Genre story · Pop
Noise Pop
The melody of a pop single still audible after the guitars have been pushed into a wall of feedback.
Noise pop became a recognizable part of independent guitar music during the mid-1980s. Scottish band the Jesus and Mary Chain offered a powerful example with Psychocandy, combining tight Pop melodies with abrasive guitar sound. My Bloody Valentine developed another approach through unusual tuning, tremolo effects and denser arrangements. These groups were joined by musicians working on different sides of the Atlantic who wanted the noise to change the texture of a song rather than replace the song itself.
The tune survives distortion
At the center is often a simple melodic line or a clear chorus. Around it, guitars can buzz, ring or collapse into an almost continuous surface. The drums may remain uncomplicated, allowing the contrast between the melody and noise to do most of the work. Some recordings are faster and punk-derived; others leave more space for layered guitar effects.
A line toward shoegaze
Noise Pop and Shoegaze overlap significantly, but noise pop can retain a more compact pop-song form. It should also be distinguished from Noise Rock, whose abrasive arrangements may have much less interest in pop hooks. Those categories can describe different records by the same band without becoming interchangeable names.
Essential recordings
- 1985The Jesus and Mary ChainPsychocandyHooks pushed through intense guitar feedback.
- 1988My Bloody ValentineIsn't AnythingA denser and more unstable guitar vocabulary.
- 2003The RaveonettesChain Gang of LoveA later, highly melodic version shaped by noise and older pop.