It's like THE example that gets used for the genre. I'm betting if you asked 100 music fans who know shoegaze to name a shoegaze album off the top of their head, at least 90 of them would instantly say Loveless.
Shoegaze sounds like what a distant nostalgic memory feels like. Everything is kind of fuzzy and lacks the distinct details, but you grasp the overall feeling of the memory. The feeling of nostalgia can be so strong that it makes my stomach drop when listening to this type of music :/
This is what Hum did to me. The first time I heard “Isle of the Cheetah” I remember feeling like I had just found something important that I never realized I had lost. In fact I still feel that way every time I hear it.
@@hortonwho211 I haven't ever seen anyone mention Hum before! I only just heard of them this summer when my friend and I traveled to the middle of nowhere in Tolono, Illinois to see Cloakroom perform at Cobra Fest. Cobra Fest is a small music event that takes place in the parking lot of the dive bar Loose Cobra. Turns out, the owner of the dive bar is Matt Talbott, the singer for Hum. Without knowing who he was, my friend and I were just drinking right next to him and we even saw him perform some of his solo stuff which was great. Since then, I've gotten into bands like Hum, Deafheaven, Whirr, DIIV, etc.
@@hortonwho211 I saw Hum live back in 1996. Been my favorite band ever since. I completely wore out two copies of You'd Prefer An Astronaut. They just put a new album out last year if you didn't already know, their first new release in 23 years.
Definitely check out To Here Knows When. I don't know anything else like it, even within the mbv catalogue. Maybe it's not for everyone but I think it's one of the most interesting soundscapes ever dreamed of
For some reason Loveless is a pretty difficult record for me so far. I stick to that EPs collection for the moment, I enjoy it a lot, and their early jangle pop stuff too. I will try again later.
@@Alix777. if you haven’t already, maybe try listening with the music videos (only shallow and soon i recommend). it’s an entire experience in itself, for me at least. looks just how it sounds.
Seconding everyone who recommended Slowdive. If you want something representative of their sound I'll suggest "Machine Gun", and "Souvlaki Space Station" for something a bit more adventurous.
@@stevenbatke4167 I used to think Slowdive is a better band than mbv by far, but now that I paid more attention to them and have listened almost all their discography I prefer so much more My bloody Valentine xD wow Idk my mind is so f weird, a couple of years ago I couldn't find how special this band is
this album is the greatest piece of recorded music EVER. bought it in release day in 91... barely a week goes by since that I haven't played it. violently beautiful.
I've always thought of shoegaze as "heavy mellow" music. It's not really happy, it's not always sad, it captures that weird "neutral" emotion depressed people often experience. But at the same time, it's great for just kind of relaxing and unwinding a bit. Emotionally versatile.
@@KeyOfGeebz I never would have checked out this genre without your channel, but I'm glad I did! I'm about to get the weirdest Spotify suggestions now, haha. would love to see another 311 reaction (maybe when you get back), "Beyond the Gray Sky" is the definition of chicken skin!
@@j2swanky hey Jeff! It's comments like yours it really make my day beyond a cup of coffee. I'm stoked to have had the opportunity to bring that to you and to the rest of the people through the course of this year who left great comments such as yours about being exposed to music on my channel. Aloha
Oh the whole of loveless needs a complete sitting to get the full masterpiece it is, would highly recommend the first album isn't anything gets overlooked but every bit as good though with a more hard rocking vibe
I love this band/album so much. I essentially learned of it second hand - a few of the bands I loved mid 90's credited these guys as an influence. One was Smashing Pumpkins (the first MBV album) & an Aussie band You Am I. Of their iconic track 'Berlin Chair', Tim Rogers paraphrasing said "I was obsessed with Loveless & tried to write an MBV song."
Fun fact time: There is no keyboardist in the band, Kevin Shields recorded the entire album himself. He recorded guitar feedback and sent it through a sampler keyboard and those are the keyboards you hear throughout the album.
DUDE I loved you enough when you were reviewing my fav band Radiohead.... and NOW you're doing my other fav band My Bloody Valentine????? Stop it dude I can't handle this much excitement. Definitely do Sometimes or When You Sleep from this album next if you feel like doing more shoegaze!! - Edit: just subbed btw, thanks for the heart!! Loomer is also a favorite.
I always describe MBV of being music where they’ve taken all the hooks out. There’s nothing to hold on to you. You’re just out there floating in the noise with nothing to grab on to. It’s genius really.
10000% agreed. MBV is the staple of Shoegaze to many and they are amazing but I personally think Slowdive is the best shoegaze band there ever was. More emotive and touching to me
@@justsomejusstsome8994 Sure!, Candy Claws are great too, i would put them more on the side of "dream pop" than "shoegaze" scene, it´s very interesting haha
Awesome you checked them out! Kevin Shield’s use of alternate tunings and “glide guitar” technique produces a wall of sound that almost feels tangible. I think you would dig songs like “Soon” and “Thorn” from MBV.
Thank you for the video. By the way, they didn't use any keyboards. They sampled guitar feedback sound and made different melodical parts, pads and textures out of it.
Glad to see the MBV reaction, and I have to hop on the Slowdive bandwagon as well. They’re absolutely essential. I’m sure you already have your list you’ll be going off of, but I’d be psyched to see some Massive Attack and Bjork someday. Keep rocking on, Geebz.
