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Last Active 06-23-23 12:04 pm Joined 03-15-16
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| A guide to nu-gaze
The other day, SaveBandit asked if anyone had recs for 'whatever you want to call this kinda hazy shoegaze alt rock sound'. This made me realise that this genre (nu-gaze, I suppose) is like half of my taste in music.. so here's a guide to nu-gaze. | 1 | | Turnover Peripheral Vision
Turnover is the undeniable starting point, and without question the best record released in this specific genre. Even if Turnover have not managed to craft anything near the level of Peripheral Vision since, they perfected the formula of catchy melodies, poppy structures and hazy production here.
Did you like it, but would you like some more punch to your gaze? -> 2
Did you like it, but do you prefer the dreamy aspect? -> 7
Did you like it, but do want more gazey emo? -> 10
Did you hate it? Oh, okay :[ | 2 | | Gleemer Anymore
Gleemer are a must-listen either way, but since you appreciate your gaze slightly heavier, ‘Anymore’ is a great second step. Possibly the most consistent band in this genre, this record showcases Gleemer at their best.
Still craving more punch, more g i r t h ? -> 7
Is this exactly what you like and want more of? -> 3 | 3 | | Nothing Guilty of Everything
Often seen as the kings of the more alt-rock infused side of the genre, and while I personally prefer Gleemer’s discography, ‘Guilty of Everything’ is an essential listen.
Continue -> 4 | 4 | | Teenage Wrist Chrome Neon Jesus
Yep, you’re in luck, plenty of this grungy side of nu-gaze to be found.
Continue -> 5 | 5 | | Modern Color From The Leaves Of Your Garden
Continue -> 6 | 6 | | Hundredth Rare
Let’s end this category on a personal favourite. This album showcases Hundredth abandoning hardcore in favour of a rather abrasive kind of shoegaze, and I absolutely adore it.
Still craving more nu-gaze? -> 18 | 7 | | Slow Crush Aurora
Okay, don’t get angry at me. This album is both heavier and dreamier, so just tell me what you like most about it; what’s your favourite aspect of Aurora?
The abrasive instrumentation -> 8
The dreamy, washed out production and vocals -> 13 | 8 | | Narrow Head Satisfaction
Cool! It’s really just the riffs here, but is this heavy enough for you?
Yea -> 10
Nah -> 9 | 9 | | Chastity Death Lust
Hell yeah, this record is sick. That being said, we are slowly drifting away from the genre so I’m afraid you’ll be on your own from now on… okay, fine, check Spotlights, Superheaven, Holy Fawn, Cloakroom and Marriages for more heavier, gaze-adjacent music.
Still craving more nu-gaze? -> 18 | 10 | | Ovlov TRU
Sweet, you’ll probably enjoy this record then!
If you’re up for more of this emo-tinged sweetness, -> 11 | 11 | | Pity Sex White Hot Moon
Ah, man, I adore this album so much.
Continue -> 12 | 12 | | Tigers Jaw spin
Another lovely album, although we are leaving the realm of nu-gaze yet again (oh no!). Continue digging into bands like Balance and Composure, Basement, Citizen, Title Fight or literally any other Run For Cover band if you enjoy this type of thing.
Still craving more nu-gaze? -> 18 | 13 | | Newmoon Space
Drifty, dreamy, ethereal, adjectives. Apparently Belgium is really good at this stuff. Be aware that Newmoon’s second album is as good as Space, yet a fair bit less hazy.
Continue -> 14 | 14 | | Blankenberge More
Continue -> 15 | 15 | | Deafcult Auras
Continue -> 16 | 16 | | Mumrunner Valeriana
Continue -> 17 | 17 | | Life on Venus Odes to the Void
I’ll leave it at this before you fall asleep. It’s all lovely stuff though, and there’s plenty more to be discovered!
Still craving more nu-gaze? -> 18 | 18 | | The Daysleepers Creation
Hell yeah! Here’s a bit of a bag of surprises for you. Creation goes from intensely dreamy and floaty to bright and poppy, and it’s all magnificent.
