So yeah, I specifically mentioned that it was style agnostic. In fact, it probably came through in heavier music more than light stuff now that I think about it. I mean Gordon Lightfoot was one of the hardest motherfuckers out. But when people post At the Drive IN, it's literally the thing I'm talking about to a tee.
I'll just reiterate some things since some of it is kind of getting glossed over. What I'm really talking about is a larger mass cultural phenomenon and the only real part of this related to music is that obviously culture gets expressed through music, so it shows up there. And I wasn't even specifically talking about lyrics, though they certainly carry a lot of the message. It's more just an entire way of being. I also was not referring to a particular generation, but more a moment in time. If anything, it started with the tail end of my generation, Gen X and disaffected suburban kids who had no real challenges in life other than to complain about their fee fees. But I really don't subscribe to much in the way of generational stereotypes. There's certain commonalities, but they aren't monoliths. Hell I have been fairly out of step with my generation my whole life, yet I embody Gen X stereotypes more than almost anyone I know. It was just a general shift to professional victimhood and letting life happen to you instead of taking ownership of your own life. Proactive vs reactive. It's how a large segment of society related to the world they inhabited. And these people have always existed, hell I have them in my family, but it became very widespread.
I also don't think there was no music from this time period that was good. I think I mentioned in this thread actually Social Distortion put out a great album, Supersuckers did a couple good ones, Dropkick Murphys, Bad Religion. Florence and the Machine put out Lungs in this time period I think? MGMT was starting. And funny enough celeryman mentioned Mumford and Sons, I am not a big Mumford stan, but Little Lion Man is like 180 degrees from what I am talking about. A totally self actualized song. My Chemical Romances cover of Desolation Row is one of my top 5 covers ever. But then again it was written by Dylan.
And as I mentioned there was a change in the mid teens. Isbell and Stapleton really on the scene. Revivalists have been good. I named Broken by lovelytheband already, but I can't name everything clearly these are just some that spring to mind from that time.
Also, the 60s folk guys,
And I'm 100% sure @Celery Man is reading my take in early aught bands