Good review. I get the waving a hand out the car window thing in the wind too. Good description of their sound/vibe. They also remind me of the sound of a vacuum cleaner, but in a good way...
This song brings an emotional reaction to me. I got into MBV around the time I fell in love, and the entire Loveless album perfectly encapsulates the hazy, intoxicating feel of being just completely, madly, lost in someone. Something too good to last.
Yes!!!! Thank you Geebz! This is what I have been waiting for! This whole album is unbelievable and I hope you might react to some other songs over time! Every time I listen to Loveless (and I've been listening to it for about 20 years), I hear some detail I didn't notice before.
a big part of their washy sound on many tracks is layers of reverse\gated reverb and strumming while holding the trem bar so there were be slight vibrato to the chords
Really cool analysis of my favorite band since high school. Subscribed- looking forward to hearing more of your takes. Thanks and keep up the great vids ✌🏻 aloha 🤙🏻
I always felt this track was one of the most interesting of the Loveless album (out of many). The long evolving chord sequence which ends on the major 7th which is so beautiful. Kevin Shields has more or a less a different Fender Jazzmaster for each song, depending on the tremolo arm weight and tuning used. Genius.
Another great reaction. Never heard of them before this but I enjoyed the track. I’m going to keep recommending Swans - The Glowing Man because I was taught persistence is key! It’s a track off of their “trilogy” of albums after they got back together in 2010. The trilogy consists of 3 2-hour albums with incredible soundscapes, grooves, and moody tracks to suck you into an atmosphere that keeps you enthralled. Swans - The Glowing Man! Love ya Geebz!
@@deadmoroz14 Screenshot is great and for any other reaction channel I’d agree with you. But this is Geebz. I want a reaction all the way down the rabbit hole since he knows his stuff.
@@donlebo6824 as someone who grew up with my bloody valentine since late 80s ... I'm so jealous that you get to hear the greatest album ever recorded forvthe first time! I recall when I first played this album... I recall my 16 year old mind being blown all over the ceiling. it's truly a masterpiece
Recently found your channel and have enjoyed every reaction I've watched so far. I'm now loving that you are reacting to shoegaze. Agree with everyone who is suggesting Slowdive. The whole of Souvlaki is an amazing album but my favourite tracks are Alison, Souvlaki Space Station and When The Sun Hits. They are definitely worth a listen.
Love the videos, been away for a while managed to miss a MBV reaction. If your gonna do shoegaze they are certainly a great place to start. I would suggest Slowdive especially the Syd Barrett cover Golden Hair.
That synthy arpeggiation thing you're hearing is actually just what happens when the harmonic overtones from many, many different distortion pedals collide, probably with those simple chord inversions you describe. Isn't it magical?
the melodies are very accessible but the wall of sound and how far back in the mix the vocals are less so, it's a perfect juxtaposition. I absolutely love this
"Shoegaze" was a derogatory term used by the British music press for this genre of music. It referred to the generally quite young and introverted musicians who seemed to look at their shoes rather than at the audience. It certainly shares elements with 60s and 70s "head music" and Spacerock, in that it creates a dream-like soundscape for the listener to float in. I saw MBV play live in the early 90s and the volume was punishingly loud, creating a physical experience to match the emotional one.
MBV does tour with a keyboardist, i remembered they used them for "when you sleep" but I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't in this song as well, it is kind of hard to tell especially since the name of the game in this genre is making guitars sound like anything but a guitar. You may want to check out some MBV lore, Kevin sheilds is like a mad genius and the way they recorded loveless is the stuff of legends. Super stoked to see you review more shoegaze, its a super weird genre. I know you said that you felt like it was a chill happy wave, but my impression after being immersed in many bands for a decade its that its a very bittersweet, kind of sadboy genre. a lot of the godfathers of shoegaze started out as like post punky goth bands and there always seems to be kind of an air of loss or something just being slightly out of reach in the music. Its also very beautiful and hopeful. Its kind of like that weird feeling when something beautiful makes you cry just because its like just so much and touches you in that way. Anyway, Im glad you liked the song, looking forward to see more shoegaze stuff. Also your clowncore review was rad.
You guys are right. Also, Mayonaise (Siamese Dream) and Daydream (Gish) evoke MBV very strongly. Billy's song writing is fantastic though: songs like Hummer Tonite, the aforementioned Mayo, Suffer, etc... will show you that. I highly recommend these if you haven't heard them yet, and the fantastic "Obscure", which is imo, one of the best songs ever. Very good stuff.
@@destroytheangels In my mind, I see it like this -- Sonic Youth experimented with alternate tunings, noise, and dischord. MBV evolved all of that into something beautiful to listen to. Smashing Pumpkins then was able to shape that into more traditional rock songs.
