Dreaming of more music to listen to? Try listening to Dream Pop.
The dream pop genre is classified as a sub genre of alternative rock and became popular in the late 80s and remained strong through the 90s.
The lush sounds of layered, reverb-drenched vocals and instruments created a dreamy sound, and still do.
Here are just some of the bands that fit in the dream pop category . . .
Cocteau Twins
Starting in Grangemouth, Scotland in 1979 Elizabeth Fraser, Robin Guthrie, and Will Heggie created the Cocteau Twins. The band is well known for Fraser’s singing because it’s very hard to find a song where you can define exactly what she is singing; she mainly uses her voice as an instrument. The band’s overall sound creates a dreamy feeling with the syrupy vocals and instruments. The band released nine main albums. Two album recommendations would be Heaven Or Las Vegas (1990), and Four-Calendar Café (1993).
The Sundays
Forming in 1988 in London, David Gavurin and Harriet Wheeler met at Bristol University. They started their band together and later met Patrick Hannan and Paul Brindley at Bristol. The band started performing together and making music. The band’s music changes from album to album with some songs more rock like and some more pop like—but all dream pop. The band released their first album Reading Writing and Arithmetic in 1989. They released two more albums being Blind in 1992 and Static and Silence in 1997. But that was it and the band has since disappeared. Two album recommendations would be Reading Writing and Arithmetic (1989) and Blind (1992).
The Dream Academy
Starting in London in 1983, Kate St. John, Nick Laird-Clowes, and Gilbert Gabriel created the band. The band's self-titled debut album was released in 1985 followed by two others in the span of five years. The band’s sound most notably includes sound effects and unique percussion that go along with what’s being sung. The way the music is being played and sung also creates a unique and dreamy sound. “Life in a Northern Town” remains the most successful of the early dream pop singles by any band. Two album recommendations would be The Dream Academy (1985) and Remembrance Days (1987).
The Cranberries
Formed in Limerick, Ireland in 1989 the band was originally named The Cranberry Saw Us. The band members were Noel Hogan, Niall Quinn, Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler. But Quinn soon left the band, and the band was in desperate need for a singer. Dolores O’Riordan auditioned and the remaining band members liked her so much she was asked to join immediately. The band sold demo recordings of their early songs to record stores in the United Kingdom to be sold. Soon after in 1993 the band released their debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? The album was a huge success. Throughout the years the band released eight main albums. Two album recommendations are Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (1993) and To The Faithful Departed (1996).
Slowdive
Forming in Reading, England in 1989, Rachel Goswell and Neil Halstead started the band. More members joined soon after, and in 1991 Just For A Day, their debut album, was released. The band was influenced by other bands in the dream pop genre. The band’s sound was made up of lots of guitar, dreamy vocals, and other dreamy sounds. In the mid 90s the band broke up but reunited in 2014. Over the years they had released five main albums. Two album recommendations are Just for a Day (1991) and Souvlaki (1993).
Mazzy Star
Unlike many dream pop bands with their UK pedigree, Mazzy Star started in 1989 in Santa Monica, California. The band consists of members Jill Emery, William Cooper Glenn, David Roback, Hope Sandoval, Colm Ó Cíosóig, Keith Mitchell, and Suki Ewers. The band was, and still is, popular from their hit song “Fade Into You.” The song became very popular in the 90s in heavy rotation on both the radio and MTV. The band released four main albums, and a few more in later years. Two album recommendations are So Tonight That I Might See (1993) and Among My Swan (1996).