Shoegazers: Our Time Has Come

[Reechard D Taylor]

Originally posted by Jaguar:
  From February 2006 issue of Playboy Magazine, page 28
 
 goodbye garage, hello wind tunnel
 
 Enough with the rock duos and stripped faux-garage sound. We're predicting that this year, in reaction to all the minimalism of the past few, we'll see a new set of 1980's bands canonized and imitated: Ride, My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive, the most successful of the so-called shoegazing bands that emerged late in the decade. Their aesthetic was diametrically opposed to what's been going on in the rock scene of late. These British acts buried pop melodies and vocal harmonies beneath layer upon layer of guitar noise, giving the effect of the Beatles playing in a wind tunnel. They're still around: Ride's Mark Gardener issued a low-key solo LP in October, MBV's Kevin Shields set the tone of the atmospheric Lost in Translation soundtrack, and Slowdive's principals release mellow Americana as Mojave 3. But with impressive albums on the way from a slew of young bands - including Film School and Ambulance LTD - influenced by this triumvirate, it's time we saw a full-on revival of complex, layered guitar rock.
 _________
 
 
 As much as I appreciate this article, the author seems not to be very familiar with any of the Nu-Gazers but it's a start. Personally, even though I like them, I wouldn't put Ambulance LTD in this category at all and Film School aren't full out Shoegazers. Love them though! But not a bad teaser for scratching the surface.

This may sound weird coming from me (an avid lover of many bands considered "shoegaze"), but I hope this style stays where it is: underground. The last thing we need are more bands aping a style that they have no clue about, nor the heart to play. So much of today's Franz Ferdinand friendly "indie" bands (read: bands who are typically on corporate rock labels with megabucks & smart pre-market testing plans) don't give a shit about creativity, art or pushing the envelope. They don't even know what indie is. The Killers & The Bravery have as much credibility as the Backstreet Boys. It's the same damn thing. So we've already seen a bunch of no-talent assclowns ape The Smiths, The Jam & The Cure and come up laughably short...let's hope they steer clear of imitating Kevin Shields and co.

[Jaguar]

Gee, FoGC, you sound like Rhett.   :p  
 
 I know all of you are missing my New Year's show which is airing now but I was just told that my next show, "Spaced Out Of Mind" should air sometime Tuesday afternoon. Take that with some rock salt though because this guy tends to be way off with his timings.

[Got Haggis?]

Autolux is sort of shoe-gazerish....they remind me of a cross between the pixies + mbv
 
 isn't kevin shields a full time member of Primal Scream now?

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Got Haggis?:
  Autolux is sort of shoe-gazerish....they remind me of a cross between the pixies + mbv

Hmmmm..... a little bit. You are sort of in the neighborhood but wrong street and several blocks away.
 
   

Originally posted by Got Haggis?:
  isn't kevin shields a full time member of Primal Scream now?

No. Kevin is a full time member of pure gazing procrastination!! He's recently fiddled around with a few other musicians, with Pattie Smith being another, but no full time commitments with anyone as of yet and don't really expect any. At least he's getting out a bit and doing something!

[Arlette]

I won't post the picture because it's huge, but when I saw this I thought:  Now, that's the definition of irony.  Kevin Shields complaining about music being too loud.
 
 http://www.poptones.co.uk/index.php?/bands_gallery/image_full/118/

[Jaguar]

Arlette, that's funny!        
 
 My show, The Trans-Atlantic Underground, is playing now for any of you who want to have a better idea of who those Nu-Gazers are.
 
 Radio stream

Is there any shoegaze hairmetal yet?  I am waiting for a shogaze power ballad.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by Hanover Fiste:
  Is there any shoegaze hairmetal yet?  I am waiting for a shogaze power ballad.

Not Hairmetal, per se, but apparently, you haven't heared A Place To Bury Strangers.
 
 Actually, I have some friends who love the idea of Shoegaze Metal. I'm not too impressed with the idea since I don't like Metal but I do love the full out rocking of APTBS.

[snailhook]

shoegaze metal? try isis.

[Jaguar]

KRR finally got my next show up. It's called "Spaced Out Of Mind". Working on the playlist now.
 
 It's on the air now. I missed the beginning myself but it still has more than half a show left.
 
 The song that is playing now would please those Metal Heads. LOL
 
 Medicine - "Zelzah"

[Jaguar]

Okay, the "Spaced Out Of Mind" playlist is now up. It's in my Blog.
 
 The Trans-Atlantic Underground
 
 I have a feeling that some of you will be surprised that not everything that I play is Shoegaze. Don't want to limit myself too much and it spices things up a bit.