I’m glad you brought this back up. It’s another opportunity to remind you to listen to HUM - “Afternoon With the Axolotls” or “Isle of the Cheetah.” This is more space-gaze or shoegaze-adjacent alternative rock. But for someone who loves engineering and organic feel, both songs are amazing. “Isle of the Cheetah” has a shocking number of layers for what sounds like a simple song, and “Afternoon With the Axolotls” sounds massive but intimate at the same time. I’m really hoping you’ll check out one or both when you come back. Best wishes on the surgery and have a great holiday season. PS - Autocorrect tried to change “surgery” into “surfer.” Good omen, perhaps? 😆🤙
I have a lot of favorite bands, but Hum is definitely in the top 5. Their album in 2020 was an epic return as well if you didn't get much time with it yet. :)
I have been anxiously awaiting your return to Shoegaze. I commented this about 6 months back when you reacted to Lush, but here's my list of reactions I think you'd enjoy. Essentials from some of the OG bands: - When the Sun Hits by Slowdive - Only Shallow by my bloody valentine - Rave Down by Swervedriver - Black Metallic by Catherine Wheel - Pearl by Chapterhouse - Nowhere by Ride And then some from my favorite, more contemporary/modern bands that either blur the line or add onto the original sound: - The Memorymaker by The Daysleepers - 500 Deep by Airiel - Mind by Death of Heather - Afternoon With The Axolotls by Hum - Innervisions by Mascara - Red Oval by Closedown - My Cabal by School of Seven Bells - Nothing's Wrong by Tearwave - Heila by Mainlight - Candy by Holy Fawn - Out of the Angeles by Amusement Parks on Fire - Forgotten, Fossilized, Archaic by Autumn's Grey Solace
It still amazes me to this day that all the synthy sounds on this entire album are really guitar effects. Amazing achievement, both this and Isn't Anything.
This transcends the term "shoegaze". This album is an orgasmic, distortion laden, soundscape. Naming it after a genre they basically birthed, just cheapens it.
You think hearing that on headphones is magical, NOTHING was like them live. So loud it was overwhelming... plus the sound, like a bath of noise you couldn't escape... I'll never forget when they started playing that first show in the early 90's, Detroit... about a third of the front of the venue rushed back away from the stage, repelled by the shear force of the noise... the initial burst of sound was so crazy overwhelming... I was of course drawn to it and end up 3 feet from the stage staring at Kevin Shield's hands as he played all night.... and when they reformed and played that huge aircraft hangar in SF in 2008, I was there too, and it was the loudest shit I've ever heard in my life. I legit saw people freaking out, looking around lost and confused when they did their 10+ minute wall of sound ending (You make me realize)... good times haha
Geebz, love MBV, love your analysis. If you're interested in experiencing a truly otherworldly guitarscape, I'd recommend What Happens Now by Kitchens of Distinction.
Kevin had the album mixed as you describe so that each new listen could potentially be a different experience. Speaker position, volume, etc have a pronounced effect (for me anyway) on which things might bubble to the surface on any of the tracks.
A GREAT and super underappreciated Shoegaze band is Malory. Falling, the opener to Not Here, Not Now is an absolute BANGER of an instrumental, and sets up the rest of the album amazingly well. Cannot recommend that song, or album enough.
If you ever see a video of Kevin Shields playing guitar in the band you’ll notice how he plays, often strumming while holding the whammy bar, creating that bendy, warped sound. Lots of shoegaze bands out there, but that guitar technique is uniquely his own.
There are some keys on the album scattered around here and there but not much. Also there are only two tracks on the whole album that were recorded with live drums. The rest are all samples Shields took from Colem's recordings for the two live tracked songs in the studio, and constructed the percussion via sampler. Pretty awesome.
Top shoe gaze recommendations from me would definitely be My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes Slowdive - Sing (Brian Eno plays on that track) LSD and the search for God - This time Have a Nice life - any song off Deathconsciousness (the darker side of shoegaze adjacent bands and one of my favorite albums of all time)
I feel so lucky to have seen their Loveless tour, though my ears thought otherwise (so loud). Kevin Shields had said he was inspired in part by Public Enemy's mid-range, gritty sound. Fun fact: both he and Chuck D were born in Flushing, Queens, NY (USA).
This song uses non standard tuning. F#, C, F#, Bb, C, F# Or E, B, E, Ab, B, E and Capo 2nd Fret Some of the "keyboard" parts are feedback samples being played over to represent a melody.
May I suggest Ride Nowhere or Chapterhouse Pearl. Ride was and still is so amazing. For recent albums the most recent Skowdive album is one of the best in the genera.
Slowdive's Pygmalion is definitely a top 5 shoegaze album of all time along with this album. in the US in the 90's we got Loveless. in the UK they got Pygmalion. Songs i recommend are "Crazy for You" and "J's Heaven" for a really good history lesson on the genre seek out Chris Ott's Shallow Rewards episodes about shoegaze which is on youtube.
Post rock, dream pop and shoegaze are kinda of family to me. I always had this particular feeling about these genres, and it became even stronger when I discovered some bands that mix these sounds.
I think this is the first time in a decade that I've heard My Bloody Valentine (so since high school for me), and being the young, angry, and very dumb metalhead elitist that I was, I always wrote the band off solely on appearance and the people who listened to it (my many scene friends, who I viewed as more equal than the normies, but less equal than me. Yes, Animal Farm.) Now I have to dive in. I sincerely hope this isn't a black sheep one-off track. I could get fucking blazed to this.