Continue -> 19 | 19 | | Miserable Loverboy / Dog Days
While not as diverse as Creation, Miserable’s music both manages to be crystal clear and completely drowned out, making for quite a unique listening experience. Give it a shot.
Continue -> 20 | 20 | | Fazerdaze Morningside
Okay, let’s end this on some dream pop. Nu-dream pop (lol) could have its entire own list, but hey, it’s pretty close to nu-gaze. Check out Fazerdaze, Say Sue Me, Japanese Breakfast, Yumi Zouma, and so many more. | |
JesperL
07.29.20 | i had some spare time | cold
07.29.20 | Oh boy, I sure do love this list. Hits me right in the sweet spot. Need more recs? | Dewinged
07.29.20 | I'd add a band called Sol Distorsion to the punch lifeline maybe... But the dude behind the project is a complete dumbfuck. | dedex
07.29.20 | great idea/list Jesper!
Fazerdaze slapz ahrd | Dewinged
07.29.20 | Also Stargazer Lillies! Great mix of gaze n psyche | JohnnyoftheWell
07.29.20 | "Did you hate it? Oh, okay :["
oh fuck. | Jots
07.29.20 | airs - adore | theBoneyKing
07.29.20 | Cool list. Only know a few of these. Old gaze >>> nu-gaze though.
Check Greet Death for some awesome heavy slowcore-ish gaze. | theBoneyKing
07.29.20 | Oh and this year’s Floral Tattoo album is some great emo-gaze | Faraudo
07.29.20 | Niceeeeeeeeee | JesperL
07.29.20 | recs are always welcome yes coldheaven!
i'll check your project dewi haha | JesperL
07.29.20 | ahh yes greet death rips. not too big on floral tattoo sadly | Aberf
07.29.20 | Life on Venus previous album is vastly superior.
Cheers to 3, modern classic imo. | cold
07.30.20 | Just some random recs, might not be all "nu-gaze", but just kinda spanning various sub-genres within Shoegaze and Dream Pop. Also, did you leave Whirr out on purpose? Understandable if you did:
Pure Violet
Creepoid
Young Prisms
True Widow
Alien Boy
Japanese Breakfast
Glitterer
Two People
Infinity Girl
Keep (early stuff, before they became more darkwave)
Starflyer 59 (the Silver, Gold, and Americana albums)
Drowse
Pill Friends
Iris (the Canadian one)
Jay Som
Another Heaven
Pallbearer
Windhand
Blouse
You'll Never Get To Heaven
Palehorse/Palerider
Superheaven
King Woman
Westkust
Stars Of The Lid
Night School
Cloakroom
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Palms
Camera Shy
Twin Drugs
Horse Jumper Of Love
Wild Nothing
Ringo Deathstarr
A Place To Bury Strangers
Flyying Colours
Airiel
Yuck
Loveliescrushing
Bowery Electric
No Joy
Then of course all the fantastic Shoegaze/Dream Pop from the 90's that I'm sure you've already dabbled in :) | JesperL
07.30.20 | ah bless, thank you! a quick glance tells me i've heard most of these, but imma dig into the ones i don't know yet
i did leave whirr out on purpose yeah, everything surrounding that band just annoys me rn hahah | cold
07.30.20 | Yeah, I know that Whirr left a very bad taste in most mouths. While I never condoned their shitposting or, more importantly, the event that led them to being cancelled, I still can't help but to love their music. Ever since Distressor, I was MEGA hooked. And I was totally fine with Sway being their last effort, until they randomly dropped Feels Like You and it became the best album they've ever released. Though they annoy you, did you happen to check that album out? | kevbogz
07.30.20 | could use some more Superheaven, Title Fight (Hyperview), Basement (Colourmeinkindness), and Pity Sex, who were all pretty big within the scene and who all made shifts in their sounds to be more grungey/gaze. also check Cloakroom, True Widow, and Greet Death | JesperL
07.30.20 | totally fair re whirr! i always stayed away from them bc of their online presence so i never properly got into them (thankfully?). i gave feels like you a spin last year and it was alright, would probably have ended up loving it with repeated listens but my previous distaste + the record not being on spotify made it way more convenient to just avoid it, haha
