A musical genre which is directly descended from ethereal music, but which takes elements of traditional pop music, too, like proper lyrics and more conventional song structures. Bands such as Lush, Slowdive and Chapterhouse were associated with this genre, which the NME and Melody Maker loved initially and then hated with a passion. They still hate it with a passion.

Pejorative term coined by the NME to describe a subgenre of indie guitar music. Shoegazers often tended to affect the following:

• floppy fringe
• Breton fisherman's or other stripey T-shirt
• Home Counties upbringing
• rich parents, hence:
• many FX pedals, hence:
• much foot-related action, hence:
• shoe-gazing

Shoegazing is a genre early '90s British indie rock, named after the bands' motionless performing style - they stood on stage and stared at the floor while they played. shoegazing was about pure sound - overwhelmingly loud, long, droning riffs, waves of distortion, and cascades of feedback. Vocal styles varied, but generally they served to simply create another melodious layer among the scores of others. My Bloody Valentine were really the icons of the movement, along with Lush, Slowdive , Chapterhouse and a bunch of others who didnt stand the test of time.