“Psychedelic” is a spot-on observation. There are two major British bands before them - Cocteau Twins and A.R. Kane - who put these uncanny, texture-heavy musical ideas out there and My Bloody Valentine developed them to the extreme. There are two forerunners to the music on this album you might want to listen to just to see how this sound developed - “Aikea-Guinea” by Cocteau Twins (1985) and “Crazy Blue” by A.R. Kane (1988). Both are astonishing to listen to, it’s also quite amazing to think the sounds those bands invented are now considered a common language of rock music.
Hey friend, Love the breakdown! Although they totally transcend all genres, re: shoegaze ✅ out the Dandy Warhols, Everyday Should Be a Holiday. Then just check out any Dandy's
Good Day, Geebz. You have brought much pleasure to me (and many) over this period. I have enjoyed listening to music with you (and watching your face as you react). There are 3 genres that I feel define my psyche: shoegaze, lo-fi and dream-pop (which is quite sonically adjacent to shoegaze, I feel) So, with shoegaze, I feel you. It's very... ethereal. And it is mood-oriented. Often I don't listen to the vocals either. It's just a good...wash. Sometimes it's super crunchy, sometimes it's... softer rain. My favourites: Slowdive - Golden Hair (but the Live pitchfork 2014 version) - the album version is super smooth, but the live version is a bit more crunchy. - This song will HURT YOU. But in a good way. Lotus Plaza - Jet Out Of The Tundra (the live Pitchfork version) // Different Mirrors Asobi Seksu - Thursday The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars (a bit twee, but that's some shoegaze) Anyhoo. I'd also recommend you check out some Animal Collective for some new psych stuff. :) Animal Collective - Fireworks
A perfect album, honestly. Beautiful front to back.
This album is an absolute CLASSIC of the shoegaze genre
It's like THE example that gets used for the genre. I'm betting if you asked 100 music fans who know shoegaze to name a shoegaze album off the top of their head, at least 90 of them would instantly say Loveless.
@@chriswhinery925 Exactly. But luckily it happens to be pure magic too, and one of the finest albums ever produced. Otherworldly. :)
@@deathkampdrone three years to be released, guess that counts pretty much...
Classic of any genre
Of any genre
Shoegaze sounds like what a distant nostalgic memory feels like. Everything is kind of fuzzy and lacks the distinct details, but you grasp the overall feeling of the memory. The feeling of nostalgia can be so strong that it makes my stomach drop when listening to this type of music :/
Ya but the real trip is when you get nostalgic FOR shoegaze xD
This is what Hum did to me. The first time I heard “Isle of the Cheetah” I remember feeling like I had just found something important that I never realized I had lost. In fact I still feel that way every time I hear it.
@@hortonwho211 I haven't ever seen anyone mention Hum before! I only just heard of them this summer when my friend and I traveled to the middle of nowhere in Tolono, Illinois to see Cloakroom perform at Cobra Fest. Cobra Fest is a small music event that takes place in the parking lot of the dive bar Loose Cobra.
Turns out, the owner of the dive bar is Matt Talbott, the singer for Hum. Without knowing who he was, my friend and I were just drinking right next to him and we even saw him perform some of his solo stuff which was great. Since then, I've gotten into bands like Hum, Deafheaven, Whirr, DIIV, etc.
@@rmr5044 That is awesome!! I never got to see them live, but that sounds like it must have been a really cool experience.
@@hortonwho211 I saw Hum live back in 1996. Been my favorite band ever since. I completely wore out two copies of You'd Prefer An Astronaut. They just put a new album out last year if you didn't already know, their first new release in 23 years.
Definitely check out To Here Knows When. I don't know anything else like it, even within the mbv catalogue. Maybe it's not for everyone but I think it's one of the most interesting soundscapes ever dreamed of
You gotta listen to Loveless in its entirety.
to here knows when is my favourite ☺️
@@celestica55 I use to cover Only Shallow
For some reason Loveless is a pretty difficult record for me so far. I stick to that EPs collection for the moment, I enjoy it a lot, and their early jangle pop stuff too. I will try again later.
@@Alix777. if you haven’t already, maybe try listening with the music videos (only shallow and soon i recommend). it’s an entire experience in itself, for me at least. looks just how it sounds.
Seconding everyone who recommended Slowdive. If you want something representative of their sound I'll suggest "Machine Gun", and "Souvlaki Space Station" for something a bit more adventurous.
Slowdive is the better band. I like MBV, but c’mon, Slowdive are the better writers.
Alison and When The Sun Hits too please!
Slowdive is not the better band but Machine Gun at pitchfork was immaculate. I wept
I really, really felt Golden Hair at Pitchfork 2014 (I wasn't there, but found it online). That version... HURT ME.
@@stevenbatke4167 I used to think Slowdive is a better band than mbv by far, but now that I paid more attention to them and have listened almost all their discography I prefer so much more My bloody Valentine xD wow Idk my mind is so f weird, a couple of years ago I couldn't find how special this band is
this album is the greatest piece of recorded music EVER.
bought it in release day in 91... barely a week goes by since that I haven't played it.
violently beautiful.
I've always thought of shoegaze as "heavy mellow" music. It's not really happy, it's not always sad, it captures that weird "neutral" emotion depressed people often experience. But at the same time, it's great for just kind of relaxing and unwinding a bit. Emotionally versatile.
