'00s Post-Punk

Post-punk revival, neo-new wave, the movement responsible for the promulgation of the adjective "angular" -- whatever you call it, the fact is that somewhere around the turn of the millennium, the hip kids decided they needed a little boogie in their indie, a little drama in their garage rock. And thus the glistening synths, textured guitars and elegantly wasted vocals of the late '70s and '80s floated to the surface again. Like the first-round post-punk acts they cited (the Cure, Joy Division, Gang of Four), bands such as the Rapture, the Strokes and Interpol added self-conscious lyrics, danceable beats and a dramatic sheen to the jagged guitars of punk and indie. This (new) new wave in the ebb and flow of rock was also indebted to '60s garage, '70s glam and '90s alt-rock and dance music. And it packed some mainstream star power, particularly after stylish, hook-friendly bands like the Killers came on the scene. Other groups emphasize different elements of their genre: Franz Ferdinand plant four on the floor; the Walkmen flaunt more epic, U2-ish tendencies; TV on the Radio lean toward the noise rock end; and Le Tigre churn out politicized electro-pop.