Rockpedia

Compare

Two genres, side by side. The ratings are editorial judgements on a ten-point scale, not measurements. Where they come out level, the difference is in the prose underneath them.

First genre

Noise rock1983

Second genre

Shoegaze1989

Head to headNoise rock vs Shoegaze
Noise rock: heaviness 7, melody 3, speed 6. Shoegaze: heaviness 4, melody 8, speed 4.Heaviness7 / 4Melody3 / 8Speed6 / 4
Each corner is a ten-point rating. The further out, the higher.

The difference, by ear

The same volume for the opposite purpose: shoegaze uses it to envelop, noise rock to abrade, and neither lets a sound have a conventional edge.

Shoegaze is sung cleanly where noise rock is shouted, and keeps to a narrower band: 100 to 140 bpm against 90 to 150. To hear the difference, play Sonic Youth next to My Bloody Valentine. Both grew out of alternative rock, noise rock first and shoegaze six years after.

Put together from each genre's vocals, tempo, song length, key acts and place in the tree.

In figures

Heaviness
Noise rock7
Shoegaze4
−3
Speed
Noise rock6
Shoegaze4
−2
Melody
Noise rock3
Shoegaze8
+5

Noise rock

1983 · USA

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Noise rock

In short

Alternate tunings, feedback as an instrument and rhythm sections that hit like machinery. The grandfather of sludge.

How it sounds

  • Alternate tunings, often invented for a single song.
  • Feedback and harmonics treated as musical material rather than accidents.
  • A heavy, near-mechanical rhythm section with distorted bass up front.

Key acts

  • Sonic Youth
  • Big Black
  • The Jesus Lizard
  • Melvins

Start here

The pickThe Jesus Lizard - Goat. The rhythm section sounds like heavy plant in operation.

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Shoegaze

1989 · United Kingdom · 1 subgenre

Where it sits

Rock › Alternative rock › Shoegaze

In short

Walls of cascading guitar effects with the vocals buried in the mix. Named after the habit of staring at the pedalboard on stage.

How it sounds

  • Dozens of stacked guitar tracks through long chains of pedals.
  • Kevin Shields' 'glide guitar' - the tremolo arm used continuously, so the tuning never settles.
  • Vocals mixed level with the instruments, as another texture.

Key acts

  • My Bloody Valentine
  • Slowdive
  • Ride
  • Lush

Start here

The pickMy Bloody Valentine - Loveless. Nobody has yet reproduced the sound exactly.

Full page →