The Liner Notes
Issue №21 · September 4, 2026 · from the archive
Special Issue · The Wall of Sound Issue
The Liner Notes
Certified
Nostalgia
Artist Spotlight
Swervedriver
alternative rock · 1990–1993
Synths, Eyeliner & Last Call
- The Countdown · Top 10 Eyeliner-and-Fog-Machine Essentials
- Mixtape Map · Inside Wall of Sound
- Needle Drop · “Only Shallow” by my bloody valentine
- In Memoriam · Rick Davies
Issue №21
September 4, 2026 · $3.33
From the DJ Booth
Dear Listener,
Lights low, synths high — slip into the after-dark set.
Consider this your Wall of Sound field guide — Swervedriver up front, a Top 10 you'll argue with, and a tape map to get lost in.
Pull up a beanbag, drop the needle, and add your version in the margins — every song's got a Memory Wall.
Be kind, please rewind, — The G33Z3R DJ
This week’s issue: Wall of Sound
Editor's LetterArtist Spotlight
Swervedriver
alternative rock · 1990–1993
Swervedriver is a British alternative rock band that emerged from Oxford, active since 1989. With core members Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, they carved out a distinct sound that departed from the shoegaze movement, leaning into heavier rock while incorporating elements of psychedelia and classic pop. Throughout the '90s, they released four studio albums alongside a variety of EPs and singles, with a lineup that eventually stabilized around Franklin on vocals and guitar, Hartridge on guitar, Jez Hindmarsh on drums, and Steve George on bass. Their tracks like "Duel," "Son of Mustang Ford," and "Rave Down" showcase their knack for blending melodic hooks with driving guitar riffs, creating a sonic experience that still resonates with fans today.
Artist Spotlight
Swervedriver · cont.
“Formed 1989”
The facts
Swervedriver in the crate
From the Zine
Sonic Reverberations
How shoegaze emerged from the noise.
In the late '80s and early '90s, a new sound began to emerge from the underground—a dreamy, immersive wall of sound that enveloped listeners like a thick fog. Shoegaze was born from the desire to push against the prevailing trends of the time, which favored polished pop and the grunge explosion. Bands like My Bloody Valentine and Ride carved out their own niche, crafting layers of guitar that felt like weather—stormy, unpredictable, yet captivating.
For kids who found solace in the hazy melodies and ethereal vocals, this music was more than just sound; it was a refuge. The genre’s signature pedalboards, sprawling like coffee tables, created a sonic landscape that felt equally inviting and alien. Songs like “Only Shallow” and “Vapour Trail” invited listeners to lose themselves in reverberation, offering a sense of unity among the disaffected youth, while the lyrics often felt like whispers buried beneath the chaos, speaking to the heart’s most vulnerable corners.
By The Liner Notes staff.
p. 5Needle Drop
Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991 · Alternative
In a movie, over the exact right montage.
driving nowhere in particular with the windows down.
It plays and a whole year comes flooding back.
▸ Play it on
Tap ☆ to set your player — from then on it's one-tap play everywhere.
Needle Drop
Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991 · Alternative
If you like this…
The Countdown
Top 10 Eyeliner-and-Fog-Machine Essentials
Turn up the volume and let the waves crash over you. This countdown is your ticket to the dreamy, feedback-laden gems that defined the shoegaze era. Get ready to lose yourself in sound.
- 1Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991
Diving into a dreamy haze, where sound envelopes you like a warm embrace.
- 2
Soonmy bloody valentine · 1991
A haunting lullaby that captures the bittersweet essence of fleeting moments.
- 3
- 4
Leave Them All BehindRide · 1992
An anthem for the restless, urging you to break free and chase the horizon.
- 5
The Countdown
Top 10 Eyeliner-and-Fog-Machine Essentials · 6–10
- 6When the Sun Hits
Slowdive · 1993
Basking in the glow of a perfect sunset, where time stands still and dreams collide.
- 7Sweetness and Light
Lush · 1990
A burst of joy that dances on your heart, sweet as the first bloom of spring.
- 8
Head OnThe Jesus and Mary Chain · 1989
A gritty embrace of raw emotion, pulling you into a whirlwind of sound and feeling.
- 9
Fade Into YouMazzy Star · 1993
Drifting through twilight, this song wraps around you like a delicate, dreamlike veil.
- 10
Sight of YouPale Saints · 1989
A wistful gaze into the past, where every note feels like a cherished memory.
Scene Report
Wall of Sound
The Sound
It’s a symphony of swells and echoes, where distorted guitars hum like a distant storm and vocals drift like fog, blending seamlessly into the atmospheric layers. The sound is immersive, an invitation to get lost in its lush textures.
