#SLACKER ALTERNATIVES MAC#

Slacking became a superficial virtue among young adults, sometimes purposefully feigned to outstretch an arm begging for self-gratifying pity. Beginning in the early 90s in the underground - or as underground as music on sea-level college campuses can get - the obsession with aloof coolness imported from the Cobain rocker in part transformed into an idolization of the “slacker.” The slacker rocker was paradoxically detached yet socially accepted, lazy yet actively curating their cool aesthetic. Mere weeks had passed since the devastating death of Cobain and grunge when Beck’s incisive refrain, “I’m a loser, baby, so why don’t you kill me?” climbed into the Top 10, a commercial triumph for a new genre in the making. The rock world was sent reeling, and while it tried to reclaim the classic grunge sound in its underwhelming, post-grunge resurrection (led by Dave Grohl), grunge’s aura of societal apathy and edginess was exchanged for more radio-friendly stadium rock. 90s rock had been dominated by grunge until the untimely death of cultural icon Kurt Cobain in 1994.

By the early 90s, rock had been taken over, reclaimed. Perhaps musical purity was not to be found in pristine production. The rejection of the “sell-out” look and sound of 80s rock bands led to an acceptance of the seemingly haphazard, punky production of alternative rock’s first pioneers. Crystal synths were ditched for muddy overdrive high-pitched wails for emotional rasp flower costumes for flannels. In reaction to the tryhard genres of hair metal and party rock, college campuses and youth culture reacted with the advent of grunge, beginning the fall of the saturated 80s genre. To wrap up nicely the progression from 90s slacker rock to its 2010 revival, the end of this article includes a playlist that explores the genre.

#SLACKER ALTERNATIVES MAC#

The rise of slacker rock acts like Mac DeMarco and Kurt Vile has communicated a more laid-back approach to the industry, through its subdued instrumentals and seemingly easygoing lyrical themes.īorn out of the 90s, our group of unconcerned slackers - not to be confused with my Millennial alma mater - draws heavily from the success of the first wave of slacker rock in the mid-90s. You have to try in rock despite what you’ve recently heard on your alt rock radio.

Slacker alternatives