For me it’s the sound of bittersweet memories
Listen to happysad by astrobrite
this music numbs the pain. it’s soothing. i get this feeling from siamese dream as well
I was curious on how you would react to these guys. This channel reminds me of the need to be open to different styles of music.
Yes, when I get back from my break I'm spreading the genre wings :)
@@KeyOfGeebz I never would have checked out this genre without your channel, but I'm glad I did! I'm about to get the weirdest Spotify suggestions now, haha. would love to see another 311 reaction (maybe when you get back), "Beyond the Gray Sky" is the definition of chicken skin!
@@j2swanky hey Jeff! It's comments like yours it really make my day beyond a cup of coffee. I'm stoked to have had the opportunity to bring that to you and to the rest of the people through the course of this year who left great comments such as yours about being exposed to music on my channel. Aloha
Oh the whole of loveless needs a complete sitting to get the full masterpiece it is, would highly recommend the first album isn't anything gets overlooked but every bit as good though with a more hard rocking vibe
FINALLY THANK YOU!!! I've been recommending this band for months😂 who sees you and loomer are classics too
I love this band/album so much. I essentially learned of it second hand - a few of the bands I loved mid 90's credited these guys as an influence. One was Smashing Pumpkins (the first MBV album) & an Aussie band You Am I. Of their iconic track 'Berlin Chair', Tim Rogers paraphrasing said "I was obsessed with Loveless & tried to write an MBV song."
Fun fact time: There is no keyboardist in the band, Kevin Shields recorded the entire album himself. He recorded guitar feedback and sent it through a sampler keyboard and those are the keyboards you hear throughout the album.
i'm pretty sure the keyboards on loveless are bilinda's voice on a sampler
Saw this album tour with Dinosaur Jr., most insanely loud and hypnotic thing imaginable.
Wow, what a great line-up!
Seen Dino twice now, slowdive once, but still waiting to see mbv live
Saw that show too many many years ago. Mind blown and even saw moshing for both bands.
DUDE I loved you enough when you were reviewing my fav band Radiohead.... and NOW you're doing my other fav band My Bloody Valentine????? Stop it dude I can't handle this much excitement. Definitely do Sometimes or When You Sleep from this album next if you feel like doing more shoegaze!!
-
Edit: just subbed btw, thanks for the heart!! Loomer is also a favorite.
I always describe MBV of being music where they’ve taken all the hooks out. There’s nothing to hold on to you. You’re just out there floating in the noise with nothing to grab on to. It’s genius really.
Check out Swervedriver - Never Lose That Feeling/Never Learn. Kind of halfway b/w Shoegaze and poppy Grunge
or Duel if you want a shorter track.
Definitely co-signing this
yup yup yup
Rave Down!
Please, analyze "when the sun hits" by slowdive!! It's a jewel of shoegaze! (':
10000% agreed. MBV is the staple of Shoegaze to many and they are amazing but I personally think Slowdive is the best shoegaze band there ever was. More emotive and touching to me
@@Childofbhaal Candy Claws matches them for me.
YES! My favorite song by Slowdive
@@justsomejusstsome8994 Sure!, Candy Claws are great too, i would put them more on the side of "dream pop" than "shoegaze" scene, it´s very interesting haha
Awesome you checked them out! Kevin Shield’s use of alternate tunings and “glide guitar” technique produces a wall of sound that almost feels tangible. I think you would dig songs like “Soon” and “Thorn” from MBV.
Thank you for the video. By the way, they didn't use any keyboards. They sampled guitar feedback sound and made different melodical parts, pads and textures out of it.
Thanks for the info!
Glad to see the MBV reaction, and I have to hop on the Slowdive bandwagon as well. They’re absolutely essential.
I’m sure you already have your list you’ll be going off of, but I’d be psyched to see some Massive Attack and Bjork someday. Keep rocking on, Geebz.
this is one of those albums where the album cover looks just like it sounds
HOLY SHIT
I missed this. Such a pleasant surprise. I wholeheartedly welcome/recommend going down this rabbit hole.
Awesome work Old Decomposer, you are a legend! Awwwright!!
This video made my day. You and I are the same age and I consider this a top five of all time record. Thank you so much!!
Good review. I get the waving a hand out the car window thing in the wind too. Good description of their sound/vibe.
They also remind me of the sound of a vacuum cleaner, but in a good way...
OMG, I'm sooooo glad you did this!!! My Bloody Valentine have been one of my favorite bands for such a long time.
The album is a masterpiece. Thanks for listening
This song brings an emotional reaction to me. I got into MBV around the time I fell in love, and the entire Loveless album perfectly encapsulates the hazy, intoxicating feel of being just completely, madly, lost in someone. Something too good to last.
I don't watch a lot of reaction videos but yours always make me smile
And you pick such a variety!
I hope YOU have a good weekend : >
can't believe I missed this. Love it, Geebz! Hope your recovery is going well ⚕️
I believe when he strums the rythym he is always holding the tremelo bar.
They recorded and mixed this album in mono. That's part of why it sounds the way it does. It's intentional. I record mono for the same reason.
Yes!!!! Thank you Geebz! This is what I have been waiting for!
