My Bloody Valentine - Don't Ask Why

“Don’t Ask Why” by My Bloody Valentine // EPs 1988-1991 (Remastered) (2012 Re-release)

Some of my favorite things in the world are the EPs that My Bloody Valentine released  throughout their career. Hearing them again compiled for the new re-issues of “Loveless” and “Isn’t Anything” is almost like hearing them all over again. Mostly because it’s been so long since I’ve listened to them all front to back, but also because it’s just another reminder that no one can do what MBV did. “Don’t Ask Why” has longtime been my favorite track from those EPs, and truth be told, it’s the track that for me epitomizes “Dream pop”. This doesn’t exactly push the sonic boundaries like “Loveless” did, but it establishes an absolutely brilliant sound and production that is as layered and dream-like as any pop song could hope to be. This is definitely a desert-island-song for me. I want this with me wherever I go, and usually I have it in some form. Definitely check out the new reissues of all of the My Bloody Valentine material. It’s essential hearing for lovers of music, but it’s also just as good of a time as any to get re-acquainted with the band who helped define two of the most exciting genres of music in the past 30 years. 

(stream) “Loveless (Remastered)” by My Bloody Valentine (via Guardian UK)

Yuck - Chew

“Chew” by Yuck // Chew (Single) (2012)

And just like they were never gone, Yuck is back a year later with a new single and I couldn’t be happier. “Chew” continues their focus on breathing new life into guitar based rock and roll, but this time around it could be argued that they found their way to the shoegaze bin when seeking out inspiration. “Chew” sounds like a great lost Pavement and My Bloody Valentine collaboration that only exists in my mind. To be quite honest, I absolutely adore everything about this song. Highest recommendation. 

half string // Eclipse

“Eclipse” by Half String // Maps for Sleep (1991-1994) (2012 re-release)

Captured Tracks continue their absolutely fantastic work in collecting and re-releasing lost and forgotten shoegaze tracks from the halcyon days of the genre. Their latest work comes from Tempe, Arizona’s Half String and their run of wonderful EPs and unreleased tracks from 1991-1994. “Eclipse” is a taste of what you will find on the collection, and it’s a gorgeous reminder of how magnificent and otherworldly Half String could sound when they were around. As a fan of the band for years, this release is an excellent grab for the completest in me, but it’s also a great place for anyone to start. Captured Tracks has done stellar work on all of their shoegaze archive releases and “Maps for Sleep” is no exception. A must listen for fans of the genre. 

(order) “Maps for Sleep” by Half String

Silversun Pickups - Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)

“Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)” by Silversun Pickups // Neck of the Woods (2012)

 Silversun Pickups are keeping the widescreen, shoegazing guitar rock alive and that’s a noble thing. In fact, this new single feels much more mature than I expected out of the new album (“Neck of the Woods”, due May 8th). It’s heavy, dark and melodic, which is where they’re at their best, but luckily they’ve left behind the unnecessary need to shred as they have done in the past. It’s a great effort from the band and hopefully a sign of where the album is going to be heading. 

(pre-order) Neck of the Woods by Silversun Pickups 

Yeti Lane - The Echo Show

“The Echo Show” by Yeti Lane // The Echo Show (2012)

Yeti Lane are a French duo that make electro shoegaze and psych pop tracks that would appeal to fans of Grandaddy’s early 00’s space rock, M83’s late era electro shoegaze, and Deerhunter’s widescreen psych/dream pop. They have a new album entititled The Echo Show due out today in Europe, and next Tuesday in the States. It’s loaded with dreamy, electro-shoegaze stunners, and that stands especially well on the title track which hits familiar territory in all three of the potential influences listed above. It’s a killer track that’s highly recommended. If you like what you hear, you can stream the entire album over at French music site, Drone. 

(stream) The Echo Show by Yeti Lane (via Drone)

Young Prisms - Sunshine

“Sunshine” by Young Prisms // In Between (2012)

Young Prisms are building quite the catalog of slow burning, shoegaze beauties. They’re new album, In Between comes out at the end of March and this is the second taste from that release, and like the first, it’s a psyched out blast of shoegazey dream pop that sounds like the halcyon days of My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive. Of course, there’s just enough slacker psychedelia to give it it’s own flavor and in doing so, it opens the sound up and excites the hell out of me to hear what else is in store for this band. 

Young Prisms @ | (tumblr) | (facebook) | (pre-order) | 

Yo La Tengo - Autumn Sweater (remixed by Kevin Shields)

“Autumn Sweater (Kevin Shields Remix)” by Yo La Tengo // Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1985 - 2003 (2005)

It had been a few years since I had listened to this remix, but while recently compiling my Desert Island Mixtape choices, I saw it sitting there and decided to give it a whirl and for some reason, I just keep coming back to it as if it’s something new - despite my having worn it out years ago. I suppose that’s a sign that it stands up to time. As does most of Yo La Tengo’s music for that matter. Of course, not all of their incredible catalog has the distinction of being remixed by the brilliant Kevin Shields (then again, as much as I’ve always loved this remix, it still doesn’t top the original). So today, when I have nothing new to share, I figured I would share a Sunday afternoon favorite. 

