[Definitive] An introduction to Western mixture rock: a roundup of recommended classic tracks
If you find yourself instinctively reacting when you see the term “mixture rock,” you’re probably, like me, a Western music fan who came of age in the ’90s.
“Mixture rock” refers literally to a blend of various genres—rock and metal mixed with hip-hop, funk, Latin music, reggae, and more—but it’s actually a Japanese-made term.
Overseas, similar sounds are labeled as rap metal, funk metal, crossover, and the like.
In this article, we’ve compiled quintessential tracks that Japan would categorize as “Western mixture rock.”
If you’re a younger music fan, be sure to experience that streetwise vibe of the ’90s to early ’00s!
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[Classic] An Introduction to Western Mix-Ture Rock: A Summary of Recommended Masterpieces (31–40)
Be YourselfAudioslave
A song about how people are different and how two people can react to the same event.
It was released as a single by Audioslave in 2005.
The music video was directed by Francis Lawrence, who has also worked on projects for Aerosmith, Jennifer Lopez, and Gwen Stefani.
It’s Been AwhileStaind
A song released as a single in 2001 by the American rock band Staind.
It reached No.
1 on the U.
S.
charts and became a hit in countries such as the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
The music video was directed by Fred Durst, the frontman of Limp Bizkit.
In conclusion
To be honest, the term “mixture rock” is very ambiguous, and back then anything with hip-hop elements like rap or scratching tended to be labeled as “mixture.” That said, the spirit of mixture rock lives on in modern bands, so it’s fun to listen while keeping in mind the context in which the term was born!