“There’s a reason fans are so passionate about Philadelphia’s Nothing, whose third album, ‘Dance On The Blacktop, sees them master their signature blend of shoegaze, grunge and post-hardcore. The lyrics are often nihilistic, but the music – which oscillates between buzzy, minor-key guitar riffs and pretty, delicate harmonies – is weirdly uplifting, appearing to rise above the hardship therein. And,”
“The narrative of Dance on the Blacktop is a hard-to-swallow reality check, but flourishes in the closing "(Hope) Is Just Another Word with a Hole In It." Nearing six minutes, the song is ambitious and rewarding. When Palermo's vocals and piano come to fruition in the mix, there is a sense of optimism, as though he might be smirking at his demons.”
“On their third album, the Philadelphia shoegaze band’s tried-and-true arrangements are not terribly original, but they are deeply felt.”
“The shoegaze revival is largely a reboot: The leading bands of today are the leading bands of a quarter century ago. My Bloody Valentine’s revelatory 2013 album landed like a dare, coaxing long-dormant peers out of retirement. Slowdive, Ride and The Jesus and Mary Chain have all released new albums since Trump took office. It’s not hard to imagine a fat Coachella check awaiting Catherine Wheel whe”
