Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Ringo Deathstarr packs an assortment of hazy melodies buried under layers of swirling guitars and hypnotic drum patterns. The My Bloody Valentine influence is apparent. Elliott Frazier is playing the part of Kevin Shields and Alex Gehring is Bilinda Butcher. Add yet another band to the shoegaze (nu-gaze?) revival that’s been kicking around for the past couple years.

If I’d stopped listening after the first couple tracks (Bong Load, God’s Dream) that would’ve been a fair assessment of this record. Fortunately things pick up and get a fair bit crunchier around the middle. The excellent Chainsaw Morning brings to mind Gish-era Smashing Pumpkins. Extra points are awarded for an Adam Franklin (Swervedriver) guest appearance on Flower Power.

If you’re already on the bandwagon, God’s Dream is a fine addition to your collection. If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, it’s not a bad place to start.