If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Blushing Album : Possessions Quick Thoughts : Dear god this is good. We love a good shoegazey effort and Blushing brings us the best one we've heard in some time. This is fresh and fuzzy in all the right ways, and has so many solid songs that it's hard to select just a handful. Overall, a highlight of the week without question, and definitely worth your time if you're into this sort of shoegaze. Songs of Note : "Sour Punch," "Surround (With Love)" Artist : Basement Revolver Album : Embody Quick Thoughts : I'm a big Basement Revolver fan and this new album continues them along the same great alt rock lines they've headed down as of late. It's difficult for me to hear a song like "Be Okay" and not wonder why this act isn't huge. On a whole, a solid listen in a busy week - while I feel like every shoegaze act decided to release in February, all of them are awesome. Songs of Note : "Be Okay," "Blackh...

Photo by Andrea Gonar Howless are quickly becoming our favorite Mexico City based "noise-pop/shoegaze quartet." Their new single, "Unlucky," has all of the fuzz and spacey vibes of shoegaze, but this song is also rooted deep in pop. Shoegaze and pop seem like they should be in two completely different musical universes, but Howless pull off the seemingly impossible here. While "Unlucky" does share some of the sounds of the more pop/hit song side of bands like The Cure, when I say pop in this case I mean pure modern pop music. All of this will wash over you in this warm wave on sonic joy, whether it sounds like it will or not. You can watch the video for "Unlucky" below. To Repel Ghosts is due out February 18 on Static Blooms Records, and can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp . For more on Howless, check out the band's Facebook and Instagram .

When I think of shoegaze, I don't usually think of Mexico City, but that might change with Howless. The band's new single, "Rain and Ice," has all of the swirling guitar and fuzzy feeling that you expect and need with shoegaze, but it also brings in a sense of pop and a slightly upbeat sound you don't normally associate with the genre. It features vocals from Dominique Sanchez and Mauricio Tinejro that would do their 90's forebearers proud with their attention to slacker detail. This is a huge, fuzzed filled song that helps shoegaze evolve into a new generation. You can watch the video for "Rain and Ice" below. To Repel Ghosts is due out February 18 on Static Blooms Records. For more on Howless, check out the band's Facebook and Twitter .