The meaning of shoegaze

If you’re a diligent little NME-reader, I’m sure you’ve come across the vague term ‘shoegazer’ being bandied about to describe the next big thing in indie land. I keep coming across it on reviews, MySpace music pages, iTunes et al, and every time I’m like, ‘what the fuck is this shoegaze shit all in aid of’? No, really. It means nothing to me. Probably a bit like the above photo means absolutely nothing in relation to this post(apart from the fact it has stars, stargazing, getit?)
Frustrated at my own ignorance, the word’s ignorance, or whatevs, today I hit up Wikipedia for some answers. Turns out the term is derived the way said ‘shoegaze’ bands stand on stage looking at their effect peddles. That’s all. I don’t know what I expected but something a little deeper than that, perhaps.
For anyone else out there who has wondered what shoegaze is, here we go:

Shoegazing (also known as shoegaze) is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged from the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. It lasted until the mid 1990s with a critical zenith reached in 1990 and 1991. The British music press—particularly NME and Melody Maker—named this style shoegazing because the musicians in these bands maintained a motionless persona during live performances; they stood on stage and stared at their effects pedals or the floor, hence the idea that they were gazing at their shoes

And, thanks to those thoroughly avant-garde dudes at drowned in sound, here is a shoegaze mix tape, for all your shoegazing needs.

Good music / Bad music

Today a lovely little box filled with brand new CD’s arrived on my desk for review. Among them, some pretty shit ones, including a full album of techno remixes of Kylie Minogue (how I imagine hell on earth might sound), Rod Stewart Unplugged and some dude from Matchbox 20. But! There is a diamond among the rough, in the form of the new Mint Chicks album, Screen. I listened very quickly before and can tentatively report it sounds cool; a bit more pop and less punk than their previous stuff. This is not a bad thing.
But I’m no indie-cool-kid that only likes “acceptable” music such as the Mint Chicks. There is a CD hidden in the pile that is totally appealing to my bad tastes - a compilation called Songbirds (imaginative), featuring tracks from “the most beautiful female voices of our time”. Part tragic, but mostly awesome, it’s got some old favourites like Where Have All The Cowboys Gone (Paula Cole), Who Will Save Your Soul (Jewel) and Crucify (Tori Amos). There’s even Cher and Luka by Suzanne Vega! Rad.
I <3 my new task as review editor. All music is good music as long as it is free music.

I'm not in Love

I remember us listening to I’m not in Love by 10cc on vinyl when we were about 16, and, at first, thinking it was a beautiful love song. You know, just judging by the music and tone etc. But then we listened, like reeally listened, and realised it was in fact one of the cruellest songs ever written. Seriously, these lyrics are such “you-won’t-be-needing-this-anymore-ripping-heart-out” type material. Evil! That said, I had an occasion in which I could have sung it recently.
Anyway – read it and weep:

I'm not in love, so don't forget it
It's just a silly phase I'm going through
And just because I call you up
Don't get me wrong, don't think you've got it made
I'm not in love, no-no
(It's because...)

I like to see you, but then again
That doesn't mean you mean that much to me
So if I call you, don't make a fuss
Don't tell your friends about the two of us
I'm not in love, no-no
(It's because...)

I keep your picture upon the wall
It hides a nasty stain that's lyin' there
So don't you ask me to give it back
I know you know it doesn't mean that much to me
I'm not in love, no-no
(It's because...)

Ooh, you'll wait a long time for me
Ooh, you'll wait a long time