By Kourtney Gierke, Contributor

What sweeter noise exists than the sound of loud, distorted guitars? By combining a mix of reverb, chorus and fuzz with some heavy drums, shoegaze became the newest alternative rock craze. Considered a type of “neo-psychedelic” sound, shoegaze provides that ethereal, dreamy sound while utilizing the textured heaviness of the distorted guitars. The only thing richer than the sound of shoegaze is the history behind it all.

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Shoegaze originated in the late 80s in the UK. The term “shoegaze” itself was originally a criticism on how the guitarists would stare at their feet during performances to use the pedals. Instead of jumping around on stage, shoegaze bands were notorious for standing around with little stage movement. The Jesus and Mary Chain 1985 album Psychocandy was a huge turning point in alternative rock. By experimenting with distorted, noisier sounds, they created what is largely considered the first shoegaze album. Although Cocteau Twins leans more toward dream pop, their 1982 debut album Garlands is also credited for pioneering the dreamy, guitar-heavy sound we know and love. 

The real trailblazer that pushed shoegaze into popularity was, of course, My Bloody Valentine. The band, consisting of vocalist-guitarists Kevin Shields and Bilinda Butcher, bassist Debbie Googe and drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig, formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1983. They released their first album, Isn’t Anything, in 1988. The following 1991 album, Loveless, featured instant classics like “When You Sleep,” “Only Shallow” and “Sometimes.” Their critically acclaimed album grew in popularity and became an instant 90s alternative rock staple. Unfortunately, shoegaze started to die and My Bloody Valentine dismembered in 1997, only to reunite in the 2000s with the genre’s resurgence. The impact My Bloody Valentine had on shoegaze was massive, creating unique, pedal-heavy, and memorable songs that inspired other bands to follow in their shoes.

One of the most popular bands to come from the shoegaze scene is Slowdive. Formed in Reading, England, Slowdive is most known for hits off their 1994 album Souvlaki, featuring “Alison” and “When the Sun Hits.” The band formed in 1989 and released their first LP Just For a Day the following year. After the success from their sophomore album, Slowdive made their third and final album, Pygmalion, before disbanding the same year. Three of the band members went on to create the band Mojave 3, which strayed further from the typical shoegaze sound. Despite splitting, Slowdive reunited in 2014 and released their most recent song “kisses” in October 2024.

One of the first notable shoegaze bands is Lush, who were first given the “shoegaze” title. Like most shoegaze bands, they formed in England. In 1989 they released their first EP, Scar. The group followed with two more EPs, Mad Love and Sweetness and Light, before releasing their first album, Spooky, in 1992. Lush would go on to create albums Split and their most successful album Lovelife before disbanding in 1998 after the death of drummer Chris Acland. Despite a tragic ending for the band, they created some of the greatest shoegaze out there, including “For Love” and “Ladykillers.”

Other bands that carried the shoegaze scene include Ride and Chapterhouse. Staying true to the fuzzy, guitar-heavy sound, Ride is most known for “Leave Them All Behind” on their critically acclaimed 1992 Going Blank Again album. Chapterhouse is another iconic 90s shoegaze band with hits including “Pearl” and “Mesmerize.” Although not as popular as the aforementioned bands, they were critical in the growth of shoegaze across the UK.

After the success of these bands, shoegaze grew outside of the UK. American bands such as Lilys and Alison’s Halo took shape in the mid 90s. Boston was one of the first US cities to popularize shoegaze with bands like Swirlies and Drop Nineteens. Drop Nineteens is most known for their 1992 album Delaware, with popular tracks “Kick The Tragedy” and “Winona” that feature the classic UK sound. Swirlies gets a bit more experimental and noisier with their most popular song “Pancake.”

Near the mid 90s, Britpop in the UK and grunge in the US replaced shoegaze and started the massive popularity decline. Most bands began to break up as other rock bands were charting with clearer sounds and more stage energy. Nevertheless, the shoegaze revival took place in the early 2000s when bands such as My Bloody Valentine reunited. Nu-gaze (new wave shoegaze) also took over as a successor of the genre. Bands like My Vitriol and The Radio Dept. became the faces of nu-gaze.

Even though shoegaze appears to be a small subgenre, it had a major impact. Rock became more experimental and noisier. Its influence can be heard in a multitude of bands, from Deftones to The Smashing Pumpkins. Bands like My Bloody Valentine and Slowdive still garner dedicated listeners every day.