Slacker Rock
tagStarted 1990Peak 1992-1997Last big hit still active
Located in 2 routes
Casual, deadpan indie rock that downplays virtuosity and polish in favor of laid-back wit and shrugging cool. Loose, jangly or fuzzed guitars, laconic half-spoken vocals, wry and surreal lyrics, and songs that feel like they might unravel yet hide strong pop instincts. The studied apathy is the style: effortless, ironic and quietly tuneful.
History
Emerged from the early-1990s US indie underground as a Gen-X counterpart to grunge's intensity. Pavement defined its arch, ramshackle template while Beck's 'Loser' (1994) became its accidental anthem. Dinosaur Jr., Built to Spill and others carried the wry, unhurried sensibility, and a 2010s revival via acts like Mac DeMarco kept the slack spirit alive.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacker_rock
- https://www.allmusic.com/style/indie-rock-ma0000004453
- https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-indie-rock-songs/