What makes This Is Our Music by Galaxie 500 notable?

The album received significant praise from critics and is often regarded as a cornerstone of the shoegaze genre, influencing countless artists who followed. It is noted for its atmospheric sound and lyrical depth, solidifying Galaxie 500's place in alternative rock history despite its relatively modest commercial performance. This Is Our Music is Galaxie 500's third and final studio album, released in early 1990 as they were transitioning from a cult band to one with broader recognition. Following the critical success of their previous albums, the band faced internal tensions that would lead to their eventual breakup shortly after this release.

How many songs are on This Is Our Music?

This Is Our Music has 9 tracks, running approximately 45 minutes.

This Is Our Music

Galaxie 500 · 1990

45 min · 9 tracks · alternative rock

A dreamlike blend of ethereal melodies and introspective lyrics, wrapped in a hazy, lo-fi production aesthetic.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Fourth of July — Opening with a haunting melody, this track encapsulates the band's signature sound while exploring themes of nostalgia and reflection.
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Hearing Voices — This song features an enchanting interplay between soft vocals and shimmering guitars, emphasizing the band's dreamy aesthetic.
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Listen, the Snow Is Falling — A cover of Yoko Ono's song, it showcases Galaxie 500's ability to reinterpret existing works with their unique atmospheric style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

70 /100

Alpine

Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The album's atmospheric sound and lyrical depth contribute to its lasting appeal within the shoegaze genre.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track introduces a more subdued, reflective tone.
Several tracks feature layered guitar effects that create a dense, atmospheric sound, particularly evident in 'Hearing Voices' and 'Melt Away'.
The album closes with 'King of Spain, Part Two', which revisits themes from earlier tracks, providing a sense of circularity.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Fourth of July 5:34
2 Hearing Voices 3:36
3 Spook 4:37
4 Summertime 6:00
5 Way Up High 4:05
6 Listen, the Snow Is Falling 7:48
7 Sorry 4:16
8 Melt Away 4:36
9 King of Spain, Part Two 5:09

What to play next

Listen next

Copenhagen

1997

Go back to

On Fire

1989

Full Galaxie 500 discography Artists like Galaxie 500

alternative rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata