10 Vintage Slowcore Tracks From Decades Past

While slowcore has enjoyed a major resurgence in the 2020s, the genre actually dates back to the eighties. Some of the tracks on this list might sound strange and unfamiliar, while others had a clear influence that's carried slowcore for decades. If you're trying to relax, study or enjoy a quiet evening at home, here's a look at a genre that existed well before Soundcloud.

1. Violence by Low

"Violence," the first track from Low's 1995 album, Long Division, has a deep, lulling sound that invites you into a world of rural nights and winter sunsets. Something about this track makes me feel like I'm sitting by a wood stove in a log cabin with snowflakes swirling outside the window. The song has a simple message, too, repeating "You can't trust violence" as if the words didn't sink in the first time.

2. Blue Thunder by Galaxie 500

"Blue Thunder," a song about a 1975 Dodge Dart, comes from Galaxie 500's 1989 record, On Fire. Soft, lilting vocals give this track an ethereal quality as the music gradually builds momentum, then bursts into high-pitched radiance like the sun shining through the clouds on a rainy day. "I'll drive so far away," the narrator promises before the track abruptly goes silent.

3. D by Codeine

In 1990, Frigid Stars LP introduced the world to Codeine and their slow, easygoing style. "D" tells the story of a couple living together, with the narrator stating, "I want you to need me, not to feed me," before acknowledging the flaws in their relationship. Still, this track never rises to anger: instead, it maintains a steady, apathetic tempo that characterizes the slowcore movement.

4. Breadcrumb Trail by Slint

1991 brought the release of Slint's second album, Spiderland, which kicks off with the single "Breadcrumb Trail." This six-minute song takes you on a journey with spoken-word verses, strained vocals and eclectic sounds, all working together to tell the story of a surreal carnival date. While "Breadcrumb Trail" is more ambitious than your average slowcore track, it maintains a subdued, understated tone.

5. Love Songs on the Radio by Mojave 3

With a title like "Love Songs on the Radio," you know you're in for a warm, exquisite track, and the milky instrumentals combined with breathy vocals cast the object of the narrator's affections into an angelic light. This tune, which comes from Mojave 3's 1995 album, Ask Me Tomorrow, puts you in a cozy, syrupy mood that makes you think about your own sweetheart, imagined or real.

6. Inside Out by Duster

If you're familiar with modern slowcore tracks, you'll catch the influence of "Inside Out" immediately. The short runtime, steady beat, muffled vocals and lo-fi production wouldn't sound out of place on your favorite indie band's Soundcloud page. However, "Inside Out" comes from Duster's 1998 album, Stratosphere, placing it well ahead of the curve.

7. Bedside Table by Bedhead

The lyrics to "Bedside Table," a song from Bedhead's 1994 album, WhatFunLifeWas, read like a short poem. However, the band artfully put this story to music with somber, lonesome arrangements and subdued vocals that convey a sense of grieving. The song starts to ramp up in the third section, signifying the urgency of this haunting moment in time.

8. Nothing Left to Say by Tram

"Nothing Left to Say," a 1997 single from Tram's short-lived career, uses glowing vocals and burning instrumentals to create a numbing track that makes you feel like you've taken a dose of morphine. This reflects the narrator's agony in the lyrics as he struggles with a painful breakup. In the end, he muses, "Who's gonna catch me / The way you used to?" Evidently, no one will.

9. New Partner by Palace Music

While "New Partner" by Palace Music has all the trappings of slowcore, this 1995 track injects life into the genre with a folksy sound, clear vocals and crisp, expressive storytelling. Mentions of a "black tinted sunset" in the first line immediately place you in a country setting. The narrator acknowledges that "you are always on my mind" before moving on with his new partner, ending on an optimistic note that slowcore often lacks.

10. Empty Words by Bowery Electric

"Empty Words" contains only four lines, but they send a sharp, concise message about distrusting the media. This song from Bowery Electric's 1996 album, Beat, has a mysterious, luminous presence that makes you feel like you're watching a glowing TV screen. When it's over, you'll feel like you just awoke from a feverish dream--one that might've had some subliminal messages inside the noise.

Are you a slowcore fan? What did you think about these tracks? Let me know in the comments.