| Garage punk | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Garage punk rock |
| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | 1980s, United States |
| Other topics | |
Garage punk is arock music genre combining the influences ofgarage rock,punk rock, and often other genres; the genre took shape in theindie rock underground between the late 1980s and early 1990s.[1] Bands drew heavily from 1960s garage rock, stripped-down 1970s punk rock,[2] and Detroitproto-punk;[1] it also often incorporated numerous other styles into their approach, such aspower pop, 1960sgirl groups,hardcore punk,blues, earlyR&B andsurf rock.[3]
The term "garage punk" often also refers to the original 1960sgarage rock movement rather than the 1980s–90s hybrid style. The 1980s–90s style itself is sometimes referred to interchangeably as "garage rock" or "garage revival".[3] The term "garage punk" dates back as early as 1972 in reference to the original 1960s garage rock style,[4] although "punk" as it is known today was not solidified as its own distinct genre until 1976.[5] After the 1980s, groups who were labelled as "garage punk" stood in contrast to the nascent retro garage revival scene, moving past a strictly mid 1960s influence.[2] Associated bands from that period contributed to the development ofstoner rock, a more psychedelic variation of the genre.[1]
The earliest known use of the term "garage punk" appeared inLenny Kaye's track-by-trackliner notes for the 1972psychedelic music compilationNuggets[4] to describe a song by the 1960s garage rock bandthe Shadows of Knight as "classic garage punk".[6][7] The term "punk rock" was originally used to describe the music of mid-1960s American garage bands.[5] When referring to 1960s groups, the term "garage punk" is usually deployed interchangeably with "garage rock".[8]MTV's Beverly Bryan says that "garage punk" may be used "more likely" to refer to "garage rock" or "garage revival".[3] While garage bands varied in style, the label of garage punk has been attributed by critic Michael Hann to the "toughest, angriest garage rockers" such asthe 13th Floor Elevators andthe Sonics.
Simon Reynolds traces garage punk to Americangarage rock bands in the 1960s.[10] He explains that mid 1960s garage punk was largely the domain of untrained teenagers who used sonic effects, such asfuzz tones, and relied heavily onriffs.[11] Hann locates the "golden years" of garage punk to 1965–67.[7]The Sonics are credited as a pioneering act in the genre.[9][12] CriticTim Sommer wrote: "The Sonics created the template for American garage punk, not to mention crafting the prototype for every punk rock band that thought that three chords and a horny shriek was enough to move a nation."[13]
In the 1980s, there began a revived interest in the music of the 1960s, starting with garage punk.[14] Labels likeCrypt andNorton began reissuing the work of "lost mid-century weirdos", which led a new generation of punk musicians to rediscover older rock artists likeLittle Richard and the Sonics.[3] In contrast to the retro garage revival scene, bands who continued to draw heavily from stripped-down 1970s punk, rather than just mid-1960s styles, would be widely categorized as "garage punk".[2][nb 1] According to theAllMusic guide, "Before thepunk-pop wing of America's '90s punk revival hit the mainstream, a different breed of revivalist punk had been taking shape in the indie-rock underground. In general, garage punk was not nearly as melodic as punk-pop; instead, garage punk drew its inspiration chiefly from the Detroitprotopunk ofthe Stooges and theMC5.[1]
Allan Rutter writes that the music is often fast-paced and characterized by dirty, choppy guitars and lyrics typically expressing rebelliousness and sometimes "bad taste", and may be performed by "low-fi" acts who are onindependent record labels, or who are unsigned.[15] Bands are generally apolitical and tend to distance themselves fromhardcore punk and generally avoid strict adherence to the types of social codes and ideologies associated with thepunk subculture.[16]
AllMusic adds: "Some of the first garage punk bands who appeared in the late '80s and early '90s (Mudhoney,the Supersuckers) signed with theSub Pop label, whose early grunge bands shared some of the same influences and aesthetics (in fact, Mudhoney became one of the founders of grunge)."[1] Bands likeNew Bomb Turks,the Oblivians,the Gories,[17]the Mummies,the Dirtbombs, andthe Humpers helped maintain a cult audience for the style through the 1990s and 2000s.[1] Associated bands from that period contributed to the development ofstoner rock, a more psychedelic variation of the genre.[1]