Characterized by its whispery vocals, “wall of sound” mixing, and copious reverb, shoegaze captivated listeners’ ears and pushed the limits on what could be done in recording studios. From the late ’80s through the early ’90s, bands like My Bloody Valentine, Slowdive, Lush, and more were paving the sonic landscape of shoegaze until the popularity of Brit-pop pushed it back to obscurity.
Recently, a wave of new fans has led shoegaze bands from the ’90s to release new music and go on tour for the first time in more than 20 years. Some of those same fans also started their own shoegaze bands (Ringo Deathstarr, LSD and the Search for God, and Nothing, for example) and look to carry the shoegaze torch into the next generation.
With the genre’s recent popularity, there’s no better time to discuss the 10 best shoegaze albums. Some of the albums listed are beloved; some are new but have already made their mark on the genre; some may shock you. But that’s what makes Top 10 lists fun, right?
If you’d like to learn more about the origins of shoegaze or know how to whip up some creative shoegaze-inspired guitar tones made by fellow shoegaze fans here at Sweetwater, then check out the links below!
And now, without further ado, let’s discuss the 10 best shoegaze albums of all time.
#10: Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts by M83 (2003)
Shoegaze was all but an afterthought by the turn of the century; bands from the ’90s either dismantled or changed their sound to stay more current. That is until a duo out of France named M83 released their 2003 album Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts. Consisting of Anthony Gonzalez and former bandmate Nicolas Fromageau, M83 ditched loud guitars for synthesizers, heart-wrenching melodies, and drum machines that not only showcased shoegaze to a new generation of listeners but also laid the foundation for a new genre called “nu-gaze.”
Standout tracks like “Run Into Flowers,” “Noise,” and “In Church” make this record a shoegaze classic and helped push the genre beyond its original limits of effects-drenched guitars and whispery vocals. The track “America” shows M83’s cinematic side by combining field recordings with instrumentals, a theme that would continue in later records.
M83 Gear:
#9: Mezcal Head by Swervedriver (1993)
Swervedriver was an oddball in a genre full of oddball bands. They sang about muscle cars and in no way had the whispery vocals that prior shoegaze bands had adopted — not very shoegaze of them. But while they might be considered somewhat out of place as a shoegaze band, they did create some of the most memorable guitar riffs to come out of the genre. The band was a breath of fresh air to most listeners.
The band’s 1993 album, Mezcal Head, straddles the line between shoegaze and alternative rock. Not enough can be said about this record; it features infectious riff after infectious riff and includes some of the lead singer and guitarist Adam Franklin’s best lyrics. The first song, “For Seeking Heat,” starts with 30 seconds of noise, feedback, and drums before erupting into a blistering riff that sets the tone for the rest of the album.
Swervedriver Gear:
#8: Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins (1993)
Before you start chasing me with a pitchfork, hear me out. I know the Smashing Pumpkins are grunge darlings and that Siamese Dream is considered one of the best grunge albums. But what if I told you that Siamese Dream is more in line with being a shoegaze album than a grunge album? Although there may not be as much reverb used on this record as many other shoegaze records, almost every track on Siamese Dream uses an Electro-Harmonix Op-amp Big Muff Pi fuzz pedal, which creates that iconic “wall of sound” that is synonymous with shoegaze. Mix in front man Billy Corgan’s whispery vocals and lyrics about love, depression, and personal struggles that erupt into a near scream during the choruses, and you get a bona fide shoegaze album.
If there’s one thing the Smashing Pumpkins is good at, it’s dynamics. A perfect example of this can be found in the band’s song, “Today,” where verses are fairly quiet and subtle before erupting in the choruses with fuzzed-out guitars and Corgan’s iconic voice. The band can also bring emotion into their songs; for example, “Disarm” ditches the distorted guitars and instead opts for an acoustic guitar and an accompanying orchestra. Siamese Dream is one of the most beautiful records of the ’90s, which is why it is still adored.
The Smashing Pumpkins Gear:
#7: Gala by Lush (1990)
Lush was one of the first bands to earn the moniker of a “shoegaze band.” And although their early releases helped garner a cult following within the shoegaze community, their 1990 release, Gala, helped cement them as shoegaze legends. Miki Berenyi’s and Emma Anderson’s airy vocals and punk and garage-rock guitar riffs helped Lush stand out among other shoegaze bands that wrote songs at slower tempos. Notable songs on this album include “Sweetness and Light,” which starts with chorus-drenched guitars, and the garage rock–inspired “Downer,” which will get anyone on their feet and dancing.
Lush Gear:
#6: Chrome by Catherine Wheel (1993)
Much like Swervedriver, Catherine Wheel was an alternative band with just enough shoegaze qualities to earn it the shoegaze label. Swervedriver was all riffs and less atmospheric than other shoegaze bands; Catherine Wheel, on the other hand, combined stellar guitar riffs with atmospheric effects to create a one-of-a-kind sound. That sound was on full display in their 1993 release, Chrome. This record opens with the song “Kill Rhythm,” which features one of the most recognizable riffs in shoegaze. I can’t mention this album or band without crediting lead singer and guitarist Rob Dickinson, whose incredible voice and masterful guitar work were just some of the driving forces behind this beautiful record. Other songs like “Crank” and “The Nude” make Chrome a classic shoegaze album worth listening to — from front to back.
