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   Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:27:01 JST Chris Trottier

   Yesterday, someone asked for shoegaze music recommendations. So I'm compiling a list.
   
   My first rec is My Bloody Valentine 7" single "Sunny Sundae Smile".
   
   I first heard this song when I was 8-years-old. My sister put this on the family car tape deck, and I instantly fell in love.
   
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMBjKDSznuM

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:32:19 JST Chris Trottier

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     My next recommendation is "Nothing Natural" by Lush.
     
     When I first saw this music video, I thought it was the hottest thing I had ever seen. Both singers seemed really, really into each other.
     
     It was only much later that I find out that both Miki Berenyi and Emma Anderson hated filming this, and found it highly uncomfortable. Which should tell you that fantasy is often nothing like reality.
     
     Nevertheless, this is a killer song -- and Lush is one of the greats.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUuCXE6nnNs

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:36:27 JST Chris Trottier

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     This shoegaze song will surprise you.
     
     It's Faye Wong covering the Cocteau Twins' "Serpentskirt".
     
     Faye Wong is a Cantopop superstar, and is famous for starring in the Chongqing Express and singing the theme song for Final Fantasy VIII.
     
     But here, not only did she sing "Serpentskirt", the Cocteau Twins were her backing band! Liz even sang back-up for her!
     
     What's even more amazing is that Faye Wong did an entire album of Cocteau Twins tunes.
     
     IMO, this may have been the catalyst for Asian shoegaze, which remains important to this day.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjRdpC0ul_I

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:40:23 JST Chris Trottier

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     Now for some controversy: I think American shoegaze is better than British shoegaze. And these next three recs will demonstrate why.
     
     First, let's start with the Drop Nineteens. Their song "Winona" has a more folsky quality, but also recalls a bit of the Pixies. A lot of underrated guitar with a hummable melody.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXorpwa8Y30

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:44:34 JST Chris Trottier

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     Black Tamourine is another American shoegaze band. And I recommend their song " Throw Aggi Off the Bridge".
     
     Now when I first heard this band's name, I thought they would be some dark hippy band. But not even close.
     
     They have one of the most intense wall-of-sound guitar I've ever heard. And the feminine vocals are just delicious.
     
     But most of all, listen to those drums. They go all out. What a band!
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxBSCDYrNmE

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:48:54 JST Chris Trottier

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     Now if you want a true hidden gem of American shoegaze, here's something that you'll really want to hear.
     
     "Curl" by Morella's Forest. This is from the 1995 album "Superdeluxe"
     
     Got to love this soft, sensuous feminine vocals married to that serrated distortion guitar that goes clean during the chorus.
     
     Everyone should hear this.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w3Jww8BkEw

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:54:47 JST Chris Trottier

     in reply to

     Now I mentioned that Asian shoegaze is a big deal. So let me now mention the bridge between American and Asian shoegaze: Blonde Redhead.
     
     This is an American band that has had a lot of Japanese members, and they really are one of the best shoegaze bands of all time.
     
     "23" by Blonde Redhead is such a great song that paints such a melancholic mood.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7FqUNlEdwA

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 11:59:53 JST Chris Trottier

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     And now I could have mentioned My Bloody Valentine's masterpiece "Loveless". And it for sure is one of the best album's of all time.
     
     But for my money, KiHap's cover of My Bloody Valentine's "Sometimes" is better.
     
     This Korean band took what is essentially the perfect song and, not only made it better, but took it to a more devastating place.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgimzQD1coc

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:00:29 JST Chris Trottier

     in reply to

     • Chris Simpson

     @chris_e_simpson@hachyderm.io You should read the rest of the thread 😊

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     Chris Simpson (chris_e_simpson@hachyderm.io)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:00:30 JST Chris Simpson

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     @atomicpoet you really mustn't mention My Bloody Valentine without mentioning the track "Soon" which is one of the greatest tracks of all time.

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:06:43 JST Chris Trottier

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     The next incredible Asian shoegaze band is ODDLY. Again, this one's a hidden gem, but no less amazing.
     
     I love the peppy drums, thumping bass, and the male/female duet.
     
     "Ruh Ruh" by ODDLY was released just last year, and for me, was an instant classic.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIu3FCMhWQQ

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:11:22 JST Chris Trottier

     in reply to

     Another hidden gem that should be a shoegaze classic also came out last year.
     
     "Spare the Time" by No Swoon
     
     This song is magical, transfixing, and has incredible mystique.
     
     No Swoon is from Texas. They're not Asian, but you definitely know they've been hearing many of the sounds coming from back east.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2UaZRs2W5c

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:14:42 JST Chris Trottier

     in reply to

     Now to talk about the greatest shoegaze band of all time -- actually, the greatest of the 2010s.
     
     Yellow Fang is an all-girl trio from Thailand with incredible vocal harmonies, rollicking guitar, and atmosphere for days.
     
     "Selfish" by Yellow Fang from their lone album "The Greatest" needs to be heard to be believed.
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCb4LyPBaGU

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:21:02 JST Chris Trottier

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     Now to finish my recommendations right where we started, and that's with British shoegaze.
     
     "Alison" by Slowdive
     
     And really, how can I have a list of shoegaze recommendations and not include this song? To many people, this is quintessential shoegaze.
     
     It perfectly represents "the scene the celebrates itself".
     
     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkM3M3zGcGE

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     Chris Trottier (atomicpoet@calckey.social)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:36:43 JST Chris Trottier

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     • Phil Tomson 🇺🇦🌻

     @philtor@fosstodon.org Low is incredible. Now I'm not one to be pedantic about genre terms because, really, categories don't mean much beyond a descriptor of sound.
     
     However, I think Low and slowcore are synonymous with each other. They practically defined the sound.
     
     I think they were the ones who coined the phrase "quiet is the new loud".

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     Phil Tomson 🇺🇦🌻 (philtor@fosstodon.org)'s status on Wednesday, 31-May-2023 12:36:44 JST Phil Tomson 🇺🇦🌻

     in reply to

     @atomicpoet how about some Low?

     https://youtu.be/mrUoK_TvVa8