Bladee and MBV Being Cool n Crazy n Shit

Graphic made by Em Townsend

The experimental album Gluee by Bladee and my bloody valentine's magnum opus Loveless have both been able to cultivate a cult-like following due to their world-building and unconventional approaches. Though occupying distinctly different areas of the music industry, these two masterpieces share many core stylistic similarities that are the key to their success. 

Understanding the space and context these albums occupy in the music industry is crucial in appreciating their shared similarities. The meticulous, more than three-year process behind the creation of Loveless racked up an exorbitant price tag from recording, and ultimately led to MBV getting dropped from their label. Despite this, the album has become a classic in the shoegaze genre, cementing MBV in the industry. Bladee's debut shook the music scene too. Previously not having much exposure to rap, Bladee, and his posse Drain Gang, entered the music scene with a unique style they manifested amongst themselves. Bladee’s first album Gluee, characterized by the group's style of dreamy, oversaturated vocals and production, left an indisputable mark on the cloud rap landscape, earning praise as one of his best releases and a cornerstone of the genre itself. The challenges in debuting an album mirror the pressures of perfecting a piece of art over several years. With MBV trying to turn the page on a history of mediocre press and sales and Bladee hoping to establish himself in the constantly evolving rap scene, each album faced a formidable task. Nonetheless, both found success and are currently some of the most avant-garde examples within their niche. As pillars of their genres, both Loveless and Gluee have withstood the test of time, designating their places in the music industry and inspiring many attempts at emulating their sound. 

Central to each album's identity is the ethereal atmosphere they cultivate throughout the tracklist. Through different means, Bladee and MBV encapsulate a truly unique, enchanting sound synonymous with each project. From blissful autotune and dreamy, sometimes jarring, production on Gluee, to abrasive distortion and whispered poetic lyrics on Loveless, both albums offer a transformative listening experience. In contrast with alternative albums, these qualities compel listeners to absorb all they hear at once; like layers of an onion, it's difficult to discern all the moving parts, though undeniably satisfying when comprehended as a whole.

Paralleling themes of navigating an emotionally dissociated state of self-loss exist between both albums. These themes are emphasized through lyrical correspondences, such as in Bladee's chanted chorus on "Shadowface:” “Shadowface / make my city break (Break-break) / everything is fake (Fake-fake) / Bitter pain, make it go away / shadows on my face.” Similarly, in the second verse on “Loomer,” the lyrics “Pretty boys with their sunshine faces / Carrying their heads down / Tiptoe down to the lonely places / Where you going now, don't turn around” elicit substantial feelings of pain and a sense of inner turmoil. The ‘shadows’ on Bladee's face may reference a dark cloud of emotion he hides under –– like the ‘boys with their sunshine faces’ who hold their heads held down as they make their way into isolated, lonely places. More recurring motifs are present, but these are only a tiny piece of the grander likeness of these albums. 

Another commonality between the two is the pursuit of transcendence through the means of drugs. The alternative rock and shoegaze scene was already dominated by heavy psychedelic use and bands striving to induce an altered state of consciousness through dense, loud layers of instruments and vocals during live performances. Cloud rap's culture is also heavily intertwined with drugs, with many artists rapping about their use and a dangerous idealization of getting high. In the case of my bloody valentine, the hushed lyrics about a journey to a dreamlike state are subtle hints at drug use, akin to the experience of being high. On the other hand, Bladee addresses drug use in a much more explicit manner. He raps about using drugs to escape reality and cope with emotional unrest, though his portrayal advocates that drug use only leads to further emptiness and despair. In fact, both albums suggest that drugs may offer temporary relief but ultimately add to the artists' suffering rather than provide genuine escape. Neither Loveless nor Gluee glorifies drug use; instead, they portray it as a futile attempt to alleviate the pain that plagues the artists.

Upon closer examination, the intentionality of shared content on these two albums is evident in both artists’ musical auras. The complexities of Gluee and Loveless each encapsulate a psychedelic vibe, creating a sensation of existence between sleeping and waking. In reflex to this blurred feeling, one is transported to the artists' worlds, where references to dream-like states and detachment from oneself evoke an underlying trippy atmosphere. Through their experimental approaches and unique ambiance, these albums are an odyssey, challenging you into the journey that they are. 

Although Loveless and Gluee present vastly different sonic landscapes, their commonalities are indisputable. The similarities these records share are a testament to the ever-evolving nature of music, where artists draw inspiration from a wide range of sources. I look forward to hearing how these incredible albums will continue to stir and shape the future of music. Until then, I cannot urge you enough to explore both these albums and see the remarkable similarities yourself.