the doors for a horde of new and established alt-rock bands to flex their muscles.\nMay 15 is a definitive day for alt-rock. Not only will Weezer, Tool and R.E.M. put out their latest offerings, but the likes of Depeche Mode, Megadeth and The Go-Gos will also try to reach out to today's music audience. While this summer will also bring releases from big alt-rock groups such as Radiohead, Stone Temple Pilots and Better Than Ezra and might bring the flocks back to the alt-rock stage, May 15 should indicate whether alt-rock still has a place in modern music culture.