Twee pop is the shy, lovelorn, indie cousin of bubblegum. Incorporating the D.I.Y. spirit of punk with the gentle sweetness of the girl-group era, twee pop is typically characterized by its catchy melodies, boy-girl harmonies, and rebellious innocence. The genre dates back to 1986 when the NME released C-86, a compilation including the Wedding Present, the Pastels, the Bodines, and Primal Scream. Heavily influenced by the three-chord simplicity of the Ramones and the jangly guitar pop of the Smiths, C-86 became a short-lived genre that soon gave way to twee pop. The U.K., home to the legendary Sarah label, was the hub for most twee-pop bands, but the movement gained momentum in the States through K Records, a label owned by Beat Happening's Calvin Johnson.

Notable artists: Beat Happening, Softies, Belle and Sebastian, the Vaselines, Bunnygrunt