The Look
Think oversized flannel shirts, Doc Martens, and hair that defied gravity. The scene thrived in dimly lit venues adorned with colorful lights and swirling smoke, creating an intimate yet otherworldly vibe. Posters of iconic bands plastered the walls, a testament to the era’s creative spirit.
The Artists
My Bloody Valentine · Ride · Slowdive · Lush · The Jesus and Mary Chain
Scene Report
Wall of Sound · The Records
Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991
I Want to Touch You
Catherine Wheel · 1992
Essential Tracks
Related rooms: Mean Mr. Mustard's · New Wave Nights · After Dark
Scene ReportCassette Clash
Lush vs. The Jesus and Mary Chain
| 🔥 Chart Hits | ▶ | |
| 📈 Highest Peak | ▶ | |
| 📅 Staying Power | ▶ | |
| 💿 Catalog Depth | ▶ | |
| ◀ | 👑 #1 Singles |
Final Verdict
The Jesus and Mary Chain takes the round.
Split the room, settled the bet.
The Mixtape Map
Inside Wall of Sound · 📼 1/3
A guided tour of the tape — cluster by cluster.
📼 Drowned in Reverb
Turn it up until the melody melts.
The Mixtape Map
Inside Wall of Sound · 📼 2/3
A guided tour of the tape — cluster by cluster.
📼 Eyes on the Floor
The shoegaze stare, bottled.
The Mixtape Map
Inside Wall of Sound · 📼 3/3
A guided tour of the tape — cluster by cluster.
📼 Feedback and Feelings
Noise that aches.
Time Capsule
Meanwhile, in 1988…
What was going on in the world while the music played.
Faith
George Michael
At the movies
- Die Hard
- Beetlejuice
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
On TV
- Roseanne
- The Wonder Years
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
In the headlines
- Summer Olympics in Seoul
- First Red Nose Day
- Prozac introduced
From the Zine
Rituals of the Scene
Rediscovering the sacred practices of shoegaze.
As you step into the dimly lit venue, the air is thick with anticipation and the familiar scent of well-worn sneakers. You catch glimpses of fellow devotees, each one glued to their spot, transfixed by the shimmering wall of sound that’s about to wash over the room. You adjust the settings on your own pedalboard, a sprawling array of effects that can transform a simple riff into a euphoric experience—like the first notes of “Soon” rising into the air.
The ritual begins. The band takes the stage, and as they launch into a cacophony of layered guitars and whispered vocals, you close your eyes and let the music envelop you. This is a moment of communion—where the outside world fades into a distant memory. You’re not just a spectator; you’re part of the experience. With every strum, every echo, you feel connected to something greater, a collective heartbeat that pulses through the crowd, binding you together in this sacred shoegaze sanctuary.
By The Liner Notes staff.
p. 17Chart Flashback
1989 by the Numbers
The year-end Hot 100
Rewind to the 1989 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 — where “Look Away” by Chicago sat at #1, and Bobby Brown racked up 5 charting hits.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour
1963–1990
The birthday sundae with the siren.
Gone But Not Forgotten
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour · cont.
Read the full piece →p. 21“Opened · 1963”
The Details
From the Memory Wall
Dear Mixtape…
What these songs remind our listeners of — in their own words.
“After the bars there was Insomnia — the coffee shop where the night came down slow. I'd nurse a cup way too late, this drifting out of the speakers, and feel like the whole world had finally exhaled.”
“The underground stuff had two sides for me — the loud one was the dance floor, the dreamy one was Insomnia at midnight. This lived entirely in the coffee shop, wrapped in steam and quiet.”
From the Memory Wall
Dear Mixtape… · cont.
What these songs remind our listeners of — in their own words.
“Going to Crazy Mama's with my best friend and roommate Damon Zex was an adventure! Legendary was the after hours parties at the Batcave, Bruce and Charlie Nutt's house. Bruce was a little older than Charlie,band he loves 50s rockabilly. Charlie loved Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. Oh the turntable fights they would get into! And who controlled the turntable, controlled the night.”
“This is one of the best Genesis Songs believe it or not!”
The Back Page
It Takes Two
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock · 1988
Rave Down
Swervedriver · 1991
Misheard for 30 Years
“'Scuse me while I kiss this guy”
…is actually “'Scuse me while I kiss the sky” — Jimi Hendrix — Purple Haze.
Classifieds
- LOST: VHS tape jammed in the VCR. Reward: I'll stop hitting the VCR.
- FREE TO GOOD HOME: One Tamagotchi. Needs constant attention. We failed it.
