A Worthy Exception - My Bloody Valentine Reunion Deserves Special Mention

I suppose I could spend a great deal of my time attempting to cover the many reunions of '80s-era bands that have taken place over the last few years, from long-awaited resurgences of original lineups (like X, a development I find quite notable) to groups that hardly even have an original member left but still insist on hitting the touring circuit (like Foreigner, whose recent activities bear little resemblance to its '80s incarnation). There are certainly worse ways to spend one's time (many of which I've probably already found), but I prefer to be selective about the former scenarios rather than clinging to every last-gasp effort made for an extra buck. I apologize for the harsh cynicism, but I appreciate '80s music most for what it was at its peak and what it continues to be when heard today in its original form. There are exceptions to be made to that philosophy, to be sure, but exceptions suggest fastidious standards, to which I try to conform.

All of this brings me to My Bloody Valentine, a late-'80s alternative rock band that helped popularize the shoegaze subgenre for a short while. This, my friends, qualifies as an exception, as the U.K. purveyors of noise rock and later the atmospheric, moody style with the aforementioned singular name, will tour this summer in Europe and in the fall for a few shows in North America. A long-rumored new album could be on its way as well, so may the anticipation among fans of this revered band simmer for a few months. After all, they'll need something to focus on while they're ignoring the other '80s reunions, right?