STAR

STAR is a prominent project within the American shoegaze and 'blissrock' underground, primarily led by Scott Cortez, a foundational figure in the genre known for his work with loveliescrushing and astrobrite. Formed in Chicago in 2005, the band includes vocalist Shannon Roberts and percussionist Theodore Beck.

Their sound is a meticulous study in guitar-driven textures, utilizing extreme reverb, delay, and distortion to create a 'wall of sound' that obscures traditional pop structures while maintaining a core of melodic sweetness. Their debut album, Devastator (2007), is considered a cult classic of the 2000s shoegaze revival, bridging the gap between the ethereal abstraction of 90s ambient-shoegaze and the more structured noise pop of contemporaries like Ringo Deathstarr. Critical consensus highlights Cortez's ability to manipulate feedback into something orchestral and emotive. While the project has seen sporadic activity over the years, including later releases like Flesh Eating Mothers, their influence remains significant among crate-diggers and fans of high-volume, textural rock music.