Discovering new music during quarantine: Mazzy Star

As the Coronavirus vaccine continues to be distributed across the U.S, brighter times seem to be in the
near future. Nevertheless, music has continued to be a positive outlet for me and many others. While
my playlist continues to expand, it is also important to recognize some of the bands who have been with
me for years. Mazzy Star is one of them.
This is an alternative rock or dream pop band from the 90’s that has also come together in recent years
for other projects. However, I have not listened to any albums that came out past 1996. Mazzy Star has
been made up of seven different members over time. Most notably, Hope Sandoval, lead vocalist, and
David Roback, guitarist and writer for almost every song the band produced.
Their music can only be described with one word: dreamy. Sandoval’s vocals are enticing and will make
you feel like you are floating away on a cloud. While all their albums have this feeling, their magnum
opus is the second album, So Tonight That I Might See. Many might recognize the distinctive purple
album. With this album came their biggest hit, “Fade Into You,” and it deserves all the hype it has
received. In addition, other songs off this album have been used in well-known television shows such as
Gilmore Girls and The End of the F***ing World. My personal favorite track from So Tonight That I Might
See is “Five String Serenade.” It is just as powerful as its more well-known counterpart, but slower and
melancholy.
Although So Tonight That I Might See is one of the most standout albums from the 90’s, their other
records still hit the mark in my opinion. In fact, recently I have found myself listening to their 1996
album, Among My Song more frequently. It is also stellar but perhaps lacks some of the depth that can
be found in the other album. Mazzy Star’s dreamy sound makes everything I listen to enjoyable.
I also have a personal connection to this band. My father would play their music during my childhood,
and when I got older, I started listening to them on my own. In fact, when I adopted a cat several years
ago, I chose to name her Mazzy Star after this band.
Overall, this band can be recommended to anyone who is looking to get into 90’s alternative music.
Their work is some of the best to come out of their era, and they deserve all the credit they can get.
Mazzy Star, to me, is a timeless band