The top 10 Shoegaze albums of 2024

Shoe-gaze continues its come back though as a genre it branches out into dream pop and post-rock so both of those are included in this list, it just makes for an easier title rather than the Top 10, Shoe gaze, dream pop, drugged-out indie rock, and hipster post-rock albums of 2024, which is a lot. These are not the coolest, but the best, fuck what other blogs say, After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of the year. 2024 The very fact these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list; and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway here are the top 10 Shoe Gaze albums of 2024

10-Midas Fall-"Cold Waves Divide Us" 

Elizabeth Heaton's vocals are powerfully emotive. The Scottish band falls somewhere between post-rock and progressive rock. Unlike what most commonly gets depicted as a progressive rock there is not an abundance of odd time signatures or guitar solos.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/01/midas-fall-cold-waves-divide-us.html

                 

9-Pallbearer- "Mind Burns Alive" 

 The fifth album by a band who was once one of my favorite doom bands. Each album has been a gradual progression away from doom into what has culminated into the opening track of their new album. Campbell is using a great deal of restraint and taking a more vulnerable approach to his singing.This puts metal behind them, and while I would normally be more resistant to this kind of change it is hard to argue against something this effective

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/pallbearer-mind-burns-alive.html

 

8-Alcest -"Les Chants de l'Aurore"  

 This French does not need an introduction here as given their blending of black metal and shoe-gaze we have covered every album no matter where they were in their musical journey. Some have felt more inspired than others. There always seems to be a balance they need to keep in order not to drift too far in becoming the Yes of Black Metal. They have come to an effective balance of rock drive and fairy wonderment.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/06/alcest-les-chants-de-laurore.html

 

7-Blushing - "Sugarcoat" 

 The band's sound lives up to the album's title by draping sugary sweet pop over the shoegazing ambiance. Dream pop is the first handy label to throw on this Texas-based band,  but they do seem more serious about rocking out than most dream pop bands. They at times remind me of a shoegazing version of Veruca Salt, with how the vocals harmonize and entwined. Things swirl around you so it can be hard to tell who is doing what.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/05/blushing-sugarcoat.html

 

6-LEAVS -"Natura Universal" 

This dream poppy-shoegazing band from Spain, gets the classic sound right, without just being a slave to tradition. The woozy guitars are jangling, and the swathes of sonic melodies being squeezed from delay pedals are in place, along with androgynous airy vocals. They are not out to make an accessible record and that is fine, the mood is dense and I like it. The emotions feel honest to me and that goes a long way. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/12/leavs-natura-universal.html

5- trauma ray -"Chameleon" 

This Texas band has a 90's grunged out clanging to their guitar sound. The vocals float in the background with an androgynous croon, as the drummer stomps into their kick drum with the needed angst. They care about songwriting as dynamics work with the atmosphere, and while they certainly have this sound dialed in to capture the mood of the era, they still have something to say.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/09/trauma-ray-chameleon.html

4-Ride - "Interplay" 

I really liked "Weather Diaries" the first album of their comeback. This album is both more surreal and more optimistic. I am sure with the last album I mentioned these guys occupying a similar sonic zip code as Stone Roses. Though it sounds like they are smoking more pot than Stone Roses on this album as it carries an alluring swirl. It is wonderfully mixed, though I am giving it the initial listen very loudly through a pair of headphones which is the recommended manner in which this album is best ingested. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/04/ride-interplay.html

3-Softcult-"Heaven"

This is the kind of dream pop you might expect, with well-layered vocals. This band cares about songs more than just conjuring up these surreal sounds. There is almost a 90s alt-rock sound. The guitars ring out into the lonely sunsets of Canadian winters. , the grunge spirit of things is this album's strength and cements its unique place in the genre. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/softcult-heaven.html

2-Bleakheart - "Silver Pulse" 

This band wanders off into a melancholic brand of dreamy shoe-gaze that moves at the speed of doom. At times taking on a heavier throb before wandering off into something more dreampop. It is a pretty sweet blend of sonic intensity and atmosphere. The vocals draw you in and earn repeat listens.If you are looking for some dark atmospheric dom-gaze or wish the Cocteau Twins did less acid and were more into metal then this is the album for you. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/03/bleakheart-silver-pulse.html

 

1-Iress -" Sleep Now, In Reverse" 

Taking the top spot is this beautiful wave of gloomy gazing from this  Los Angeles-based band.  It was a tough call between this album and Bleakheart, with the vocals of Michelle Malley being the tiebreaker as she delivers an emotionally stunning performance that creates a wonderful contrast to the storm clouds the band summons beneath her sublime melodies. The drumming gives this album a great deal of focused intention which in turn creates songwriting magic as they grow as songwriters. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2024/07/iress-sleep-now-in-reverse.html

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