Best Songs of the Year 2013: 50-26

Chapter III of our favourite 100 tunes of the year. The next 25 songs, now comprised between positions 50 to 26. Again, you have the complete (21 tunes) playlist at our newly created Soundcloud page, and if the song isn't available there, you'll have an alternative direct link. As we explained on the previous list, only three songs per band, so we've been able to include more groups (bands "affected" by this limitation are The National, Savages and Go Violets). Fourth and last part coming very soon, with the best 25 songs of 2013. Stay tuned!

50. Send Them Away- Beaches
49. Ken- Ex Cops
48. Pretty Colors- Chalk and Numbers
47. When It Happens- Wax Idols

46. Rue Savage- Dub Noir
45. Are You With Me Now?- Cate Le Bon
44. Next Stop- Bleached
43. New Life- Jim James
42. San Francisco- Foxygen
41. Waiting for Something to Happen- Veronica Falls
40. Sleeptalking- Hella Better Dancer
39. Youth- Daughter
38. Miracle Mile- Cold War Kids
37. Jean’s Waving- Amor de Días
36. Wolf Pack- Arts & Leisure
35. Little Games- The Adelines
34. New Year’s Resolution- Camera Obscura
33. After You- Pulp

32. Amarillo- Wiggum
31. Timothy- Tennis (link to video)
30. Morning Sun- Big Summer
29. It Can’t Be You- Basia Bulat
28. I Am the Past- Eleanor Friedberger (link to video)
27. She Will- Savages (link to video)
26. Graceless- The National

Click here to check the SoundCloud playlist!

Best EPs of the Year 2013

After the books and concerts, is time to review 2013 in what regards to music releases. And we begin with the EPs  (no singles, 3 to 6 songs), a format that is giving me so many joyful moments it deserves a list of their own. Needless to say, this is very personal (comments on each band clicking on their links). Hope you enjoy it!

15. Eurostar, the Musical- The French Pop Dream
14. Songs My Mother Never Sang to Me- Seven Tin Stars
13. The Memory of a Smile- Skittle Alley
12. Days I’ve Spent with You- Souvenir Stand
11. I Choo-choo-choose You- The Choo Choo Trains

10. Helen of Troy- Pale Spectres

9. Bananafish- Franny & Zoey

8. Just a Pup- The Very Most

7. Somos Puzzles y Dragones- Puzzles y Dragones

6. My Middle Names- Northern Spies

5. Parade- Chalk and Numbers

4. Bone & Arrow- Big Summer

3. Future Vanishes- Rose Elinor Dougall

2. Small Sound- Tennis

1. Heart Slice- Go Violets

Want to check the best EPs of 2012? Click here

The "Records List" coming shortly!

Discoverer 70: new indie findings

The "jet-lag week" ends with a new round of indie proposals for your listening pleasure!

The Proper Ornaments. Indispensable name here. Veronica Falls guitarist James Hoare and Argentinian Max Clapps met in 2005 in... not your average story: Claps’ kleptomaniac girlfriend asked him to distract Hoare, then a shoe shop assistant from a vintage shop in Notting Hill that was reading a book on The Velvet Underground. That's how their friendship began... Five years of writing occasional songs while their lives had several up and downs until in 2010 they begin playing shows and released debut 7" "Recalling/Are You Going Blind?" on Make A Mess Records, followed in 2011 by an eponymous EP on No Pain In Pop. Finally, after the advanced same titled single, debut album "Waiting For The Summer" has arrived. Sun-soaked indiepop, hazy and narcotic, the impossible collision of C86 and the 60s West Coast. A MUST.

Chalk and Numbers. Another duo, Sable Young and Andrew Pierce, this time from New York, that met online in 2011when the latter randomly checked Sable's demos on her page and asked her about the possibility of recording together. In a matter of months they debuted with the six songs EP "He Knew" in 2012, followed by the Christmas single "Happiness this Time of the Year". Another EP, "Parade", out since March, completes the reduced but delicious career of the combo to date, a joyous vindication of retro pop, 60s girl groups and pop classics. Think on She and Him, or Cults embedded on Dusty Springfield. Very hard to resist.

The Swapsies. This quartet hails from Liverpool and started around in 2011. "The Swapsies EP" was their debut that same year, and now the great February Records has just released the CD single (please buy the lovely soccer physical copy!) "Another Game on Saturday/A Fleeting Summer". Modestly understating themselves as a "shy band trying their best to make friendly music", this is not just friendly. This is a little dose of the best euphoric pop since The Housemartins! Or when Belle and Sebastian could make your cheer up on your worst day! Plus, their addictive songs have ridiculously catchy vocal harmonies, football and handclapping! You have a new hooligan Swapsies.