| Track | Album |
|---|---|
| Blue Flower | She Hangs Brightly |
| I’ve Been Let Down | Among My Swan |
| Bells Ring | So Tonight That I Might See |
| Halah | She Hangs Brightly |
| In The Kingdom | Seasons Of Your Day |
| Give You My Lovin | She Hangs Brightly |
| Wasted | So Tonight That I Might See |
| Take Everything | Among My Swan |
| Fade Into You | So Tonight That I Might See |
| Still Cold | Among My Swan |
Mazzy Star Overview
Mazzy Star formed in 1988 in Santa Monica, California. The band’s creative principals were guitarist and instrumentalist David Roback and singer and lyricist Hope Sandoval. Keith Mitchell was also a founding member and played drums on every major release until his passing in 2017.
Roback was active in the Paisley Underground scene of Los Angeles, having played with the band Rain Parade. He departed Rain Parade after their first album and formed Opal with bassist/vocalist Kendra Smith. Following the release of Opal’s 1987 album Happy Nightmare Baby, Smith left the band. Sandoval took her place, and soon after, the group’s name changed to Mazzy Star.
The band was especially productive in the early 1990s, releasing three full-length albums: She Hangs Brightly (1990), So Tonight That I Might See (1993), Among My Swan (1996). After Among My Swan, Mazzy Star took a long hiatus and did not release another full-length album until Seasons Of Your Day in 2013. The release of the EP Still in 2018 hinted at a potential new album, but Roback sadly passed away from cancer in 2020.
An exploration of Mazzy Star’s catalog reveals a varied sound that moves from gentle acoustic strumming to intense neo‑psychedelic jams, all rooted in a folk‑inspired sound. The pairing of Sandoval’s voice with Roback’s playing and arrangements is what makes their music so distinctive. Sandoval’s poetic lyrics are open to interpretation, but her captivating voice conveys deep emotion. Roback’s arrangements add layers of texture to each track: soft drums and a steady bass line provide the foundation, while his guitars swirl around her voice, creating a sonic tapestry that envelopes you like a warm blanket on a cold winter day.
Toppermost Song List
Blue Flower is a cover of Slapp Happy’s 1972 release. It has a little kick, with an opening guitar riff that leads into a 37-second jam. There is a garage-band feel to it, and Sandoval brings attitude to the vocals. There is a definite Jesus and Mary Chain vibe to the guitar solo at the end.
I’ve Been Let Down highlights Mazzy Star’s softer sound. Sandoval’s voice floats over a steady stream of acoustic strumming. She really elevates the song with pleasant harmonica moments throughout.
Bells Ring opens with a shimmering guitar that flows throughout, leading into a slow-burning jam. There is a steady groove that gives the track a dense, rhythmic feel. Sandoval’s vocals maintain a constant tone while the guitars dance around her, ending with a graceful, fading guitar.
The acoustic guitar on Halah has a nice, sing-along feel – the perfect song for a leisurely Sunday morning.
In The Kingdom opens with a dramatic organ, which leads into a steady, ever-expanding wall of sound. There is a dramatic vibe to it. The combination of Sandoval’s voice and Roback’s guitar spirals beautifully throughout, culminating in a slow jam that closes out the song.
Give You My Lovin’ opens with nice, easy acoustic strumming, and then the electric guitar comes in, dancing over the top. Sandoval’s voice is magnetic.
The next is one of the dark, neo-psychedelic jams. The guitar on Wasted is loud, with moments of glorious feedback. There is anger in Sandoval’s vocals on this track. I always think of Jim Morrison when I hear this song.
William Reid of The Jesus and Mary Chain guests on Take Everything and adds an edge to the mix. Sandoval sings with a lot of emotion on this one. There is a definite sense of sadness in her singing, which contrasts nicely with the ringing guitars.
Fade Into You has a haunting vibe. An acoustic guitar strums throughout, with electric leads weaving in and out. Sandoval soars wonderfully throughout. This song had chart success and was a hit on MTV and VH1. It recently passed the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify.
The list ends with Still Cold from the 1996 release Among My Swan. This song opens with lovely, acoustic strumming guitar and Sandoval singing gently. As the song progresses, the intensity builds, and the electric guitar comes forward with excellent effect, ending in a brilliant jam that fades out, closing the list perfectly.
Further Listening
If you would like to hear more, the albums listed below – as well as a variety of singles – are available on both Apple Music and Spotify.
She Hangs Brightly was included among Kurt Cobain’s 50 favorite albums.¹ Entertainment Weekly said it was “as if Patsy Cline had lived long enough to record with the Velvet Underground.” It’s their most accessible album, showcasing more blues and acoustic guitars with less feedback and psychedelia.
So Tonight That I Might See is a fantastic album. Pitchfork gave it a 9.4 rating and called it a “dream pop classic.” It is also the band’s most challenging listen, lacking the easygoing folk leanings of She Hangs Brightly or the more straightforward approach of Among My Swan. Instead, it unfolds as a dark, swirling descent into menace and beauty – a narcotic dream of a record.
Among My Swan did not generate the same level of buzz or sales as So Tonight That I Might See. AllMusic noted that it lacked the immediacy of Fade Into You but remained pleasant and detailed. Any follow-up to So Tonight That I Might See and Fade Into You was going to face the headwinds of market saturation. This album benefits from listening now, away from that context. The sound is layered with swirls of electric guitar over acoustic guitar, and several songs feature Sandoval adding some nice harmonica.
Seasons Of Your Day came 17 years after Among My Swan. PopMatters gave the album a 7 out of 10, writing “Seasons Of Your Day grows on you and demands repeated listening.” Standout tracks are In the Kingdom, Lay Myself Down, and Common Burn.
The Still EP was released in 2018 and was dedicated to drummer Keith Mitchell and stage manager Tom Cashen, both of whom passed away in 2017. It features the fantastic So Tonight That I Might See (Ascension Version) – an amplified, more psychedelic rendering of the album title track. Headphones recommended.
Mazzy Star perfected a fusion of psychedelic jams, folk, and blues, creating a timeless sound. Their music is immersive and hypnotic, perfect for quiet moments of reflection.
¹ Cross, Charles R.; Gaar, Gillian G.; Gendron, Bob; Martens, Todd; Yarm, Mark (2013). Nirvana: The Complete Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-7603-4521-4
Hope Sandoval official website
Toppermost #1,167: Rain Parade
Bob Van Deusen lives in Southern California. When he’s not deep in a Spotify playlist rabbit hole, he’s usually grilling in the backyard or keeping tabs on the Dodgers. He is on Bluesky and these are his Spotify playlists. He prefers Pigpen‑era Dead.
TopperPost #1,183
Bess Atwell
Thanks Bob! Great list. That playlist is dinner music this evening. Here’s my Mazzy Star related story: During the first big lockdown in Melbourne I was writing a book about The Doors. One evening, I dropped my son off at his mum’s place. On the way back, I turned on the radio. I think it might have been a community station but suddenly the car was filled with this eerie cover of Indian Summer. I nearly drove off the road! I pulled over and ‘shazzamed’ it. Opal! Genius! One of the great covers. Thanks again.
Thank you, Tony. Glad you liked the list.