How Did The Shoegaze Movement Develop

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For a time, it appeared that shoegaze was ordained to go down as a short-lived moment in indie rock. Originating in the United Kingdom during the late ‘80s, the subgenre initially fascinated critics and listeners alike with it’s abstract use of guitar effects, and vocalized melodies. Then, however, the sound’s popularity was diminished when grunge and Brit-pop began to takeoff in the early 90s. Eventually, many of the pivotal bands that gestated shoegaze broke up in the coming years, and the Shoegaze movement seemed to have become all but passé.

Now, however, the sound has seemed to have made a comeback for alternative rock. Bands like Deafheaven and Whirr have introduced a modern take on the style, and many of the forebears for the genre have reformed for reunion tours. In light of the renewed interest in shoegaze music, I’ve taking it upon myself to make an approximate list of the five greatest shoegaze bands.

Lush. Lush is possibly the only band from the initial shoegaze movement to visibly morph into a Brit-pop band. While carried by dreamy songs like the rest of their peers, Lush was also certainly catchier than most other shoegaze bands, and their lyrics more lucid. By the time they came to their final album (1996’s Lovelife), the band had almost abandoned their beginnings for a sound that was definitively pop (even to the …show more content…

Considered one of the chief influences on the sound as they, along with others, had a penchant for staring at the stage during their performances, which was what cited the British press to refer to the music as “shoegazing”. Ride was one of the most accessible shoegaze bands as they weren’t as concerned with distortion, as they were making direct melodies, and the Oxford quartet regularly proved themselves to be some of the best pop song writers of their time. Their music led to them becoming highly successful in England, and their debut album, Nowhere, is rightfully considered one of the very best albums the genre has

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