Labels can be helpful; they can be informative, clarify things and help save
time. But sometimes they’re just plain stupid. Case in point: “dad rock”.
Supposedly,
this is meant to be a snarky insult directed towards artists who follow rock
tradition in their music. But here’s the thing: unless an artist is doing
something incredibly new and original—which is terribly unlikely in the realm
of popular music these days—it stands to reason they are operating within
previously established guidelines. Therefore, these parameters
were likely laid down by a prior generation. Hence, this leaves the “dad rock”
designation devoid of substance and reducing it to just another vapid hipster
epithet.
So, essentially, this derogatory term stems from the same group of people whose music
and wardrobe fall mostly within the category of ‘80s retreads. Isn’t that
ironic, Alanis?
