Ok, so each week or so I'm gonna do a topic like this introducing people to a new genre. I'll pick some obscure genres to try and get people to listen to some new music, or if I choose a widely known genre I'll try and pick music you might not heard of, or thought you could've liked. Anyway, this week's is Shoegaze.
ShoegazeAn Introduction to the Genre Ok, shoegaze is basically a sub-genre of alt. rock, which was most popular in the late '80s and early '90s, most notably in the UK. It's style consisted of heavily distorted guitar and indistinguishable vocals and a lot of feedback. Using a lot of effects, as well as treating the vocals like an instrument, generally allowed all of the instruments to combine to create very unique sounds, that would sometimes dissolve into a wall where no instrument was distinguishable from the other.
It can be a very relaxing genre to listen to, but can also be very intense and emotion-provoking. It's certainly not a genre to sing along to, and there tends to be no real structure to the songs, so no heavy-hitting choruses or anything like that. Think of it as very intense ambient music.
The Defining Albums of Shoegaze
If you like the sound of the genre, or are just curious, then I'll recommend some good bands to start with, the first of which is by
My Bloody Valentine.
My Bloody Valentine started out as an indie-pop band, and their first mini-LP of this style really is awful and generally forgotten when talking about the MBV of 1988-1991. But with the release of their first full-length LP in 1988,
"Isn't Anything", they arguably started the genre of Shoegaze. The extensive use of effects, mixed with both a male and female vocalist, creates some amazing sounds, ranging from dreamlike to menacing to sensual. Although this album is pretty much heralded with the creation of the genre, the band's highest point has to be their second, and last, full-length album,
"Loveless".
Although it took two years to make and almost bankrupted the studio, costing $250,000, I can't tell you how much it was worth it. It is a masterpiece of sound and an example in experimental guitar effects, as well as vocal effects - the vocal melodies in this album are fantastic. The amazing sounds they manage to create from just simple guitar riffs is astounding, and works so damn well. This album has to be my favourite of the band, the genre, and possibly my favourite album outright. It is just awesome.
Another band around at that time were
Jesus & Mary Chain. Their debut album is definitely, in my opinion, their best. To describe I've decided to just steal a sentence from a review, but it's perfect - "Beach Boys melodies meet Velvet Underground feedback and beats, all cranked up to ten and beyond, along with plenty of echo." This album, and band, are much more melodic than My Bloody Valentine, and are therefore probably a better starting out point. But, I think they are pretty hard to get into and definitely need more than just one try. I would start with their first album,
"Pyschocandy" though, as it's probably the most accessible. The first song on it is my favourite by them,
"Just Like Honey", and if you saw Lost in Translation then you'll definitely recognise it.
If you'd like a more relaxing experience from the genre, then I would have to recommend
Galaxie 500. All three of their studio albums are superb, and if I had to pick a favourite then I would say
"On Fire". This album is so subtle, the vocals are very relaxing and work really well with the music. I would probably recommend this album if you aren't looking to go straight to the noisy soundscapes of MBV or even Jesus & Mary Chain. I think you can get a lot from this band, and I would try any of their three albums.
Like What You Heard? Some More Albums... If you like any of the bands above, then some other bands for you to check out from that era are:
Slowdive - Very relaxing, I would recommend the album "
Souvlaki", although all three of their albums are superb.
Ride - Have one excellent album,
"Nowhere". Similar style to My Bloody Valentine. Their second album is OK, but I wouldn't go any further than that.
Dinosaur Jr. - Pick of the albums would be
"You're Living All Over Me" and
"Bug". Although
"Green Mind" and "
Beyond" are also good. Dinosaur Jr. and much more alt-rock (think Pixies) than the other bands mentioned, but they do contain elements of shoegaze, such as a helluva lot of noise.
What's New in the Genre? Shoegaze is going through a bit of a revival at the moment, with quite a few new bands coming out with a similar style. My pick of the bunch is
Asobi Seksu. They are a brilliant new band with two albums out and I would thoroughly recommend them. They are extremely melodic in every instrument, as pop as you can get without leaving Shoegaze and not afraid to through some noise at you. They are truly excellent. If you want to listen to them, go for "
Citrus", their second album, but their debut is just as good.
Another band I'll throw in here, although the furthest from Shoegaze in this topic are
M83 and the album "
Before the Dawn Heals Us". Excellent album, although more ambient epicness than Shoegaze but they do delve into noise soundscapes every now and then. They have a few other albums out and I haven't heard a bad one yet, so I would definitely recommend this band even if you don't like MBV, Jesus & Mary Chain, etc. Two other bands,
Silversun Pickups and
Maps, both have one album each with are probably worth a listen to.
Conclusion So, that's my introduction to Shoegaze. Please leave some feedback if you listened to any of the bands mentioned, are already a fan, or disagree/agree with what I'm saying. Thanks.
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Weekly Genre, #1: Shoegaze