- FOR TRADE: Slap-bracelet collection for your Trapper Keeper. Serious inquiries only.
Next week: Basement Show
That’s the issue.
A fresh edition of The Liner Notes drops every week, composed from the crate — the artists, the years, the charts, and the stories behind them.
The Liner Notes · Issue №21
FinSpecial Issue · The Wall of Sound Issue
The Liner Notes
Certified
Nostalgia
Artist Spotlight
Swervedriver
alternative rock · 1990–1993
Synths, Eyeliner & Last Call
- The Countdown · Top 10 Eyeliner-and-Fog-Machine Essentials
- Mixtape Map · Inside Wall of Sound
- Needle Drop · “Only Shallow” by my bloody valentine
- In Memoriam · Rick Davies
Issue №21
September 4, 2026 · $3.33
From the DJ Booth
Dear Listener,
Lights low, synths high — slip into the after-dark set.
Consider this your Wall of Sound field guide — Swervedriver up front, a Top 10 you'll argue with, and a tape map to get lost in.
Pull up a beanbag, drop the needle, and add your version in the margins — every song's got a Memory Wall.
Be kind, please rewind, — The G33Z3R DJ
This week’s issue: Wall of Sound
Editor's LetterArtist Spotlight
Swervedriver
alternative rock · 1990–1993
Swervedriver is a British alternative rock band that emerged from Oxford, active since 1989. With core members Adam Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge, they carved out a distinct sound that departed from the shoegaze movement, leaning into heavier rock while incorporating elements of psychedelia and classic pop. Throughout the '90s, they released four studio albums alongside a variety of EPs and singles, with a lineup that eventually stabilized around Franklin on vocals and guitar, Hartridge on guitar, Jez Hindmarsh on drums, and Steve George on bass. Their tracks like "Duel," "Son of Mustang Ford," and "Rave Down" showcase their knack for blending melodic hooks with driving guitar riffs, creating a sonic experience that still resonates with fans today.
“Formed 1989”
The facts
Swervedriver in the crate
From the Zine
Sonic Reverberations
How shoegaze emerged from the noise.
In the late '80s and early '90s, a new sound began to emerge from the underground—a dreamy, immersive wall of sound that enveloped listeners like a thick fog. Shoegaze was born from the desire to push against the prevailing trends of the time, which favored polished pop and the grunge explosion. Bands like My Bloody Valentine and Ride carved out their own niche, crafting layers of guitar that felt like weather—stormy, unpredictable, yet captivating.
For kids who found solace in the hazy melodies and ethereal vocals, this music was more than just sound; it was a refuge. The genre’s signature pedalboards, sprawling like coffee tables, created a sonic landscape that felt equally inviting and alien. Songs like “Only Shallow” and “Vapour Trail” invited listeners to lose themselves in reverberation, offering a sense of unity among the disaffected youth, while the lyrics often felt like whispers buried beneath the chaos, speaking to the heart’s most vulnerable corners.
By The Liner Notes staff.
p. 4Needle Drop
Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991 · Alternative
In a movie, over the exact right montage.
driving nowhere in particular with the windows down.
It plays and a whole year comes flooding back.
▸ Play it on
Tap ☆ to set your player — from then on it's one-tap play everywhere.
If you like this…
The Countdown
Top 10 Eyeliner-and-Fog-Machine Essentials
Turn up the volume and let the waves crash over you. This countdown is your ticket to the dreamy, feedback-laden gems that defined the shoegaze era. Get ready to lose yourself in sound.
- 1Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991
Diving into a dreamy haze, where sound envelopes you like a warm embrace.
- 2Soon
my bloody valentine · 1991
A haunting lullaby that captures the bittersweet essence of fleeting moments.
- 3
- 4Leave Them All Behind
Ride · 1992
An anthem for the restless, urging you to break free and chase the horizon.
- 5
- 6When the Sun Hits
Slowdive · 1993
Basking in the glow of a perfect sunset, where time stands still and dreams collide.
- 7Sweetness and Light
Lush · 1990
A burst of joy that dances on your heart, sweet as the first bloom of spring.
- 8Head On
The Jesus and Mary Chain · 1989
A gritty embrace of raw emotion, pulling you into a whirlwind of sound and feeling.
- 9Fade Into You
Mazzy Star · 1993
Drifting through twilight, this song wraps around you like a delicate, dreamlike veil.
- 10Sight of You
Pale Saints · 1989
A wistful gaze into the past, where every note feels like a cherished memory.
Scene Report
Wall of Sound
The Sound
It’s a symphony of swells and echoes, where distorted guitars hum like a distant storm and vocals drift like fog, blending seamlessly into the atmospheric layers. The sound is immersive, an invitation to get lost in its lush textures.
