Shoegaze is a style that has been constantly evolving since its first emergence in the late 80s and early 90s. Every once in a while, one amazingly talented band will release a record that defines what shoegaze looks like in their new era.
Mute Swan have done just that with Only Ever. It’s a collection of grainy, multi-layered tracks that says: this is what shoegaze looks like in 2021. And it is DANG good.
Mute Swan are a three-piece dream pop/shoegaze/post-punk outfit from Tucson, Arizona. Their first project, Feel How it Sees, made waves upon its release in 2015, allowing the group to tour across the country and even perform at SXSW. They have embraced and expanded upon their shoegaze influences with this newest record.
Melancholic synths and droning guitars take up much of the listening time on this album, with a few lighter digestible notes throughout. The album’s lyrics, although they are mixed mostly in the background of each composition, feel like short-form poetry that explores themes of tumultuous relationships, co-dependency, and a critique of the social state of America.
“Enough Fun”, a high point of the record and seemingly lighthearted track, features dark lyrics that reflect this social critique, as guitarist and vocalist Mike Barnett lazily croons, “They sell us the world/Then they steal it from us”.
Overall, any fan of classic shoegaze will adore this fresh take on the genre. This is a great album that is on par with the works of Slowdive, Beach House, My Bloody Valentine, and countless others. This MD can’t wait to see what the group does next.
Favorite tracks: Go Out In Light, Burnt Almonds, Enough Fun, Dissolution, Sedative Sun
Listen to the rest of our Top 50 here!
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