Shoegaze fan, musician and masters thesis author David Fisher of the Florida State University College of Music has published "the first major academic study of My Bloody Valentine and their decisive presentation of shoegazer aesthetics: Loveless." Were the early nineties really so long ago that this sort of social archeology is necessary? Apparently so.

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Fisher’s 74-page thesis (.pdf) traces the roots of shoegaze from The Smith’s Johnny Marr and the punk movementthrough the Cocteau Twins and Jesus and Mary Chain, culminating withthe legendary My Bloody Valentine EPs that started it all, Glider (April ’90) and Tremolo (February ’91). The project incorporated "biographical research, musical analysis, and reception theory" in an attempt to mine "the elusive aesthetics of shoegaze and present clues as to how the band created their unique sound."

On one hand, it seems a bit silly to study something like this; on the other, it’s nice to see this important musical movement, which may never have lived up to its full potential, so thoroughly acknowledged.

Check out Fisher’s song-by-song breakdown of the dynamics on MBV’s legendary "Loveless" album (with full playable tracks):

1. "Only Shallow"

Introduction/Breaks—fortissimo

Verses—forte

Bridge to track 2—mezzo piano

Only Shallow – My Bloody Valentine

2. "Loomer"

Introduction/Breaks—mezzo forte

Verses—between mezzo forte and mezzo piano

Loomer – My Bloody Valentine

3. "Touched"

A section—mezzo forte

B section—mezzo forte

C section—mezzo piano

B’ section—mezzo piano

Touched – My Bloody Valentine

4. "To Here Knows When"

Inroduction/Break—forte

Verses—mezzo forte

Choruses—forte

Outro—gradual decrescendo towards the end of final chorus

Bridge to track 5—mezzo piano

5. "When You Sleep"

Introduction—fortissimo

Verses—forte

Break 1—forte

Break 2—fortissimo

Outro—fortissimo

Bridge to track 6—mezzo forte

When You Sleep – My Bloody Valentine

6. "I Only Said"

Introduction/Breaks—fortissimo

Verses—forte

Outro—fortissimo, gradual decrescendo near song’s end

I Only Said – My Bloody Valentine

7. "Come in Alone"

Introduction—fortissimo

Verses—forte

Breaks/Outro—fortissimo

Come In Alone – My Bloody Valentine

8. "Sometimes"

Introduction/Verses/Breaks—mezzo piano, very gradual crescendo throughout

song to mezzo forte

Sometimes – My Bloody Valentine

9. "Blown a Wish"

Introduction/Breaks—forte

Verses—mezzo forte

Outro—forte—gradual crescendo, never reaches fortissimo

Blown A Wish – My Bloody Valentine

10. "What You Want"

Introduction—fortissimo

Verses—forte

Breaks—fortissimo

Bridge to track 11—between mezzo forte and mezzo piano

What You Want – My Bloody Valentine

11. "Soon"

Introduction—mezzo forte

Verses—forte

Breaks—mezzo forte

Outro—mezzo forte, sudden dynamic shift at 6:38 to piano with a fade out.

Soon – My Bloody Valentine

Photo: Sweet Fool The Mouth

