Thirty-one years ago this week — on March 8, 1993, to be exact — Beck released his breakout single, “Loser.” One year later, on March 1, 1994, Beck’s album Mellow Gold released, and “Loser” is the first track on that album. In April 1994, “Loser” reached No. 10 in the Billboard Hot 100.

“Loser” certainly took its time climbing the charts and being included on an album. It kind of exemplifies the aesthetic of “slacker rock,” a subgenre of music that Beck’s “Loser” was certainly part of. Pioneered by such bands as Pavement and Guided By Voices, slacker rock captured a vibe of the early 1990s, co-opting the “slacker” label that was applied broadly to Generation X who were coming into their own. Depending on their ages, Gen Xers were entering high school, college or the workforce — and leaving the higher-ups in any of those institutions unimpressed by Gen Xers’ seemingly greater interest in activities like skateboarding, listening to music, and eating cheese-laden snacks rather than studying or work. Slacker rock provided a perfect soundtrack, and it retains a strong legacy to this day.

So for today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what slacker-rock songs past or present do you want to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

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Songs Played
Beck – Loser
Courtney Barnett – History Eraser
Pavement – Summer Babe (Winter Version)
Meat Puppets – Plateau
Tapes 'n Tapes – Insistor
The Breeders – No Aloha
Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin