Topic: I CAN HAS SHOEGAZE? (Read 16764 times)

Caspian · « **on:** 02 Dec 2007, 19:13 »

Ok in case you didn't figure it out, this is a shoegaze recommendation thread. For a while now I've been loving MBV and most other bands in this genre but I just seem to be in a rut recently regarding this genre, so hopefully you guys can help me out. Basically the one thing of criteria I have is that it must have really, really loud guitars, as I enjoy the noisier/more distorted style of shoegaze (jesu, MBV, even Nadja are good examples of the things I'm looking for). So as long as it's pretty distorted and fuzzy I'm down with it. Also, while I'm not exactly an expert in this genre, I'm pretty familiar with most of the big names, so going "DUDE GET LOVELESS" is not going to be very helpful. ANYWAY RECOMMEND KTHX

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #1 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 19:20 »

Well all the good shoegaze bands ARE big names because there are not very many of them... so...

M83
Slowdive
Ride (pre-Tarantula only)
Asobi Seksu
Gowns
The Charalambides
Swervedriver
the Death In Vegas album "Scorpio Rising" (their other stuff is far less shoegazy)
Catherine Wheel
Hum
DUDE HAVE YOU HEARD OF JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

Caspian · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 20:00 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 02 Dec 2007, 19:20

Well all the good shoegaze bands ARE big names because there are not very many of them... so...

M83
Slowdive
Ride (pre-Tarantula only)
Asobi Seksu
Gowns
The Charalambides
Swervedriver
the Death In Vegas album "Scorpio Rising" (their other stuff is far less shoegazy)
Catherine Wheel
Hum
DUDE HAVE YOU HEARD OF JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

I'm already a huge fan of M83, JAMC are good but not great IMO but while I've heard of most of the others I haven't actually heard them. Don't know how many of them fit my 'really really loud distorted guitars' thing, but nonetheless I will check some of them out, thanks.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 20:06 »

Hum definitely has loud distorted guitar. In fact, Jesu's recent material sounds a lot like Hum. I mean, a LOT. So if you like Jesu, look into Hum.

I would actually recommend bands like Bardo Pond if the loud distorted guitar part is what you like about shoegaze. They're generally considered "stoner/psychedelic rock", but the female vocals, pacing and ambience definitely speak of a big shoegaze influence. In particular, I'd look into their albums Lapsed and Ticket Crystals.

For reference, have a Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGuCw3Z510

Caspian · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 20:46 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 02 Dec 2007, 20:06

Hum definitely has loud distorted guitar. In fact, Jesu's recent material sounds a lot like Hum. I mean, a LOT. So if you like Jesu, look into Hum.

I would actually recommend bands like Bardo Pond if the loud distorted guitar part is what you like about shoegaze. They're generally considered "stoner/psychedelic rock", but the female vocals, pacing and ambience definitely speak of a big shoegaze influence. In particular, I'd look into their albums Lapsed and Ticket Crystals.

For reference, have a Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mGuCw3Z510

Indeed, Bardo Pond are great, I've only got 'On the Ellipse' but it's fantastic, I'll definitely get some more. Also, if Hum do sound a lot like Jesu then that is totally awesome. I'll download some later tonight, fo' shizzle.

jeph · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 20:58 »

Hum is like Jesu but with better guitar playing and more interesting chord changes.

basically Hum is better than everything ever

(I get so depressed when that new Cadillac commercial with the riff from "Stars" comes on the TV)

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 21:08 »

Quote from: jeph on 02 Dec 2007, 20:58

Hum is like Jesu but with better guitar playing and more interesting chord changes.

basically Hum is better than everything ever

Ehhh... I dunno. "Stars" as a song is generally better than any recent Jesu, but I'd say Conqueror is better than any Hum album on balance.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #7 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 21:31 »

I was listening to Bardo Pond when I saw this thread for the first time (as I am now, to Set and Setting), so I was very happy with their inclusion on this thread as they were naturally my first thought.

I'd also mention Pharaoh Overlord, Circle, Growing, and The Psychic Ills. None of these are actually shoegaze bands but they might appeal to you for similar reasons.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #8 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 21:34 »

Growing put on the loudest live show I have ever seen in my life. Louder than Dinosaur Jr., louder than Mogwai, louder than Acid Mothers Temple, louder than Blue Cheer. Those two guitars were so loud I had to leave the club to avoid falling down from the vertigo being created by my skull vibrating. I'm not exagerrating even in the slightest.

onewheelwizzard · « **Reply #9 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 21:39 »

I saw them open for SUNN0))). To this day I've never had a more intense sonic experience. I have to say that SUNN0))) was louder though.

Joseph · « **Reply #10 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 21:43 »

Definitely check out Swervedriver. Great band.

I saw Adam Franklin, their frontman-type, open for The Besnard Lakes a month ago. For the encore, they invited him onstage, and acted as his backing band and played Swervedriver songs. Loudest concert I'd ever attended by a mile. Four guitarists were onstage at this point, and the entire room was shaking. I was right up against the stage and it felt at times as though my skull was about to cave in.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #11 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 22:05 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 02 Dec 2007, 19:20

the Death In Vegas album "Scorpio Rising" (their other stuff is utter shite)

Fix'd

Seriously though, that album is really excellent.

FireAarro · « **Reply #12 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 22:08 »

Quote from: zerodrone on 02 Dec 2007, 19:20

Well all the good shoegaze bands ARE big names because there are not very many of them... so...

M83
Slowdive
Ride (pre-Tarantula only)
Asobi Seksu
Gowns
The Charalambides
Swervedriver
the Death In Vegas album "Scorpio Rising" (their other stuff is far less shoegazy)
Catherine Wheel
Hum
DUDE HAVE YOU HEARD OF JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

Gowns! I can't believe someone else here has heard of Gowns. Though I wouldn't really call them a shoegaze band, but tracks like White Like Heaven do the loud distorted thing.

Gryff · « **Reply #13 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 22:24 »

Try Bailterspace. They are loud and shoegazey - exactly what you want.

SeanBateman · « **Reply #14 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 22:30 »

Quote from: FireAarro on 02 Dec 2007, 22:08

Quote from: zerodrone on 02 Dec 2007, 19:20
Well all the good shoegaze bands ARE big names because there are not very many of them... so...

M83
Slowdive
Ride (pre-Tarantula only)
Asobi Seksu
Gowns
The Charalambides
Swervedriver
the Death In Vegas album "Scorpio Rising" (their other stuff is far less shoegazy)
Catherine Wheel
Hum
DUDE HAVE YOU HEARD OF JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

Gowns! I can't believe someone else here has heard of Gowns. Though I wouldn't really call them a shoegaze band, but tracks like White Like Heaven do the loud distorted thing.

Gowns is totally only okay.

Bishop138 · « **Reply #15 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 22:32 »

Well seeing as no one seems to have mentioned it, and they were the one's that started the genre as I'm lead to believe.

Lush.

Check 'em.

FireAarro · « **Reply #16 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 23:14 »

Quote from: Dirk Hopeless on 02 Dec 2007, 22:30

Quote from: FireAarro on 02 Dec 2007, 22:08
Quote from: zerodrone on 02 Dec 2007, 19:20
Well all the good shoegaze bands ARE big names because there are not very many of them... so...

M83
Slowdive
Ride (pre-Tarantula only)
Asobi Seksu
Gowns
The Charalambides
Swervedriver
the Death In Vegas album "Scorpio Rising" (their other stuff is far less shoegazy)
Catherine Wheel
Hum
DUDE HAVE YOU HEARD OF JESUS AND MARY CHAIN

Gowns! I can't believe someone else here has heard of Gowns. Though I wouldn't really call them a shoegaze band, but tracks like White Like Heaven do the loud distorted thing.

Gowns is totally only okay.

I haven't heard much Gowns but the tracks I've heard I like. I really enjoy Ezra's other music (The Mae Shi, Monstro, some of the solo stuff he put on his site), and Amps For Christ which Erika was in for a while, so I'm pretty interested in Gowns. I was just surprised people here know them whilst nobody seems to listen to the Mae Shi, who are generally far better known.

Johnny C · « **Reply #17 on:** 02 Dec 2007, 23:18 »

A Place To Bury Strangers have caught a lot of press this year and with good reason. Rock music masquerading as pure noise.

Caspian · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 00:24 »

Quote from: onewheelwizzard on 02 Dec 2007, 21:31

I'd also mention Pharaoh Overlord, Circle, Growing, and The Psychic Ills. None of these are actually shoegaze bands but they might appeal to you for similar reasons.

I've been meaning to check out Growing and Circle for ages, perhaps I will now do it?

Quote from: Johnny C on 02 Dec 2007, 23:18

A Place To Bury Strangers have caught a lot of press this year and with good reason. Rock music masquerading as pure noise.

This also sounds awesome.

Felix_ · « **Reply #19 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 01:33 »

Chapterhouse were shoegaze gods.

Although not all of these artists aren't purely shoegaze, I'd also check out Rumskib, Mew, Korouva, and Hearts Of Black Science.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #20 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 01:47 »

Quote from: Bishop138 on 02 Dec 2007, 22:32

Well seeing as no one seems to have mentioned it, and they were the one's that started the genre as I'm lead to believe.

Lush.

1. Lush most definitely did not "start" the shoegaze genre, not by a longshot.

2. I love Lush.

3. However, they are very far from what the OP wants - Lush does not have loud distorted wall-of-guitar, not in the slightest. If we're going to recommend Lush, may as well throw in The Church and Chameleons and Echo and the Bunnymen and hell, even the Psychedelic Furs.

4. Basically what I am saying is that Lush has shoegaze elements, like the bands above, but are not really representative of what the OP was asking for, which was more of the "earbleeding" shoegaze sound.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #21 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 02:09 »

Quote from: tommydski on 03 Dec 2007, 01:59

If we're recommending good music in a similar vein, I can heartily suggest Low, Codeine, Bedhead and the Red House Painters.

Seconding all of those recommendations, though again with the caveat that those bands are "quiet" while the OP seems to want "loud".

I would also say that The New Year (which is basically Bedhead under a new name, since the Brothers Kadane are still the masterminds) are every bit as good and sometimes better than Bedhead. All that said, the best thing Bedhead was ever a part of is the Macha Loved Bedhead collaboration EP.

Caspian · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 06:01 »

I enjoy Low but from what I've heard it's basically exactly the opposite of what I'm looking for. Loud and distorted is the key word here.

Joseph · « **Reply #23 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 07:20 »

I think that's really only in comparison to the albums that came before though.

Spinless · « **Reply #24 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 07:22 »

By 'soon' I think Tommy meant the guys said "Maybe mid 2008".

...Low, Codeine, Bedhead and TRHP...shoegaze?

I know you like recommending them, but that one is a stretch.

Johnny C · « **Reply #25 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 07:25 »

Well, they are Slowcore, which was the American response to shoegaze.

Early Death Cab For Cutie is a blend of the dynamics of those slowcore bands with the occasional volume of shoegaze.

Spinless · « **Reply #26 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 07:41 »

I could understand Codeine, maybe. But musically, I don't see the similarity between the others.

To me, recommendation threads are starting to look like those 'degrees' games, where you can recommend absolutely anything as long as you can connect it with the original request in 10 moves or less.

Infact, this could be fun, I'm recommending Bill Withers. WHY?

Spinless · « **Reply #27 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 10:08 »

The post vanished, but yeah, it was through Dinosaur Jr.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #28 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 11:23 »

Actually, at least the first two Bedhead albums are pretty shoegazy. They may be downbeat and depressing, but the guitars are loud. In comparison to Red House Painters or Low, the guitars are even fucking loud.

öde · « **Reply #29 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 12:37 »

I can't even recommend Moose because this guy wants heavier shoegaze (everyone else check out Moose, they are really okay).

Spinless · « **Reply #30 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 12:44 »

That's like saying...
In comparison to the North Pole, Alaska is pretty hot.

Misereatur · « **Reply #31 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 13:05 »

Flying Saucer Attack, anyone?

I recommend the first self titled album and the second album Further

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #32 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 13:09 »

FSA are awesome, but I never considered them shoegaze-influenced.

New Lands does have some pretty loud guitar on a few tracks, though, particularly "Past", probably my favorite song on the album.

Misereatur · « **Reply #33 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 13:13 »

I don't know, I haven't listened to them in a while now but I do find them shoegazy.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #34 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 13:24 »

I think the best thing they ever did was "Sally Free and Easy", a 20-minute song that comprises its own EP.

Also, I'd argue that Distance is better than Further.

The song "The Drowners" is very shoegazy, actually.

Misereatur · « **Reply #35 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 13:41 »

I've looked for Distance for a while, but I could'nt find online or in any record shop.

Now that I think of it, I've never actually seen any FSA in any of my favorite recoird shops. I mean, shops down in Tel Aviv that actually keep this kind of music.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #36 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 15:51 »

Amazon has a bunch of copies of Distance.

It got re-released sometime in the past 7 years and became exponentially easier to find.

I think it's weird that my favorite CDs from an experimental band are the singles compilations (Distance and Chorus).

UberDrivel · « **Reply #37 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 18:53 »

I don't think it's necessary to limit ourselves to "loud and distorted," especially when the term shoegaze isn't limited to those qualities. I'm sure other people like things more along the lines of dream pop. With that in mind:

Cocteau Twins: Elizabeth Fraser's voice is divine. You've probably heard her on Massive Attack's "Teardrop" (trip-hop's another older genre I really like). Unfortunately, I've spent most of my time listening to one album, but it's a darn good one. It's called Heaven or Last Vegas, and here's the title track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtBr5JKSuks

Mahogany: Full discloser: They're still the best interview I've ever had. Robin Guthrie (from the above band) produced their song "Supervitesse," which you can download from their MySpace. A really beautiful and interesting take on the style. "Neo-Plastic Boogie Woogie" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iart6d-KNIQ

Maps: No, not the YYYs song. Maps is James Chapman, M83's labelmate on Mute, and what's really neat is that he made his entire album without using computers. "You Don't Know Her Name" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJgtYk5Pd9M

re: Lush: I like 'em more as an alt-rock band. "Ladykillers" and ballads with Jarvis Cocker work better that having Robin Guthrie make you 'gazey, IMO.

So, if anyone has "softer" recommendations, I'd be happy to hear 'em.

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #38 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 19:56 »

Quote from: UberDrivel on 03 Dec 2007, 18:53

I don't think it's necessary to limit ourselves to "loud and distorted," especially when the term shoegaze isn't limited to those qualities.

The OP specifically requested "really loud distorted guitars", so most of us were obliging him in that regard.

As for your point about Lush, they did do "Superblast", which is a damn rockin' song, though the majority of their best output was more dreampop than shoegaze, more Slowdive than JAMC.

Freezey · « **Reply #39 on:** 03 Dec 2007, 23:17 »

The Swirlies, perhaps? At least the earlier stuff in their discography. American shoegaze from the early 90's, though I find them a bit louder/distorted at points.

Tehz · « **Reply #40 on:** 06 Dec 2007, 15:57 »

I listened to that Swervedriver band that zerodrone recommended a little while ago, and they're really good. I mean, like, really good.

daven · « **Reply #41 on:** 06 Dec 2007, 16:42 »

Have any of you ever heard of Ulrich Schnauss? It's IDM but with a rather interesting shoegaze twist; you can definitely see the influence. Particularly reccomended is the Far Away Trains Passing By album.

UberDrivel · « **Reply #42 on:** 06 Dec 2007, 23:57 »

Ulrich's the man. I saw him a couple months (has it really been that long?) ago, and it was really quite stunning. As you said, it probably helps if you're into more electro-y stuff, but the music's got a grandiose feel to it that guitars can't always do justice to. Guy's done some cinematic remixes, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj8IQslwn8o

ASUDeadhead · « **Reply #43 on:** 10 Dec 2007, 23:50 »

Awesome selections. I might recommend Furry Things- The Big Saturday Illusion. It is loud and droney, but might be on the verge of noise rather than shoegaze.

amok · « **Reply #44 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 03:46 »

A Strangely Isolated Place is my favourite Ulrich album. All 3 are fantastic though.

The one from this year didn't grab me at first but it's a slow-burner, I love all the vocals and after a few listens it sounds better every time.

SleeperCylon · « **Reply #45 on:** 11 Dec 2007, 13:05 »

Serena Maneesh

UberDrivel · « **Reply #46 on:** 15 Dec 2007, 12:02 »

Hey, has anyone heard of this band Japancakes' cover of Loveless? It's really quite beautiful. HypeM it: http://hypem.com/search/Japancakes/1/

Hat · « **Reply #47 on:** 15 Dec 2007, 12:11 »

I was actually just thinking about upping that to the sendspace thread while I was sitting on the crapper earlier. I figured I had such an insane amount of trouble trying to find it in a store or get it ordered in, and even finding it on the internet was a horrible, arduous task, so I figured I might save some folks the effort.

Thanks for the reminder!

Jackie Blue · « **Reply #48 on:** 15 Dec 2007, 12:12 »

I actually prefer the Japancakes version of Loveless.

I'm sure everyone is now going to call me insane, but really, it's just better.

Hat · « **Reply #49 on:** 15 Dec 2007, 13:31 »

Honestly, it really for me depends on whether I am in the mood for a haunting wall of noise, or some very relaxing and wonderful steel guitar or whatever the hell that instrument is. I mean, I am not attached to My Bloody Valentine as some standard of brilliance that can never be matched, so to me the idea of hearing the album interpreted as a wonderful summer album that I can enjoy on a deckchair with a few beers overlooking the waterfront is absolutely wonderful.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: I CAN HAS SHOEGAZE? (Read 16764 times)

SeanBateman

Felix_

Spinless

Spinless

Spinless

Spinless

UberDrivel

Freezey

daven

UberDrivel

ASUDeadhead

UberDrivel