Catherine Wheel Gear:
#5: LSD and the Search for God by LSD and the Search for God (2007)
I know this is a list of the best shoegaze albums, but I would be crazy not to add arguably one of the best shoegaze EPs ever. LSD and the Search for God’s 2007 self-titled EP was monumental for multiple reasons — one being that it evoked a sense of nostalgia by harkening back to shoegaze’s roots, featuring songs that resonated with fans from the ’90s. Where LSD and the Search for God may have lacked innovation, they made up with quality songs that helped bring a new generation of listeners to the genre.
“Starting Over,” the highlight of this EP, leaves the listener melancholic throughout its verses before exploding with distorted guitars laced with reverse reverb and whispery vocals about moving on from a loved one in the choruses. It can only be described as euphoric — a must-listen track for anyone looking to understand what shoegaze embodies.
LSD and the Search for God Gear:
#4: A Storm in Heaven by The Verve (1993)
Before their infamous lawsuit with the Rolling Stones over the use of a sample in their song “Bitter Sweet Symphony,” the Verve released one of shoegaze’s best albums — one that has aged like fine wine. A Storm in Heaven came out in 1993 and is mixed so well that it sounds as full and professional as some shoegaze records coming out today, even 30 years after its release. I have to credit producer John Leckie, engineer John Cornfield, and the Verve for combining so many sonic landscapes into each song without sounding muddy or cluttered.
The album’s first song, “Star Sail,” opens with a roaring guitar followed by feedback before easing into the verse where lead singer Richard Ashcroft’s angelic voice comes in and sweeps you off your feet. From the copious number of layered guitars to the soaring vocals, this record is a great introduction to shoegaze that won’t get your feet too wet.
The Verve Gear:
#3: Nowhere by Ride (1990)
Of all the bands under Creation Records — shoegaze’s most celebrated record label — Ride arguably had the most commercial success. Right out of the gate, Ride received critical and commercial success with their first record, Nowhere, which reached #11 in the UK. While the band disliked the shoegaze moniker, fans adored them for their clever song arrangements, thoughtful lyrics, and stellar instrumentation.
Those attributes reside throughout Nowhere, especially in the notable breakout hit, “Vapour Trail,” which has one of the most talked about guitar tones in shoegaze. The guitar tone in question is the main strumming guitar heard throughout the song. To my ears, it sounds like a 12-string Rickenbacker semi-hollowbody guitar running through a mid-boosted EQ and then into a flanger — that’s my guess, but take a listen and let me know!
The most impressive part about this record is that the bandmates were only 18 and 19 years old at the time of recording. It’s crazy to think that at such a young age, Ride was able to create one of shoegaze’s most celebrated and honored albums, even some 30 years after its initial release.
Ride Gear:
#2: Souvlaki by Slowdive (1993)
Some of the best albums of all time come from bandmates ending a romantic relationship — which is no different from Slowdive’s sophomore record, Souvlaki. During the album’s recording, guitarist and vocalist Neil Halstead and multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Rachel Goswell ended their relationship. The breakup led to Halstead’s traveling to northern Wales and locking himself in a cottage — which resulted in some of Souvlaki‘s most memorable songs, including “Dagger,” “Machine Gun,” and “40 Days.”
When talking about iconic shoegaze records, Souvlaki is generally regarded as one of, if not the best shoegaze album of all time. The emotional and sometimes inaudible lyrics and beautiful instrumentations soaked in reverb and delay helped pave the way for other shoegaze bands to follow. But somehow, with all the imitators, Souvlaki still stands above the rest and is as popular as ever.
Slowdive Gear:
#1: Loveless by My Bloody Valentine (1991)
No album defines a genre more than My Bloody Valentine’s magnum opus, Loveless. By combining noise rock, shoegaze, and pop, My Bloody Valentine created a one-of-a-kind masterpiece — in fact, Pitchfork named it the best album of the ’90s. As soon as you drop the needle on Loveless, you get a taste of the chaos that My Bloody Valentine has in store. The opener, “Only Shallow,” rocks you with a wave of screeching feedback, distorted guitars, thunderous drums, and weird synth-like noises. From that point on, you’re taken on a sonic journey that is euphoric, melancholic, and unforgettable. Loveless is one of those albums where you will remember where you were when you first heard it.
Beyond the album’s sonic landscape, it also garnered a reputation of mythological proportions for being one of the most challenging albums to record and “supposedly” bankrupting Creation Records (although the band and record label deny those claims). My Bloody Valentine’s bandleader, Kevin Shields, meticulously ensured that every component of the album was perfect. Because of this, the album took more than two years to record and costed Creation Records somewhere between $173,000 and $272,000. And while the album took a toll on the band, ultimately leading Shields to end My Bloody Valentine temporarily, fans have been blessed with one of the most influential and groundbreaking records ever.
My Bloody Valentine Gear:
Did We Mention Your Favorite Shoegaze Album?
With so many shoegaze bands and records, narrowing it all down to a Top 10 list is hard. Did we mention some of your favorites? If you want to learn more about the gear listed here, then give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700, and they’ll be happy to help!
