Season 2 Rnd 9: Annihilation Recommendation Nation
you know the deal |
| 1 |  | Sea Oleena
Sleeplessness
DREAM POP or SHOEGAZE
No album over like 80 minutes please
handicaps:
Ovrot - USED
Frivolous - .1
Sniff - .1
Aberf - USED
Chortles - .1 |
| 2 |  | Fishmans
Long Season
Frivolous
Hmmm now this album was interesting. “Long Season” may as well be one singular song as each part blends into each other so smoothly i didn’t even notice. The album itself is dream pop at its core but there’s really more to it than that. There’s progressive tendencies, ambience, and wonderful percussion. This record was an ethereal, dream like experience and should be checked out by anyone who’s a fan of anything 90s.
Highlights: “Part 4” and “Part 5”
3.7 |
| 3 |  | Kinoko Teikoku
Eureka
Aberf
The moment Abe’s been waiting for. The shoegaze rec. It was worth the wait i’d say. This album is some very delicate and twinkly japanese gaze with female vox. Don’t let that dark album cover fool you, this record can be quite fragile sounding at times. There are some more rock/heavier moments though like on “春と修羅” however. A quintessential Aberf pick.
Highlights: “平行世界” and “明日にはすべてが終るとして”
3.7 |
| 4 |  | Slowdive
Souvlaki
Sniff
A *huge* album in the dream pop genre and one im shocked i haven't checked until now. An album that really feels like summertime. I think “Souvlaki” is quite exquisite and the female/male vocal dynamic was a great way to add variety. I don’t particularly have anything negative to say about this but i suppose it just didn’t click with me as much as i thought it would. Still great though to be honest.
Highlights: “Machine Gun” and “Souvlaki Space Station”
3.6 |
| 5 |  | Pram
Dark Island
Frippertronics
One of the more unique albums rec’d in this round, “Dark Island” has a bit of everything in it. There’s some lovely percussion, hints of jazz and psych and of course some dream pop sensibilities. Its difficult to explain this album’s sound as it is certainly dark yet also has some type of whimsical nature, kind of like a halloween party.
Highlights: “Penny Arcade” and “Peepshow”
3.4
*ELIMINATED :(* |
| 6 |  | Pinkshinyultrablast
Grandfeathered
granitenotebook
This time i am actually going to give a big shoutout to the bass, very good stuff. Anywho, this album is arguably the most upbeat and pop-y of the shoegaze here. The vocals are higher pitched which is a plus but a little variation wouldn’t have hurt. A minor complaint, because this was a fun ride.
Highlights: “I Catch You Sleeping” and “Comet Marbles”
3.6 |
| 7 |  | Astrobrite
Pinkshinyultrablast
Ovrot
Oof, this record is a noisy boi. As to be expected though from a effeminate-shiny-noise pop/shoegaze combo. The album is dream like and otherworldly. It’s almost non-human in a way i can't explain. While i found the album’s overall sound to be amusing, there were no real instances that wow’d me completely.
Highlights: “Lipgloss Sugar” and “Pinkyshiny”
3.4 |
| 8 |  | Swirlies
Blonder Tongue Audio Baton
Chortles
This record is definitely shoegaze but it also has some unique noise rock/post hardcore (?) influence in it that made it a little extra special. Songs will range from riffage to gazey feedback jams. Some occasional female vox also mix things up and make for a very solid album.
Highlights: “Jeremy Parker” and “Wrong Tube”
3.5 |
| 9 |  | Candy Claws
Ceres And Calypso In The Deep Time
FullOfSounds
I believe this to be my favorite rec of the bunch. “Ceres & Calypso in the Deep Time” has a unique dual atmosphere of being relatively playful and cathartic yet mature and serious in tone. I guess i’ll go ahead and say this album reminds me of LSD, it’s very colorful and easy to space out to. A record harbouring some psychedelic undertones is a plus for me as always.
Highlights: “Pangea Girls” and “Fallen Tree Bridge”
3.8
*ROUND WINNER* |
| 10 |  | Lowtide
Southern Mind
Archelirion
I’m running out of shoegaze/dream pop descriptor words guys lol. “Southern Mind” differentiates itself from the rest of the group here by showcasing some post rock stylings and just being an all around beautiful listen. This album has a triumphant sound and hit the nail a good amount of times.
Highlights: “A.C.” and
3.7 |
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