When You SleepMy Bloody Valentine1rank/position

when you sleep

This is a song by My Bloody Valentine, the originators of shoegaze.

The way the gentle vocals and roaring guitar sound blend together is breathtaking—so much so that it feels almost artistic.

I think it’s a perfect track for the dreamy atmosphere of winter.

SoonMy Bloody Valentine2rank/position

My Bloody Valentine – Soon (Official Music Video)

Japan’s devoted, almost obsessive attachment to the shoegaze genre is remarkable even by global standards.

My Bloody Valentine from Ireland, who established the distinctive style of gazing downward while unleashing shimmering, effects-laden guitar noise and whispering dreamlike melodies, are nothing short of shoegaze deities—and they enjoy exceptional popularity in Japan as well.

Their second album, Loveless, released in 1991, is a once-in-a-lifetime historical masterpiece whose budget nearly bankrupted their label, and a truly alternative work that changed the very concept of guitar rock.

If you’re a music fan who hasn’t heard it yet, start with the quintessential MBV track and album closer, the classic “Soon.”

Only ShallowMy Bloody Valentine3rank/position

My Bloody Valentine – Only Shallow (Official Music Video)

Even just looking at rock, the Western music scene of the 1990s birthed many genres, and here in Japan, the one that boasts a devoted cult following is surely “shoegaze,” where ear-splitting walls of guitar noise fuse with dreamy, sugary melodies.

Hailing from Glasgow, My Bloody Valentine are the most famous shoegaze band and a force whose influence extends beyond the genre’s boundaries.

Their second album, Loveless, released in 1991, stands at the pinnacle of shoegaze; it’s no exaggeration to say that every subsequent band in the lineage exists under its shadow, such is the perfection of this definitive classic.

Only Shallow, the track featured here, opens Loveless, and that spine-tingling jolt when the colossal guitar sound bursts in after the stark, mechanical drum intro remains undimmed even decades later.

Personally, beyond the sonic innovation, I feel it’s the singable, strikingly beautiful melodies—their catchiness and presence—that set MBV on a level far above the average shoegaze outfit and explain why they continue to reign.

Moon SongMy Bloody Valentine4rank/position

moon song

This song, performed by an alternative band, is included on the album Tremolo, released in 1991.

Its unusual sound captivates listeners’ interest.

It’s an intriguing track that reflects the creative drive of these Ireland-born artists.

To Here Knows WhenMy Bloody Valentine5rank/position

My Bloody Valentine – To Here Knows When (Official Music Video)

One of the genres that was popular in the alternative scene of the ’90s was shoegaze.

The leading example is My Bloody Valentine.

Their music centers on a thick wall of noise that feels like it’s closing in on you, and the guitar sound of My Bloody Valentine’s guitarist, Kevin Shields, was especially beloved.

Their shows are said to hand out earplugs because the sound is so noisy that there’s a risk of “bursting the audience’s eardrums” (lol).

You Made Me RealiseMy Bloody Valentine6rank/position

my bloody valentine – you made me realise (official video)

It was in the early 1990s that they established the genre known as “shoegaze,” where beautiful melodies emerge from a wall of noise.

This track, You Made Me Realise, dates back to 1988, but it’s quintessentially shoegaze and was also the song that set them on the path to their breakthrough.

This flood of sound paired with the laid-back vocals—this contrast is irresistibly satisfying, making it one of the greatest masterpieces in rock history.

Sunny Sundae SmileMy Bloody Valentine7rank/position

My Bloody Valentine – Sunny Sundae Smile

A single released in 1987.

A four-piece rock band from Ireland formed in 1983.

The uptempo, aggressively unfolding rhythm and the noisy guitar tone are irresistibly raw.

The pop melodic lines that flicker within that sound reveal a sense of taste, showing it’s far from just rough around the edges.