Lovesongs For Underdogs by Tanya Donelly
Lovesongs For Underdogs
Tanya Donelly
1997
The same year of this album’s release, I was released from high school and we spent many happy hours driving in my car together. If you fell in love with Tanya Donelly from her days with the band Belly like I did, this album has more of those wonderful sounds in store for you.
Recommended Track: Landspeed Song
playpen by Juliet Ivy
playpen
Juliet Ivy
2023
A surprising new find from my wife. It would be easy to blow it off as playful and short but the unapologetically fun and feminine-forward emotions Juliet Ivy has packed into those five tracks makes me want to hear more.
Recommended Track: boytoy
99 Cents by Santigold
99 Cents
Santigold
2016
Santigold is a pop genius who is somehow able to add substance to normally temporal music and give it staying power. 99 Cents continues to outlast the twenty-teen trends it plays with.
Recommended Track: Rendezvous Girl
How Lost by The Fauns
How Lost
The Fauns
2024
I can’t stop listening to this amazing album! I’ve apparently heard single tracks from The Fauns before, sprinkled into playlists, but never stopped to give them a proper listen. I was missing out on some of the most innovative shoegaze being made today.
Recommended Track: Shake Your Hair
Ghosts by Hania Rani
Ghosts
Hania Rani
2023
Ghosts is an appropriate title for this beautifully haunting album. Hania Rani moves beyond her pure piano works to compose atmospheric and compelling tracks that express her hopes and fears.
Recommended Track: Hello
one-room survival by Serani Poji
one-room survival
Serani Poji
2002
I’m always up to hear some Shibuya-kei. This album (trans. One-Room Survival) came as a recommendation from my daughter which shows how well she knows me. It’s hard to have a bad day with such happy music.
Recommended Track: ラブレイバー / LOVELABOR
Blue Rev by Alvvays
Blue Rev
Alvvays
2002
This album is like My Bloody Valentine and The Smiths found a new lead singer and released a compilation album together. It’s exciting to find new artists still playing with shoegaze because it’s a genre I feel deserving of more exploration.
Recommended Track: Pressed
Bewitched by Laufey
Bewitched
Laufey
2023
Laufey’s popularity gives me faith that pop won’t drown into a sea of screaming melisma. Her songs are a magical concoction of dreamy and self-assured jazz that draws you into a wonderful sonic hug.
Recommended Track: From The Start
Erotica by The Darling Buds
Erotica
The Darling Buds
1992
Low-end distorted guitars, heartbeat bass, and strong drum flairs; the 1990’s is strong with this one. Everything about this album sounds like my youth. Another excellent Welsh band for my collection.
Recommended Track: Please Yourself
So I Married An Axe Murderer OST by Various Artists
So I Married An Axe Murderer OST
Various Artists
1993
I would love to know how many times I’ve listened to this soundtrack over my lifetime because the number has to be insanely high. With that many listens, I’ve lost all objectivity to this early 1990’s alt-rock treasure box.
Recommended Track: Long Day In The Universe
DSVII by M83
DSVII
M83
2019
I think of this album as M83 providing the soundtrack to one of my Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. An instrumental album filled with both grand, exploratory wonder and intensely intimate moments. Similar to the music of Mort Garson, M83 wants his synths to move you beyond nostalgia.
Recommended Track: Feelings
Second Toughest In The Infants by Underworld
Second Toughest In The Infants
Underworld
1996
When machines are in motion, they emit all kinds of clicks, whirrs, and whistle noises. Underworld’s music sounds like those noises but for human thought. You’ve probably heard the big hits from this album but I invite you to hear them in context with their surrounding tracks.
Recommended Track: Cherry Pie
Whiteout Conditions by The New Pornographers
Whiteout Conditions
The New Pornographers
2017
A prime example of contrasting musicians making stronger music together than on their own. This album has all the fun and drive of power-pop but with the sensibilities of other musical genres bursting from the seams. Neko Case and Kathryn Calder singing in harmony is my ASMR.
Track recommendation: Whiteout Conditions
Bankrupt! by Phoenix
Bankrupt!
Phoenix
2013
My favorite Phoenix album to revisit. I have to admit that it is one of those albums I’ve listened to so frequently that all my objectivity is lost and its sounds live in my bones now.
Track recommendation: Entertainment
Black Halo by Hybrid
Black Halo
Hybrid
2021
I enjoy pretty much every Hybrid album and this one is no exception. Their albums are soundtracks, even when they don’t actually have a media property attached, full of epic soundscapes for me to imagine my own plots. (I’m someone who ignores lyrics as much as possible.)
Track recommendation: Seven Days
About U by MUNA
About U
MUNA
2017
The yearning vocals and driving synth on the opening track instantly grabbed the undying teenager inside of me and pulled him along a whirlwind of hormones and self-doubt. This album is a year of high school translated into music.
Track recommendation: So Special
Hearts by Blackbird Blackbird
Hearts
Blackbird Blackbird
2019
Soft 90’s synths and the courage to mix instrumental and vocal tracks into the same album. It has become a chill and happy weekend companion for me.
Track recommendation: Hearts
Thrills by Andrew Bird's Bowl Of Fire, Andrew Bird
Thrills
Andrew Bird’s Bowl Of Fire, Andrew Bird
1998
It’s no surprise that I love this album as Andrew Bird was part of making the Squirrel Nut Zippers, easily my favorite band of all time, a success. An intoxicating mix or jazz, folk, and pure joy.
Track recommendation: Glass Figurine
Lost Souls by Doves
Lost Souls
Doves
2000
One of my favorite things about shoegaze is not having to pay attention to lyrics. The sounds of this album are a big, warm hug like traveling through a foreign country where you don’t know the language. The impression is more important than the text.
Track recommendation: Catch The Sun
Tear It Down by My Brightest Diamond
Tear It Down
My Brightest Diamond
2007
I’m usually shy about remix albums but there is so much great artistry at work here. If you’re struggling with unhappy emotions, Shara Nova’s beautiful voice will travel with you through the dark.
Track recommendation: Golden Star - Alias