Lower Heaven - Wilderness

“Wilderness” by Lower Heaven // Today is All We Have (2011)

Digging back through the archives of albums that came out and slipped under the radar, I was shocked to find that I had completely overlooked Lower Heaven’s excellent Today is All We Have when handling my year-end favorite’s lists. This album was released only a week into 2011, so forgive me for the oversight, but it’s a shoegaze-y/ psych-pop stunner. The album sways from garage rock influences to psych pop sounds (see this track), but the constant is the sound of shoegaze that rustles throughout. Waves of dreamy, atmospheric guitars are around every corner and “Wilderness” is no exception. I’m saddened to have forgotten this on my top 40 favorite songs of the year list, because it deserves to be there. If you’re new to this band, check this out. For fans of My Bloody Valentine, Echo and the Bunnymen, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Excellent stuff. 

Grabbel And The Final Cut - The Finest Thing

“The Finest Thing” by Grabbel and the Final Cut // Get Your Feet Back on the Ground EP (1991 // re-issue 2012)

Considering I’ve been shining my tiny spotlight on the Captured Tracks Shoegaze Archives, I would be a fool to leave out the third release from their wonderful series. This time the particularly catchy blast of noise pop/shoegaze comes from a relatively unknown band from Germany. Here’s what the CT press release had to say:

Influenced by bands such as The Jesus And Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine and The House Of Love, their sound transformed from a darker, Joy Division-like and keyboard-driven style to a more noisy guitar-pop approach, similar to British bands of the classic shoegaze scene that emerged during the same period.
With several self-distributed, cassette-only releases Grabbel and The Final Cut stayed unsigned until their demise in 1996 and thus remained largely unknown (except for their local Hamburg / Lüneburg region, where they played quite frequently).

Just press play and be awed by how wonderful and melodic this short explosion of noise and heart can sound. If you like what you hear, you can stream the other tracks from the EP at bandcamp. 

Should - This House I'm Living In

“This House I’m Living In” by Should // A Folding Sieve (1994 // Re-Issue 2011)

I’m obsessed, okay. Obsessed. Here is another object of my obsession with the Shoegaze Archives of Captured Tracks. This from their second release, Austin based shoegazers Should’s 1994 album A Folding Sieve (originally released as “shiFt”). Now, this - is something that really floored me as I was not familiar with the work of Should in the slightest, but their sound which strikes me as some warm mid-point between the waves of guitar and dreamy noise from My Bloody Valentine and the softer, experimental indie pop of early Yo La Tengo. It’s pretty incredible to be honest. 

*Note: there is a quiet extended 30 second intro.

(order) Should’s “A Folding Sieve” (and much more from Captured Tracks Shoegaze Archives)

Should - Soothed

“Soothed” by Should // A Folding Sieve (1994 // 2011 re-issue)

Captured Tracks are currently in midst of re-issuing a series of overlooked and forgotten shoegaze classics for their Shoegaze Archive series. A Folding Sieve by Should is one of the first to get the re-issue treatment and thank the gods of reverb for this gift, because it’s a masterpiece. I’ve only been vaguely familiar with the work of Should in the past, so for me, this is like finding some forgotten collaboration between Yo La Tengo and Ride with a little help from Jason Pierce along the way. It’s a stunning collection of sounds and song craft. In picking a favorite to share, I had to just randomly grab one because the entire collection is so spectacular. “Soothed” is a gorgeous dream pop lullaby being played through a wall of sound. If this album were to have been released in 2011 for the first time, it would without a doubt be in my top three favorites of the year. 

Mint Julep - Cherry Radio

“Cherry Radio” by Mint Julep // Save Your Season (2011)

The new full length from Mint Julep is an dreamy, shoegazey beauty and you can stream the whole thing over at Soundcloud right now, courtesy of The Line of Best Fit. One of the standout tracks in an album loaded with ear goodies, is this one, “Cherry Radio”. It driving beat matches up nicely with the airy, ethereal synths and otherworldly vocals. Definitely a must listen for fans of Slowdive, Secret Shine, and Lush. 

(stream) Save Your Season by Mint Julep (via Soundcloud)

MBV - Drive It All Over Me

“Drive It All Over Me” by My Bloody Valentine // You Made Me Realize EP (1988)

I keep finding new lo-fi and dream pop bands from all over the place via bandcamp that seem to be really going for sounds that are similar to those found on the early My Bloody Valentine EPs, yet I don’t see anyone siting them as inspiration. Makes me wonder if three years from now those bands will be trying to make a sonic masterpiece or if they’ll just be broken up and splintered into multiple one-man chillwave (or whatever will be hot then; bro-gaze? beachcore?) acts. I suppose these EPs just have that vintage dream-pop sound that seems to be catching steam with a lot of lo-fi west coast acts. It’s not a band sound to chase. This is after all one of my favorite periods of music, so it’s always nice to find a reminder to dig out the old goodies and give them another spin.