This whole album is unbelievable and I hope you might react to some other songs over time! Every time I listen to Loveless (and I've been listening to it for about 20 years), I hear some detail I didn't notice before.
a big part of their washy sound on many tracks is layers of reverse\gated reverb and strumming while holding the trem bar so there were be slight vibrato to the chords
Really cool analysis of my favorite band since high school. Subscribed- looking forward to hearing more of your takes. Thanks and keep up the great vids ✌🏻 aloha 🤙🏻
I always felt this track was one of the most interesting of the Loveless album (out of many). The long evolving chord sequence which ends on the major 7th which is so beautiful. Kevin Shields has more or a less a different Fender Jazzmaster for each song, depending on the tremolo arm weight and tuning used. Genius.
Every song on this album is a masterpiece. One of the most fully realized total albums of all time.
Another great reaction. Never heard of them before this but I enjoyed the track. I’m going to keep recommending Swans - The Glowing Man because I was taught persistence is key! It’s a track off of their “trilogy” of albums after they got back together in 2010. The trilogy consists of 3 2-hour albums with incredible soundscapes, grooves, and moody tracks to suck you into an atmosphere that keeps you enthralled. Swans - The Glowing Man! Love ya Geebz!
Hell yeah! SWANS! We need more reactions to Gira! "No one burns you like a cop!"
Gotta love Swans. But I'd recommend "Screen Shot" as a track to dive into. Gives the right mood
@@deadmoroz14 Screenshot is great and for any other reaction channel I’d agree with you. But this is Geebz. I want a reaction all the way down the rabbit hole since he knows his stuff.
@@donlebo6824 as someone who grew up with my bloody valentine since late 80s ... I'm so jealous that you get to hear the greatest album ever recorded forvthe first time!
I recall when I first played this album... I recall my 16 year old mind being blown all over the ceiling.
it's truly a masterpiece
You have no idea how excited I got when I saw you did this video.
I am still here. And I just absolutely love your videos, Geebz. Without a doubt the best thing on TH-cam.
Recently found your channel and have enjoyed every reaction I've watched so far. I'm now loving that you are reacting to shoegaze. Agree with everyone who is suggesting Slowdive. The whole of Souvlaki is an amazing album but my favourite tracks are Alison, Souvlaki Space Station and When The Sun Hits. They are definitely worth a listen.
Love the videos, been away for a while managed to miss a MBV reaction. If your gonna do shoegaze they are certainly a great place to start. I would suggest Slowdive especially the Syd Barrett cover Golden Hair.
I've been waiting for MBV
That synthy arpeggiation thing you're hearing is actually just what happens when the harmonic overtones from many, many different distortion pedals collide, probably with those simple chord inversions you describe. Isn't it magical?
Also I'm pretty sure that's Bilinda Butcher on vox for this tune
There are loads of keyboard sampled flute and string parts on this album, most of the drums are sampled MPC. You've bought into a false narrative.
That isn't true
the melodies are very accessible but the wall of sound and how far back in the mix the vocals are less so, it's a perfect juxtaposition. I absolutely love this
This album and Souvlaki by Slowdive are, imo, the high water mark for shoegaze, both are pretty much perfect front to back.
"Shoegaze" was a derogatory term used by the British music press for this genre of music. It referred to the generally quite young and introverted musicians who seemed to look at their shoes rather than at the audience. It certainly shares elements with 60s and 70s "head music" and Spacerock, in that it creates a dream-like soundscape for the listener to float in. I saw MBV play live in the early 90s and the volume was punishingly loud, creating a physical experience to match the emotional one.
The musicians/band that the brit press mentioned about is Moose.
MBV does tour with a keyboardist, i remembered they used them for "when you sleep" but I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't in this song as well, it is kind of hard to tell especially since the name of the game in this genre is making guitars sound like anything but a guitar. You may want to check out some MBV lore, Kevin sheilds is like a mad genius and the way they recorded loveless is the stuff of legends. Super stoked to see you review more shoegaze, its a super weird genre. I know you said that you felt like it was a chill happy wave, but my impression after being immersed in many bands for a decade its that its a very bittersweet, kind of sadboy genre. a lot of the godfathers of shoegaze started out as like post punky goth bands and there always seems to be kind of an air of loss or something just being slightly out of reach in the music. Its also very beautiful and hopeful. Its kind of like that weird feeling when something beautiful makes you cry just because its like just so much and touches you in that way. Anyway, Im glad you liked the song, looking forward to see more shoegaze stuff. Also your clowncore review was rad.
Never listened to the band much, but now I feel like I understand the Smashing Pumpkins better. Great song though, and I'd love to hear more shoegaze.
I've been a long time SP fan and I was thinking the exact same thing!
Billy loved them and even had them open some of the Siamese Dream tour.
I always felt like Siamese Dream was the Smashing Pumpkins version of Loveless -- especially the first half of the album.
You guys are right. Also, Mayonaise (Siamese Dream) and Daydream (Gish) evoke MBV very strongly. Billy's song writing is fantastic though: songs like Hummer Tonite, the aforementioned Mayo, Suffer, etc... will show you that. I highly recommend these if you haven't heard them yet, and the fantastic "Obscure", which is imo, one of the best songs ever. Very good stuff.
