Guitar-based shoegaze records are tough sells these days. With increasing ease, laptoppers such as M83 and Ulrich Schnauss churn out the lush vibes of permanently influential tri-force My Bloody Valentine, Ride, and Slowdive, but always fall short of their vitality. Artists obsess over Kevin Shields' gonzo production ethics but forget his equally impressive ear for melody, and without the cherry-colored hooks, shoegaze is a land of gimmicks: cute but stupid, talking loud and saying nothing.