My Bloody Valentine discography

My Bloody Valentine discography
A five-piece rock band performing onstage against a psychedelic style yellow backdrop. Audience members facing the stage are visible in the foreground; various equipment including amplifiers, effect pedals, monitors and guitars are visible in the background.
My Bloody Valentine performing in Boston, Massachusetts, United States in November 2013
Studio albums3
Live albums1
Compilation albums2
Music videos6
EPs5
Singles12
Mini albums2
Compilation contributions4
Miscellaneous appearances20

The discography of My Bloody Valentine, an Irish-English alternative rock band formed in Dublin, Ireland, consists of three studio albums, two mini albums, one live album, two compilation albums, five extended plays, twelve singles and six music videos.

My Bloody Valentine formed in early 1983 and released their debut mini album, This Is Your Bloody Valentine, in January 1985 on Tycoon Records. Featuring the band's original line-up of vocalist David Conway, guitarist Kevin Shields, drummer Colm Ó Cíosóig and keyboardist Christine "Tina" Durkin, the album failed to receive much attention and the band relocated to London, England following its release.[1] In London the band recruited bassist Debbie Googe and subsequently released two EPs—Geek! (1985) and The New Record by My Bloody Valentine (1986)—and the 1987 single "Sunny Sundae Smile".[2] The New Record… and "Sunny Sundae Smile" garnered the band minor underground success, with both placing in the United Kingdom Independent Singles Chart. Conway departed the band soon after and was replaced by vocalist-guitarist Bilinda Butcher in early 1987.[3]

With their new line-up, My Bloody Valentine released a second mini album, Ecstasy, and the standalone single "Strawberry Wine" in November 1987 on Lazy Records. Both releases were moderate critical successes and attracted the attention of Creation Records co-founder Alan McGee, who offered the band a recording contract after a performance in January 1988.[4] During their time on Creation My Bloody Valentine released their most notable material, including two full-length studio albums, Isn't Anything (1988) and Loveless (1991). Both albums, as well as their singles and preceding EPs, were released to widespread critical acclaim;[5][6] Isn't Anything and Loveless were considered massive independent successes, both peaking at number 1 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. In addition, Loveless placed at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and has since been certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry. In 1992 My Bloody Valentine were dropped by Creation due to the extensive recording period and production costs of Loveless.[7]

My Bloody Valentine signed to Island Records in October 1992 for a reported £250,000 contract, constructing a home studio in Streatham, South London with their advance. Originally intending to record and release a third studio album, the band experienced a "semi-meltdown", according to Kevin Shields and became largely inactive.[8] Despite rumours that over 60 hours of recorded material had been presented to Island,[9] the band only released two songs—cover versions of Louis Armstrong's "We Have All the Time in the World" and Wire's "Map Ref 41°N 93°W"—on various artist compilation albums before their disbandment in 1997.

In 2007 My Bloody Valentine reunited and announced plans to release a third album. The band commenced two international tours between 2008 and 2009,[2] during which time remastered versions of Isn't Anything and Loveless and a box set were announced.[10] Following further delays, remastered editions of the band's original two studio albums and the double compilation album EP's 1988–1991 were released on Sony in May 2012. m b v, My Bloody Valentine's third studio album, was eventually released "out of the blue" in February 2013;[11] it received "universal acclaim", according to Metacritic.[12]

  1. ^ Conway & Knee 2013, p. 132–333.
  2. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "My Bloody Valentine | Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  3. ^ McGonial 2007, p. 24.
  4. ^ McGonial 2007, p. 26–27.
  5. ^ Mothersole, Ben; Willis, Dominic (2 November 1991). "The Class of '91". Melody Maker.
  6. ^ McGonial 2007, p. 97.
  7. ^ Lester, Paul (12 March 2004). "I lost it | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  8. ^ McGonial 2007, pp. 101–102.
  9. ^ Stubbs, David (February 1999). "Sweetheart Attack: My Bloody Valentine's Isn't Anything is the Eighties Rock Album". Uncut.
  10. ^ Thiessen, Brock (16 April 2008). "My Bloody Valentine Box Set For Sale Through HMV Japan • News". Exclaim!. 1059434 Ontario. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Jim Pusey's Top 10 Albums Of 2013". Contactmusic.com. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  12. ^ "Reviews for M B V by My Bloody Valentine". Metacritic. Retrieved 5 September 2014.