yess, all the rfc bands are mentioned in 11 and 12 kev! | cold
07.30.20 | Greet Death was my favorite discovery from last year. And just about a month ago, I discovered Narrow Head...WHO I AM COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH RN | cold
07.30.20 | @kevbogz Hyperview definitely deserves to be on this list. Still don't understand why that album was so disliked. | Dewinged
07.30.20 | "i'll check your project dewi haha"
How did u know it was my band!? Oh wait I said the man was a dumbfuck, right, that blew my cover, he! | kevbogz
07.30.20 | "yess, all the rfc bands are mentioned in 11 and 12 kev!" oof im dumb
@coldheaven i can only understand it from my pov when it came out: it was too much of a shift in sound from a band i loved, the guitar sounded meh, and the songs seemed lazy. however, I also couldn't stand Guilty of Everything or Sunbather when it came out... so my opinion isn't shit | Dewinged
07.30.20 | Also Jesp, do me and Kev a favor and check Midwife. (No idea if you have checked her stuff yet) | cold
07.30.20 | @kevbogz I feel you. To be fair, the sound on Hyperview was already eluded to on Floral Green, even on Shed a tiny bit imo. Either way, I miss the fuck out of Title Fight. And that's wild you hated GOE at first, I can see it grew on you lol. Now, I'm usually not a stickler for production quality, but goddamn the production on Dance On The Blacktop is abysmal. The songs are great, but the production makes them a bit hard to listen to, and especially hard to back to for repeated listens. The whole thing is so quiet and tinny, and don't even get me started on those drums. Big oof. | JesperL
07.30.20 | hyperview isn't as bad as most people make it out to be, but it was absolutely overshadowed by peripheral vision which is a much catchier, more well-constructed and just overall better record
that and i looked at the rev/thread dewi :] midwife is fantastic yeah, 2018 is among my fav songs of the year! | cold
07.30.20 | R.I.P. Pity Sex | JesperL
07.30.20 | it's like nothing actively tried to make every aspect of dance on the blacktop that's not the actual songs as unappealing as possible with the production and that damn album cover
i miss pity sex so much :[ | Dewinged
07.30.20 | Right! I had the feeling you had checked her! | cold
07.30.20 | The best songs from DOTB are found on the B-Sides record lol. I.E. "Pattern After Us" and "The Mohegan" | kevbogz
07.30.20 | Nothing definitely lost more and more of that wall of sound for a more produced sound, which is unfortunate imo. I think ToT was really good, and DOTP good as well, but GoE is just so astronomically better that it overshadows both releases.... like if GoE was never released, I would honestly find the other two albums better | ShadowRemains
07.30.20 | cheatahs - s/t | TheSupernatural
07.31.20 | 4 is so THICC and I love it | RedRightHand
08.02.20 | OK, dude above talking hyperview isn't as good as turnover????????
Lord help us, every one. | SaveBandit
08.05.20 | Jesper my dude! Thanks for the heads up, I hadn't seen this yet. And thanks for putting this list together, I'm definitely going to work my way through this. | Minushuman24
08.05.20 | hey, this list is rad | JesperL
08.05.20 | yess yvw bandit! and ty minus :] | mobman47
06.26.22 | Nu-gaze is a great descriptor for this kind of music. I stumbled across Modern Color one day and I've been looking for more like them so I'll definitely have to give everything on this list a once over. | theBoneyKing
06.27.22 | Hm I actually don’t like nu-gaze for this stuff, this is more like just uh grunge-gaze or even emo-gaze, imo the nu gaze term is better for stuff that uses more unconventional instrumentation or methods (especially electronics) to approximate a shoegaze sound. |
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