Music Genre Revivals Redefined

Slacker Rock: A genre of music and a lifestyle, slacker rock prides itself on a lack of elitism and the ideology “don’t take anything too seriously.” When in doubt, think of Beck’s “Loser” as the unofficial anthem. The term slacker rock originated in the early ’90s, when alternative rock was not only getting radio play but was becoming mainstream; it has made a comeback in recent years with the resurgence of grunge. The music takes a laid-back, lo-fi approach to combining elements of college rock, indie rock, and psychedelia. Examples include Built to Spill, Mac DeMarco, and Cymbals Eat Guitars.

Twee Pop: Part indie pop, part bubblegum rock, the genre is typically driven by simple guitar melodies and high-pitched or nasally vocals. The category made its first appearance in England in the 1980s and has recently reemerged in the U.S. alongside the hipster movement: Think cardigans, kittens, and ironic sweetness. Like emo in the early 2000s, twee pop is not often used as a compliment. Although most twee-pop artists never make it beyond their indie fan base, a rare few, such as Belle and Sebastian and Camera Obscura, attain mainstream popularity.

Trap Music: Recently popularized by Fetty Wap’s viral hit “Trap Queen,” the genre combines the tempo and vocals of hip-hop, the drum arrangements and drops of dubstep, the presence of drum machines and synths, and the low frequency and repetitive song structure of dub. The term originated in the early ’90s in the southern U.S. and was revived in 2012 by EDM deejays and trap producer Lex Luger. Trap elements can be found in Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love,” DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What,” and Baauer’s “Harlem Shake.”