Shoegaze Genre Dissection
Hazy guitars, buried vocals and walls of distortion– the shoegaze sound may have peaked in the ‘90s, but it never really went away. This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot highlight some of the genre’s pioneers along with more recent favorites. The hosts also hear picks from the production staff.
Shoegaze
Jim and Greg analyze the shoegaze music genre. From its origins in the late 1980s to the present day, the shoegaze sound- marked by a distorted wall of sound paired with gauzy vocals- is very versatile. The hosts share favorite songs from the first wave of bands like My Bloody Valentine, Ride and Lush to the current crop of shoegaze bands- including Deafheaven, Pink Frost and Slow Crush. They’re also joined by their production staff for picks.
Featured Songs:
- Lowtide, "Elizabeth Tower," Southern Mind, Rice Is Nice, Opposite Number, 2018
- The Beatles, "With a Little Help from My Friends," Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Parlophone, 1967
- My Bloody Valentine, "Only Shallow," Loveless, Creation, 1991
- Slowdive, "Slowdive," Slowdive (EP), Creation, 1990
- Ride, "Dreams Burn Down," Nowhere, Sire, 1990
- Lush, "De-Luxe," Gala, 4AD, 1990
- Spiritualized, "Shine a Light," Lazer Guided Melodies, RCA, 1992
- Catherine Wheel, "Black Metallic," Ferment, Fontana, 1992
- Starflyer 59, "Do You Ever Feel That Way," Gold, Tooth and Nail, 1995
- Los Mundos, "Explosión Sónica," Máquinas En Movimiento, Las Dunas, 2024
- Soft Science, "Undone," Maps, Test Pattern, 2018
- Winter, "Hide-A-Lullaby," Adult Romantix, Winspear, 2025
- This Will Destroy You, "Little Smoke," Tunnel Blanket, Monotreme, 2011
- Deafheaven, "Sunbather," Sunbather, Deathwish, 2013
- Slow Crush, "Cherry," Thirst, Pure Noise, 2025
- Pink Frost, "Striking Violet," Gargoyle Days, Notes and Bolts, 2012
- Courtney Barnett, "Pedestrian at Best," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Marathon Artists, 2015
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