Shoegaze Can Expand Your Prog-Rock Interests

Have you heard of shoegaze? 

Shoegaze is a sub-genre of alternative indie music that began in the late 1980s to early 1990s. It was originally a derogatory term used by journalists because shoegaze musicians had a tendency to look down at their effect and distortion pedals when playing their instruments. 

The band Earthmover, on their 2008 debut album of Have a Nice Life, performed the song “Deathconsciousness”, which was a personal introduction to the subgenre after being in the hit indie video game, Ultrakill. Anyone conditioned by prog-rock to enjoy double-digit-minute music length could easily sit and listen through it.

Fans of the genre appreciate music that has a gradual build up and ethereal screeching in the background; all of the music is like hearing an inhuman choir. It is as though one were to listen to a crying child…in a theater…in a dream.

Another notable example was the 2017 remaster of the 2001 Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads album by Lift to Experience. Unfortunately, this was their first and only album due to financial troubles and internal (as well as external) struggles. The album cover itself can entice new listeners to the genre. There are many cool and strange album covers –Deathgrips has plenty–but that specific graphic design was big. 

Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads is about the second coming of Christ and how Jesus turns Texas into the new promised land, so there are biblical allusions scattered throughout the music. It is not preachy about its messaging, which is great for the many non-Christians who want to enjoy the album, with the songs Just as Was Told, Waiting to Hit, and Into the Storm occupying the top spots. Into the Storm ends with 14 minutes of silence, so be prepared. 

To not talk about My Bloody Valentine, the biggest founder of Shoegaze, would be unthinkable. Two songs on their 1991 album, Loveless, really stand out: When You Sleep and Come in Alone.

Superblaster, by Curve, is not on Spotify but is an amazing song by them. The clash of all of the sounds together is enjoyable. Kitchen of Distinction’s song “Prize” is also pretty nice to listen to, especially how the vocals aren’t mixed in with shoegaze’s iconic shredding. It’s one of their songs that expresses Patrick Fitzgerald’s androgyny in that era of the 80s and 90s.

In French Blackgaze, a mix of black metal and Shoegaze, Alcest is also of note, with their top ten songs being pretty emblematic of the genre. The Japanese band 溶けない名前 also showcases the style perfectly.