Los Angeles’ Crystales, named after a glass cathedral in Orange County, California, play a skillful style of shoegaze dream rock on their debut self-titled album. The tight connections of the band mates (brothers Nick and Billy Gil on guitar and vocals, neighbor Jason Hanakeawe on drums, and cousin Tony Infante on bass) only help amplify their skill set. It’s always good to hear new, good shoegaze, and Crystales fit the bill.
The album opens with a daring song titled “Boring.” Trust me, the album isn’t. The song’s about a boring wanna-be lover and how draining it can be to socialize with someone who can’t take the hint. The sunny guitars on it seem to give the song’s subject a chance at romance, however. “Séance” is just as bright, and I love the way the fuzz kicks in during the chorus like an unexpected wave knocking you over on a beach.
I also love that there’s a song called “Kate Blanchett” on this album, and that it’s one of the hardest rockers on the record. Who doesn’t have a crush on her? “Lie Awake at Night” takes a stroll into a psychedelic park on a sunny day and is about someone missing their lover. It’s secretly melancholy, but the wall of dream pop sound hides it well. Countering its love lyrics is the heavier “Shoggoth,” which refers to a Lovecraftian monster that can drive people mad just by looking at it. Is it any coincidence that Infante’s bass is prominent throughout the track and thuds like a fearful heartbeat? “When It’s Over” is brash and bold but it still keeps that shoegaze fuzzy edge that runs throughout the album.
“Ariel” is the sound of southern California road trips with the top down and the front passenger trying to make out with you while you’re driving. That shimmering sound continues on “Donkey” and “I Don’t Care.” “I Don’t Care” isn’t as apathetic as its title would have you believe, but it is about cutting ties with a lover who holds you back from your potential. “Agrias” lures you into a bit of a trance, and the closer, “Honora,” brings back some hard-edged crunch to the guitars to send you off feeling like a bad ass.
This is a solid debut. I’m loving the resurgence of shoegaze in the last few years, and bands like Crystales are giving us fans of the genre a lot to love.
Keep your mind open.