The Comforts of Madness

Not entirely a shoegaze album but claimed by fans and bands alike — an early Ride radio session featured a cover of their majestic and melancholy debut single “Sight of You,” featured here in a rerecorded form — The Comforts of Madness and Pale Saints in general had a more considered, cool approach happening. Credit there lies with lead singer and guitarist Ian Masters, whose sweet reserve often perfectly matches a song — a sped up cover of Opal’s “Fell From the Sun” is a highlight, showing a gift for reinterpretation that would recur later, as in the album’s slow-to-fast-to-slow closing number “Time Thief.”