@@destroytheangels In my mind, I see it like this -- Sonic Youth experimented with alternate tunings, noise, and dischord. MBV evolved all of that into something beautiful to listen to. Smashing Pumpkins then was able to shape that into more traditional rock songs.
I’m glad you brought this back up. It’s another opportunity to remind you to listen to HUM - “Afternoon With the Axolotls” or “Isle of the Cheetah.”
This is more space-gaze or shoegaze-adjacent alternative rock. But for someone who loves engineering and organic feel, both songs are amazing. “Isle of the Cheetah” has a shocking number of layers for what sounds like a simple song, and “Afternoon With the Axolotls” sounds massive but intimate at the same time. I’m really hoping you’ll check out one or both when you come back. Best wishes on the surgery and have a great holiday season.
PS - Autocorrect tried to change “surgery” into “surfer.” Good omen, perhaps? 😆🤙
I have a lot of favorite bands, but Hum is definitely in the top 5. Their album in 2020 was an epic return as well if you didn't get much time with it yet. :)
@@noisypinkbubble875 Definitely! I’ve only listened to it about 74 times so far, but it’s really good! 😁
I have been anxiously awaiting your return to Shoegaze. I commented this about 6 months back when you reacted to Lush, but here's my list of reactions I think you'd enjoy.
Essentials from some of the OG bands:
- When the Sun Hits by Slowdive
- Only Shallow by my bloody valentine
- Rave Down by Swervedriver
- Black Metallic by Catherine Wheel
- Pearl by Chapterhouse
- Nowhere by Ride
And then some from my favorite, more contemporary/modern bands that either blur the line or add onto the original sound:
- The Memorymaker by The Daysleepers
- 500 Deep by Airiel
- Mind by Death of Heather
- Afternoon With The Axolotls by Hum
- Innervisions by Mascara
- Red Oval by Closedown
- My Cabal by School of Seven Bells
- Nothing's Wrong by Tearwave
- Heila by Mainlight
- Candy by Holy Fawn
- Out of the Angeles by Amusement Parks on Fire
- Forgotten, Fossilized, Archaic by Autumn's Grey Solace
yes, I could have included a myriad of others, but my comment is already obnoxiously long lol. Shoegaze is my home, it's my favorite.
Great video, love these guys.
Suggesting again Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Mladic, as well as Caspian - Darkfield
Great Irish band. Love a bit of MBV. Thanks for reviewing them
Yo what about the dillinger escape plan???? Was really hoping youd circle back to them by now... so many good songs... such diversity
Man I definitely thought Geebz was rocking a fuckin Louis Vuitton hat at first Lmao
Hahhaaa that made me laugh - Quicksilver hat :)
@@KeyOfGeebz Soon as the video came up I'm like no fuckin way that's hilarious 😂
Always here mate.
It still amazes me to this day that all the synthy sounds on this entire album are really guitar effects. Amazing achievement, both this and Isn't Anything.
They're not all gtr effects. There were plenty of samplers used on the album. Guitar feedback, vocals, drums, flutes, violins, etc.
Please do Only Shallow or Sometimes!
This transcends the term "shoegaze". This album is an orgasmic, distortion laden, soundscape. Naming it after a genre they basically birthed, just cheapens it.
Sweet Trip is also an extremely underrated band that's in the shoegaze/IDM/glitch space. Dsco would be a good starter to check out.
Wow! Favorite MBV song...
im glad you reviewed this (as you may have noticed by my pfp :)
Great pick
You should do something off of "Dots & Loops" by Stereolab! Groovy base lines, complex arrangements involving brass and synths, what's not to love?
I highly suggest "I Only Said" and "Soon" from this album. Those two are my favorite shoegaze tracks
aye same. amazing songs
Masterful use of feedback
I would love to hear your thoughts on My Bloody Valentine's "Sometimes". It's one of my two favourite songs of all time! 💜
They kind of have that peak and valley sound, because on a lot of the tracks they were strumming with the whammie/ tremolo bar. Very cool
You think hearing that on headphones is magical, NOTHING was like them live. So loud it was overwhelming... plus the sound, like a bath of noise you couldn't escape... I'll never forget when they started playing that first show in the early 90's, Detroit... about a third of the front of the venue rushed back away from the stage, repelled by the shear force of the noise... the initial burst of sound was so crazy overwhelming... I was of course drawn to it and end up 3 feet from the stage staring at Kevin Shield's hands as he played all night.... and when they reformed and played that huge aircraft hangar in SF in 2008, I was there too, and it was the loudest shit I've ever heard in my life. I legit saw people freaking out, looking around lost and confused when they did their 10+ minute wall of sound ending (You make me realize)... good times haha
Dude 1 minute in I love you
One of my favorite albums!
I love your stuff, such a breath of fresh air! Could you a reaction to Aric Improta? Would love to hear your insight.
Love Night Verses. Phoenix IV would be awesome.
Swervedriver - Duel would be a fun one for sure
Geebz, love MBV, love your analysis. If you're interested in experiencing a truly otherworldly guitarscape, I'd recommend What Happens Now by Kitchens of Distinction.
Kevin had the album mixed as you describe so that each new listen could potentially be a different experience. Speaker position, volume, etc have a pronounced effect (for me anyway) on which things might bubble to the surface on any of the tracks.
