What it is, what to hear first, and what sits next to it.
Anti-folk is a style of Contemporary Folk music that originated in New York City during the 1980s as a reaction against what was viewed as an entrenched, elitist folk scene. While vague and wide-encompassing, anti-folk artists are linked by their rawer, more humorous approach to songwriting when compared to other folk subgenres. Anti-folk songs are often delivered in a self-mocking and sarcastic, often deadpan tone, with little to no connection to traditional music, unlike most styles of contemporary folk. .