Shoegaze

Anyone into what are referred to as "Shoegazer" bands or "Shoegaze" music? The music is charactarized by slower tempos, glassy guitar tones with lots of distortion, reverb and delay and almost whispered vocals...some also call it "Dream Pop"...very ethereal, ambient stuff...

Bands like:
Slowdive
Cocteau Twins
My Bloody Valentine
Starflyer 59
Fold Zandura
The Jesus & Mary Chain
Mazzy Star
The Dream Academy

I like alot of the bands you have listed:

Cocteau Twins, Slowdive , Starflyer, or Fold Zandura not familiar with their music just their name.

My Bloody Valentine, used to play 'Loveless' cassette alot back in the day.

The Jesus & Mary Chain, a very cool band and have two of their albums at home.

I saw Mazzy Star live once and it was the mellowest show I have ever seen and Hope Sandoval must be the skinnest woman I have ever seen.

Never heard of that sub-genre. And judging from your description and bands listed, I don't think it would be something I'd be interested in.

Is it called shoegaze because the performers just kinda stand there, not engaging the audience, staring at their shoes?

MetalGuy71 wrote:

Is it called shoegaze because the performers just kinda stand there, not engaging the audience, staring at their shoes?

I believe so...plus, if you heard it, you'd understand that it's not exactly the kind of music where the crowd would get all excited and have a lot of participation in the show...they just kinda chill and listen while the band plays.

I like Jesus And Mary Chain and The Ravonettes but that's about it.

I like several of the bands listed, but I particularly like bands that incorporate some of the shoegazer sound along with other styles such as a band like Swervedriver.

I don't believe I've ever heard Swervedriver...

One of my favs from this genre is Ether Aura....

http://www.myspace.com/etheraura

They've broken up, but their 2 full lengths are outstanding, IMO.

Not a fan of the style but I did spend a lot of time in my youth with my feet up, staring at my shoes. Yes, various opiates were involved.

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

I don't believe I've ever heard Swervedriver...

I've always liked 'em. They take some of the shoegazer sound and put it in a more pop-rock direction. I like all their records, but I guess their best ones would be, Mezcal Head and Ejector Seat Reservation.

Svengo wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

I don't believe I've ever heard Swervedriver...

I've always liked 'em. They take some of the shoegazer sound and put it in a more pop-rock direction. I like all their records, but I guess their best ones would be, Mezcal Head and Ejector Seat Reservation.

Kinda like Starflyer 59 or Fold Zandura?

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

Svengo wrote:

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

I don't believe I've ever heard Swervedriver...

I've always liked 'em. They take some of the shoegazer sound and put it in a more pop-rock direction. I like all their records, but I guess their best ones would be, Mezcal Head and Ejector Seat Reservation.

Kinda like Starflyer 59 or Fold Zandura?

Although I haven't heard much Fold Zandura, a comparison to some of the Starflyer sound might be apt, though I think Swervedriver has more of a rock edge.

I've recently discovered a love for the Cocteau Twins. In the past I had always dismissed them as something I would probably hate. Big mistake. Perfect mood music.

Two I always did love were Lush and Innocence Mission.

Lush a great band that also got to see live, funny I forget about them since I own on of their CD's, I guess I should listen to it one day.

Innocence Mission sound familiar, where they the band that John Paul Jones produced one of their albums in the 90's ? or maybe I am thinking of Mission U.K.

would the Gathering fall into this category?

mc666 wrote:

would the Gathering fall into this category?

The Gathering with Anneke on vocals?

IMO, they aren't even close to this category. They're more symphonic, prog rock IMO.

I'm not sure of the definition of this genre either so see if this fits. A lot of critics compare this to early Jesus And Mary Chain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEC2PkkokIY

Shoegaze imo is one of the most godawful English music scene's ever, just gear obsessed apathetic music. Ride, Lush, Low, Slowdive etc were just terrible imo. It's called shoegaze because the guitarists are forever looking at the plethora of guitar effects peddles at their feet!

Mind you i like the bands that end up being cited as influences on that scene such as the JAMC, Spacemen 3, Loop and all those great Flying Nun Records/New Zealand bands like the Chills. Can't blame the fathers i guess.

Everyone should check out Spacemen 3, their like the MC5, Syd's Pink Floyd and Suicide all in one........

tohostudios wrote:

mc666 wrote:

would the Gathering fall into this category?

The Gathering with Anneke on vocals?

IMO, they aren't even close to this category. They're more symphonic, prog rock IMO.

I can see what he's saying though...they definitely incorporated some Shoegaze influence...among other stuff...their dreamy, more ambient stuff has a lot of Shoegaze in it...but they do retain a darker vibe. They definitely became a more spacey Prog band over time...How To Measure A Planet? is one of the best albums ever...

I think the two bands from that general ballpark that I liked best were Curve and The Cranes. Curve had maybe some light indusrial tendencies, heavily treated but good. Cranes sounded like something out of Stephen King, like a weird little girl singing over fairly heavy guitars. I guess both bands had some success as pop stars, but the stuff I remeber best is pretty dark and dreamy.

[quote]

Quote :

Innocence Mission sound familiar, where they the band that John Paul Jones produced one of their albums in the 90's ?

No, unfortunately not but it would have been real interesting if he had. They were from PA. and I think probably got signed because somebody thought they could be the next 10,000 Maniacs. Their singer had a similar look to Natalie Merchant but their sound (especially the album Glow) had that great "hazy wall". I always thought they should've at least had an alternative hit. I think they do religious folk music today.


The Cranes were awesome. Completely forgot about them.

Thanks for the info jstate, I have to check out the Innocence Mission I like alot of alternative bands

I'm looking into Curve and The Cranes now! Thanks!

I like some Shoegaze, Sombrance is another great band

www.sombrance.com

I used to and can sometimes still get into alot of this stuff...