The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 250

The first TOP TEN JUKEBOX of the year comes full of energy and good vibes, something only the best music can provide. Ten wonderful options to enjoy the free time as it deserves alongside "old friends", such as the new proposals of Nada Surf, Close Lobsters, Pia Fraus or The Flatmates. After such an amazing collection of tunes (always in our humble opinion, of course) we can only say: long live to the guitars... and here's hoping for this playlist to be a sign of the music to be discovered in this 2020! Have a very nice Sunday, and remember to join us in our Soundcloud page!

Direct links to 2020 Jukebox playlists

Week 248 Week 249

The Indie Anthology 80: essential songs

Let's keep with the recovered pace, so here comes another one for the Indie Anthology! Today we move to Essex, to pay our modest tribute to a very beloved band of the Blog (that his mighty leader David Callahan took his time to answer our questionnaire is among the "achievements" I'm most proud of). One that is very well "alive and kicking", in what, in my humble opinion, easily ranks among the most exciting comebacks in music history. Jangle-noise (what?) courtesy of the pack from Romford!

Song: Magic Triggers 
Artist: The Wolfhounds 
Year: 1990

It started, of course, with me downloading (Audiogalaxy folks, pure Pleistocene era) the über recurrent C-86 compilation. A bunch of wonders (Close Lobsters, Bodines, Shop Assistants and McCarthy, to just name a few), but also quite an amount of fillers (being polite). And then, others with a big question mark on it. Discovery, promise, or just one hit wonders? 'Feeling So Strange Again' was in that category for me. But not for a long time. Not when you discover a blasting tune like 'Anti-Midas Touch', or a record like 'Unseen Ripples from a Pebble'. It was jangle-pop, sure, but there was also bite and lyrics to dig in. And the following discoveries were asking me to dig deeper, more consciously, in that rage and social commentary, while the noise and experimentation kept the group interesting. Raw indiepop. with thorns in every side. What was not to love? Like McCarthy, The Wolfhounds were a group for me. So, to choose just one tune has been excruciating. The aforementioned 'Midas', the perfect combination of grit and mellowness of 'Me', the stormy, sonicyouthesque 'Blown Away', the incarnation of The Fall's gloom in 'Another Hazy Day On The Lazy "A"', or more recently, the mesmerizing melodic urgency of 'Divide and Fall'. Any of them could have gone here. Why the choice of 'Magic Triggers' then? I guess it has to do with the "take no prisoners" upbeat start, or the pressing, contagious immediacy of the tune, or the desperate vocals delivered by David, or the manic guitar halfway of the piece, or the tension, the constant threat between melody and fury. Sums pretty well all the reasons why I love The Wolfhounds and why I think they are among the most criminally underrated bands. Period. Here I rest my case.

Best Songs of the Year 2016: 50-26

As promised yesterday, here's the third round of our Best Songs the Year, with the tunes comprised between positions 50 to 26. As we are getting closer to the "final countdown" this is becoming harder and harder, but there's so many music wonders to enjoy that the struggle choosing & mounting the Spotify playlist below is a real pleasure. The 25 tunes topping the list will be online tomorrow! Keep an eye on the Blog and, even more important, keep listening!

50. Baby Blue- Soft Wounds
49. Cuban Cigars- WALL
48. Different Shades of Blue- The Buildings
47. Lay Down- DMA'S
46. Crooked Cop- Beverly
45. Sometimes Accidentally- The Goon Sax
44. Efectos Especiales- Sr. Chinarro
43. Squirrel vs. Snake- The Posies
42. Crowd- EGO
41. Extraños- Juvenilia
40. Wallflower- Martha Ffion
39. If You Say That- Young Scum
38. I Don’t Want To Be Funny Anymore- Lucy Dacus
37. All That Heaven Allows- Mercury Girls
36. Infamous- Basia Bulat
35. Folk Arp- Minor Victories
34. Pitiless- Witching Waves
33. The First Sight- Teenage Fanclub
32. Cricket o Croquet- Cómo Vivir en el Campo
31. Bitter Pill- Flowers
30. Ready for the Magic- Honeyblood
29. Never Be Mine- Angel Olsen
28. The roundabout- Ryley Walker
27. Cartas al apóstol- El Lado Oscuro De la Broca
26. Under London Skies- Close Lobsters

United We Can: A Playlist

As you might know, today is General Election Day here in Spain. A day that hopefully means the beginning of a new form of government for my country. One where corruption is not the norm and putting people (as Bernie would say, the 99%) first becomes the fundamental doctrine. One where neoliberalism is not a mantra and public service recovers its true meaning. One ruled by the unity of the people, not the will of the few powerful and rich. I'm not shy of sharing what I'm voting (I have always voted the real left) but, I'm hopeful this time we have a real chance to determine politics in Spain (as is already happening in cities like Madrid and Barcelona). So I have prepared a quick playlist with some politically charged and personally meaningful bands and songs (tried to skip the most usual political artists, like Dylan or Marley, and Sam Cooke/ Creedence have a lot to do with what my father taught me) for this long and important evening. So, if you don't share my political views, at least I hope you enjoy the music!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 103

Struggling times keep coming... fortunately, so does the music. Here's our last TOP TEN Jukebox, with wonders courtesy of some of our 'usual suspects', like our beloved Fear of Men (sophomore album is about to arrive), Beverly , Pale Lights or the mighty Close Lobsters, as well as our regular dose of new finds, pretty stylistically diverse this time. A lot to listen and enjoy. Remember all songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!).