The Look
Think oversized flannel shirts, Doc Martens, and hair that defied gravity. The scene thrived in dimly lit venues adorned with colorful lights and swirling smoke, creating an intimate yet otherworldly vibe. Posters of iconic bands plastered the walls, a testament to the era’s creative spirit.
The Artists
My Bloody Valentine · Ride · Slowdive · Lush · The Jesus and Mary Chain
Only Shallow
my bloody valentine · 1991
I Want to Touch You
Catherine Wheel · 1992
Essential Tracks
Related rooms: Mean Mr. Mustard's · New Wave Nights · After Dark
Scene ReportCassette Clash
Lush vs. The Jesus and Mary Chain
| 🔥 Chart Hits | ▶ | |
| 📈 Highest Peak | ▶ | |
| 📅 Staying Power | ▶ | |
| 💿 Catalog Depth | ▶ | |
| ◀ | 👑 #1 Singles |
Final Verdict
The Jesus and Mary Chain takes the round.
Split the room, settled the bet.
The Mixtape Map
Inside Wall of Sound
A guided tour of the tape — cluster by cluster.
📼 Drowned in Reverb
Turn it up until the melody melts.
📼 Eyes on the Floor
The shoegaze stare, bottled.
📼 Feedback and Feelings
Noise that aches.
Time Capsule
Meanwhile, in 1988…
What was going on in the world while the music played.
Faith
George Michael
At the movies
- Die Hard
- Beetlejuice
- Who Framed Roger Rabbit
On TV
- Roseanne
- The Wonder Years
- Mystery Science Theater 3000
In the headlines
- Summer Olympics in Seoul
- First Red Nose Day
- Prozac introduced
From the Zine
Rituals of the Scene
Rediscovering the sacred practices of shoegaze.
As you step into the dimly lit venue, the air is thick with anticipation and the familiar scent of well-worn sneakers. You catch glimpses of fellow devotees, each one glued to their spot, transfixed by the shimmering wall of sound that’s about to wash over the room. You adjust the settings on your own pedalboard, a sprawling array of effects that can transform a simple riff into a euphoric experience—like the first notes of “Soon” rising into the air.
The ritual begins. The band takes the stage, and as they launch into a cacophony of layered guitars and whispered vocals, you close your eyes and let the music envelop you. This is a moment of communion—where the outside world fades into a distant memory. You’re not just a spectator; you’re part of the experience. With every strum, every echo, you feel connected to something greater, a collective heartbeat that pulses through the crowd, binding you together in this sacred shoegaze sanctuary.
By The Liner Notes staff.
p. 11Chart Flashback
1989 by the Numbers
The year-end Hot 100
Rewind to the 1989 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 — where “Look Away” by Chicago sat at #1, and Bobby Brown racked up 5 charting hits.
The 1989 Top 10
Gone But Not Forgotten
Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour
1963–1990
The birthday sundae with the siren.
Read the full piece →p. 13“Opened · 1963”
The Details
From the Memory Wall
Dear Mixtape…
What these songs remind our listeners of — in their own words.
“After the bars there was Insomnia — the coffee shop where the night came down slow. I'd nurse a cup way too late, this drifting out of the speakers, and feel like the whole world had finally exhaled.”
“The underground stuff had two sides for me — the loud one was the dance floor, the dreamy one was Insomnia at midnight. This lived entirely in the coffee shop, wrapped in steam and quiet.”
“Going to Crazy Mama's with my best friend and roommate Damon Zex was an adventure! Legendary was the after hours parties at the Batcave, Bruce and Charlie Nutt's house. Bruce was a little older than Charlie,band he loves 50s rockabilly. Charlie loved Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen. Oh the turntable fights they would get into! And who controlled the turntable, controlled the night.”
“This is one of the best Genesis Songs believe it or not!”
The Back Page
It Takes Two
Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock · 1988
Rave Down
Swervedriver · 1991
Misheard for 30 Years
“'Scuse me while I kiss this guy”
…is actually “'Scuse me while I kiss the sky” — Jimi Hendrix — Purple Haze.
Classifieds
- LOST: VHS tape jammed in the VCR. Reward: I'll stop hitting the VCR.
- FREE TO GOOD HOME: One Tamagotchi. Needs constant attention. We failed it.
- FOR TRADE: Slap-bracelet collection for your Trapper Keeper. Serious inquiries only.
Next week: Basement Show
That’s the issue.
A fresh edition of The Liner Notes drops every week, composed from the crate — the artists, the years, the charts, and the stories behind them.
The Liner Notes · Issue №21
Fin