My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

Congruity and incongruity

This may be, along with possibly David Bowie's "Station to Station" and Neil Young's "Tonight's the Night," the most terrifying masterpiece I have ever had the pleasure of being confronted with. Yes, what the fans say is true in my opinion, that this is a densely-layered, coherent thought layed out among eleven shorter (though no lesser) ones; and, to be accurate I am indeed a fan myself. Although I don't pretend to have heard all the incarnations "popular" music over the past 30 years, I do know this: Loveless, like any earnest and accurate expression of existence, is no less meaningless today than it was seventeen years ago. The blend of a prevailing major key alongside an urban sound density would make one assume that within this album there should be found population, wit, and communication. Luckily for us, none of those things exist here in the prosaic. Communication exists, yes, but only insofar as you are really only engaging yourself in conversation, along with a million other people engaging themselves in conversation- you are alone, along with everyone else, and you take comfort in the fact that love exists everywhere but here. Nowhere else have I heard a musical expression advance this thought so clearly and convincingly as here. So for all you parties of one who nevertheless need this earth and everything in it, get acquainted. August 30, 2008

Just buy it!

Writing about "Loveless" is like trying to describe a fantastic fireworks display seen ten years ago. You can capture the broad outlines, but the details are a little murky. Even if you can't fully express it, you still know it's something magical.

That's "Loveless"...cotton candy vocals, swirling feedback, early Velvet Underground-style drone and guitar chords that leave an afterglow in your subconscious like one of those dimly remembered skyrockets.

The bottom line? If you listen to the samples and you really hate them, then move on. But if you're intrigued, then buy the ticket. It's a ride you're not likely to ever forget. August 26, 2008

Look ma! No earplugs!

All notion of talent is historical, but some people certainly rely much more on contextual receptivity than voluntaristic genius. MBV are the former. Just like Mozart's 2nd rate elevator work hypnotized his contemporaries who basically wanted music to sound pretty and dainty while they ate bonbons and powdered their wigs, MBV released a record during an age where, mindboggingly, people were willing to hear anything that sounded like apathy, but loud. Blame it on the fall of the Berlin wall, but these people really wanted music that asked no questions and made no statements.

People have defined Loveless as aural androgyny, but passive-agressive neuroticism is more the case. Imagine Tony Soprano's mother if she were amplified till her negativity feedbacked into a permanent state of numbing aggression. Strip it of meaning and you're pretty much there.

MBV managed to be formally formless and cashed in on the public's perennial willingness to digest abstract ideas as long as they sounded anti. MBV simply decided to make everything wrong: psychedelia was no longer a trip to a distant quasar but to your navel. Punk rock was no longer a loud scream but an over-amplified sigh. Acid House was no longer dance music but a swing-your-head siren lull. You can't really do much to this music, whether it's singalong, get angry or shake your hips. You simply witness.

Some people think this is the apex of music: music as music, pure music, a religious experience, the sublime that blows you away.

Others like me simply keep powdering their wigs and eating bonbons.
August 10, 2008

This is heaven put to music...

"Loveless" is one of THE greatest albums ever made. Absolutely unique in its own sound, powerful and moving, and a huge influence on many bands that followed it. There are moments on this album one nearly touches heaven. For the full experience, listen loudly with good headphones, and let it move over you like a warm wave. Absolutely essential to anyone who likes rock music that hits you on a deep soul level. July 25, 2008

Justly Rated masterpiece

2 years, 19 Recording studios, estimated £250,000 spent, and with the bands record label creation records nearly bankrupt all the while anyone not named Kevin Shields was just sitting around "sipping tea" a masterpiece was just over the Horizon. Yes, quite simply Kevin Shields and company made one of the best albums of the nineties in my honest opinion.

Quite simply, I love this album, even though some may say all it is just a bunch of Sonic Noise, it is much more than that. Voluptuous yet ethereal melodies and arrangements, The songs oozing of Drug & sex induced imagery.

Shoegazing at it's best, simple as that. This not for everyones taste though as some have said, you can't just pop this on, flip open a book and expect to fall in love with this record, there is so much going on here, so much layering, so much creativeness... Kevin sampled with many drum loops, fused with Valentines' roaring guitars with a dance-inspired beat, The lushest of arrangements you will ever hear.. even today this record sounds very fresh, very much so than what was topping the charts in 91.

No, it does not have Guitar masterbation, No it does not have Led zeppelin Riffs, and No there is no verse-chorus-verse-chorus-Middle 8th-chorus format here.. this is simply Beautiful Noise.

Highly Recommended. July 20, 2008

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