Where's synthpop? Alive and well the last time I saw it, don't know how you can miss it. There's been no shortage of synthpop acts over the last decade and today with bands like The Knife, Goldfrapp, Chairlift, Chromatics, Desire, Grimes, School of Seven Bells, Chvrches, Ladytron, Austra and tons others.

Gonna have to agree with you there. I really loved Colour Trip and the new one didn't really deliver. While I wouldn't necessarily call them shoegaze, The History of Apple Pie's album Out of View is clearly inspired by later Lush...which I really enjoy. It's one of those albums that's not particularly special, but for some reason I just can't get enough of it. It's one of my favorites from this year for sure.

Have you heard Medicine's new album? I think it's been something like 17 years since their last one...I haven't listened yet but it's been lined up in my queue.

I really liked Colour Trip and the Sparkler compilation. I thought some songs on their last album were fairly poor, clearly a band that ran out of ideas. I haven't listened to The History of Apple Pie yet but I'll add them to my list on your recommendation.

Haven't listened to the new Medicine album either but probably will at some stage. It's been quite a year for bands releasing new material after a long period, there's also the first Mazzy Star album in 17 years next month.

It's always disappointing when that happens. I really thought that with the quality of Colour Trip it meant they were just getting started. Alas, it was not to be. I'll give them one more album to shape up.

And I totally forgot about Mazzy Star's new album...that's going on my list too. Not only have a lot of long dormant bands released new albums...but they've released really damn good albums. Which reminds me...I just saw My Bloody Valentine live last week and it was basically everything I had hoped for.

Oh yes The Knife are great! Personally I'm a fan of shoegaze both old and new. Some bands may sound rather similar but it's depended on your tastes if you want to like a band that sounds like everything else.

Shoegaze is also one of those styles of music where it's very easy for bands to blend together. If they manage to do it right, though, then I still like it. It's just really easy to drone on a power chord that's been assaulted with various effects pedals.

I see, you have a good knowledge about the instrumental similarities. I like shoegaze but haven't listened to a lot of the newer artists but that's not because they all sound the same.

Ok maybe I was wrong about that one and Im not so sure all of those are synthpop bands.

I have a chance to see MBV at a festival here in two weeks but I'm not sure I can make it. I really want to see them at least once in my lifetime and they haven't played here in 5 years.

Why are you not so sure?

All I can say is if you have any chance to see them live...take it. There are a handful of shows that I've been to that legitimately go down as incredibly memorable, and that show is now on my list. I can't even explain in words how their music sounds live and at the volume they play it. It's seriously a trip with no drugs. At the end of the show, they played "Feed Me With Your Kiss" and the bridge turned into a 10 minute wall of noise played as loud as they could possibly play it. I'm not even exaggerating...it was pure noise. It was so disorienting I started to hear things in it that I'm sure weren't there. I'm sure most people wouldn't like that sort of thing...and I'm not sure I want to experience it again just for fear of hearing loss...but it was seriously something amazing.