A GREAT and super underappreciated Shoegaze band is Malory. Falling, the opener to Not Here, Not Now is an absolute BANGER of an instrumental, and sets up the rest of the album amazingly well. Cannot recommend that song, or album enough.
If you ever see a video of Kevin Shields playing guitar in the band you’ll notice how he plays, often strumming while holding the whammy bar, creating that bendy, warped sound. Lots of shoegaze bands out there, but that guitar technique is uniquely his own.
There are some keys on the album scattered around here and there but not much. Also there are only two tracks on the whole album that were recorded with live drums. The rest are all samples Shields took from Colem's recordings for the two live tracked songs in the studio, and constructed the percussion via sampler. Pretty awesome.
Top shoe gaze recommendations from me would definitely be
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes
Slowdive - Sing (Brian Eno plays on that track)
LSD and the search for God - This time
Have a Nice life - any song off Deathconsciousness (the darker side of shoegaze adjacent bands and one of my favorite albums of all time)
You need to listen to the whole album in one go to fully appreciate this IMO
Yes!
I feel so lucky to have seen their Loveless tour, though my ears thought otherwise (so loud). Kevin Shields had said he was inspired in part by Public Enemy's mid-range, gritty sound. Fun fact: both he and Chuck D were born in Flushing, Queens, NY (USA).
This song uses non standard tuning.
F#, C, F#, Bb, C, F#
Or
E, B, E, Ab, B, E and Capo 2nd Fret
Some of the "keyboard" parts are feedback samples being played over to represent a melody.
Kevin Sheilds also likes to hold on to the wiggle stick whilst strumming chords!
Spacemen 3 (anything from them really) might be a good follow up
May I suggest Ride Nowhere or Chapterhouse Pearl. Ride was and still is so amazing. For recent albums the most recent Skowdive album is one of the best in the genera.
Slowdive's Pygmalion is definitely a top 5 shoegaze album of all time along with this album. in the US in the 90's we got Loveless. in the UK they got Pygmalion. Songs i recommend are "Crazy for You" and "J's Heaven"
for a really good history lesson on the genre seek out Chris Ott's Shallow Rewards episodes about shoegaze which is on youtube.
For those mbv fans , I recommend the swirlies and secret shine, products of mbv lowkey !
Can't wait to see Eye of God from ERRA 😅 I know you'd dig it and so many fans would love to see it!
The magic of a creatively used tremolo arm...
the vocalist on this track is Bilinda Butcher
Incredible album
Nice video, it would be nice if you react to another songs of My Bloody Valentine like Sometimes or When You Sleep.
oh that sweet vacuum cleaner sound
I submit some post rock in Godspeed you, Black Emperor - Storm. Although that would be a looong video.
Post rock, dream pop and shoegaze are kinda of family to me. I always had this particular feeling about these genres, and it became even stronger when I discovered some bands that mix these sounds.
The only downside to this album is it brings back memories of dark times.
I think this is the first time in a decade that I've heard My Bloody Valentine (so since high school for me), and being the young, angry, and very dumb metalhead elitist that I was, I always wrote the band off solely on appearance and the people who listened to it (my many scene friends, who I viewed as more equal than the normies, but less equal than me. Yes, Animal Farm.)
Now I have to dive in. I sincerely hope this isn't a black sheep one-off track. I could get fucking blazed to this.
Scene? Aren’t you referring to bullet for my valentine?
ALL OF THEIR MUSIC IS SO GOOD LIKE THIS
“Psychedelic” is a spot-on observation. There are two major British bands before them - Cocteau Twins and A.R. Kane - who put these uncanny, texture-heavy musical ideas out there and My Bloody Valentine developed them to the extreme. There are two forerunners to the music on this album you might want to listen to just to see how this sound developed - “Aikea-Guinea” by Cocteau Twins (1985) and “Crazy Blue” by A.R. Kane (1988). Both are astonishing to listen to, it’s also quite amazing to think the sounds those bands invented are now considered a common language of rock music.
Hey friend, Love the breakdown! Although they totally transcend all genres, re: shoegaze ✅ out the Dandy Warhols, Everyday Should Be a Holiday. Then just check out any Dandy's
Good Day, Geebz.
You have brought much pleasure to me (and many) over this period. I have enjoyed listening to music with you (and watching your face as you react).
There are 3 genres that I feel define my psyche: shoegaze, lo-fi and dream-pop (which is quite sonically adjacent to shoegaze, I feel)
So, with shoegaze, I feel you. It's very... ethereal. And it is mood-oriented. Often I don't listen to the vocals either. It's just a good...wash. Sometimes it's super crunchy, sometimes it's... softer rain.
My favourites:
Slowdive - Golden Hair (but the Live pitchfork 2014 version) - the album version is super smooth, but the live version is a bit more crunchy.
- This song will HURT YOU. But in a good way.
Lotus Plaza - Jet Out Of The Tundra (the live Pitchfork version) // Different Mirrors
Asobi Seksu - Thursday
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Higher Than The Stars (a bit twee, but that's some shoegaze)
Anyhoo. I'd also recommend you check out some Animal Collective for some new psych stuff. :)
Animal Collective - Fireworks