Direct links to 2016 Jukebox playlists

Week 84  Week 85  Week 86   Week 87   Week 88  Week 89 Week 90   Week 91   
Week 92  Week 93  Week 94  Week 95   Week 96   Week 97  Week 98  Week 99   
Week 100  Week 101  Week 102

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 46

Music can be magical, don't you think? If you have a rough day, you can just create a playlist and even forget that you are in this world... The new round of our TOP TEN playlist is a superb proof of that. Starting with Ghost Transmission (we are completely in shock, what a discovery) and following with three "safe bets": Close Lobsters, Joanna Gruesome and Young Romance. A trio of wonders that will transport you to another world, granted! And remember, this is also available at our Soundcloud blog page. So, join us!

Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40 

Week 41  Week 42  Week 43  Week 44   Week 45

These Go to 11: interviewing Minifestival

Our first interview of 2015 is a double, quite long (thanks, much appreciated) and special one. We have the bosses of the oldest and (inaguarbly) one of the best Festivals held in Barcelona. Of course, we are referring to the Minifestival de Música Independent de Barcelona,  which this February celebrates it's 20th edition. We are extremely proud to have Carles Lafuente and Xavier Guillaumes answering our questionnaire. These Go to 11! 

Carles & Xavir, doyens of indie in Barcelona

Carles Lafuente & Xavier Guillaumes, Minifestival de Música Independent de Barcelona
The Primitives, Amor de Días, Standard Fare, Nick Garrie, Luke Haines, Mark Gardener from Ride, Antonio Arias, Damien Jurado, Dot Allison, Chris Brokaw, Damon and Naomi, Clem Snide, Darren Hayman, The Trash Can Sinatras, The Clientele, Tender Trap, Sing Sing. We're just naming a few. What do they have in common, aside from being great artists/bands? They have formed part of the Minifestival de Música Indepdendent de Barcelona, a music institution not just in Barcelona but in the whole country organizing, for 20 years now, an indiepop festival with an incredible good taste and an incorruptible independent ethic. The gigantic task of promoters and music activists Carles and Xavier has to be vindicated and celebrated, that's why having them answering the questionnaire is so special for us. Oh! And needless to say, we'll be there this February, eager to see bands like The Close Lobsters, The School or Linda Guilala, among others and congratulate them for one of the most impressive labours of love with regards to music done in our country. Here we go!

Technicolour pop

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Carles Lafuente: The LP of Rocky Sharpe & The Replays with the song 'Rama Lam Ding Dong', followed by Tino Casal.
Xavier Guillaumes: At 8th grade I bought 'ET' OS by John Williams with the money given to me for my birthday... but if we are talking about pop music, it was the 'Urbi et Orbi' by Duble Buble, on cassette.

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)

Carles: My first concert? I guess that it was one by the high school band which I declared myself manager and line-up designer (high school parties...great times!): Teo & The Pipos. The last has been Morrissey's concert in Barcelona. A dream come true.
Xavier: First, Duble Buble, at Torre de Les Aigües' inauguration party, around 1987. Last, the jam session that ended the reopening party of LA CAPSA at el Prat. Regrettably, I don't attend many gigs... Last one I sadly missed was Fear Of Men at Primavera Club.

Ms. Imbruglia, the girl with the "Torn" on her side

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Carles: The truth is that I'm not ashamed about my musical tastes, they are quite diverse. I grew up listening music that my father or my aunt listened, and I recognize the value of songwriters like Serrat, Lluís Llach or Raimon, and also I enjoy like a child with (Nino) Bravo or Camilo Sexto. We have to keep in mind that I'm almost 50 years old.
Xavier: Natalie Imbruglia.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Carles: I'm incapable of choosing one specific thing. My house is full of magazines, books, CDs, LPS, videos, DVDs....and fanzines, lots of fanzines. And many of them with a sentimental meaning...
Xavier: The single 'Beattles and Stones' by The House of Love with a precious poster inside.

Joan Miquel Oliver, Balearic Islands' surrealism

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Carles: My favourite lyrics are the ones by The Smiths... Back then, and after a tough task of translation with the Collins dictionary, they seemed written for me.
Xavier:  Most of the songs of Joan Oliver with Antonia Font. Also Nacho Umbert lyrics. I remember his record 'Adiós' with Paperhouse reingratiated with lyrics written in Spanish on a period of time on which I much preferred songs written in English although many of them I didn't understand. Talking about the present edition of the Minifestival, I like the effective simplicity of 'Lo Siento Mucho' by Linda Guilala.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Carles: There are plenty of artists that I would like to meet. Obviously, Morrissey. Also I have to say that thanks to the Minifestival I was able to meet another one of my idols: German Coppini.
Xavier: LUSH, although the drummer is dead.

Hatful of Hollow

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Carles: I know that I can be a little bit repetitive but I have to say the 'Manchester quartet' again. 'Hatful of Hollow', with that picture of the group inside. I got the black glasses, the stripped shirt and... I even copied the hairstyle too.
Xavier: 'Lovelife' of  LUSH, especialy the singles of ''500 (Shake, baby shake)... in fact almost all albums published by 4AD during the 90s.

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 

Carles: As it happens with music, my movie tastes are very heterogeneous. From auteur cinema to the most truculent Z series. And although I know that I shouldn't say it, this Emule thing makes everything reachable. Unfortunately, there is not enough time to see as many films and now there are also several interesting tv shows to see. My favourite literary authors are Paul Auster, Boris Vian, Oscar Wilde (wow, what a coincidence!). I have to admit that I don't read many books lately (when I was young I devoured all that passed through my hands). The main problem is time and magazines (of music and cinema). Also, the evil invention of Internet and tablets have also stolen time to the cinema and the literature.
Xavier: A classic, 'The Apartment' by Billy Wilder, and a indie film of 90s, 'Simple Men' by Hal Hartley.

Miracles for Sale fanzine

9. Band you have brought to the Minifestival that you are most proud of

Carles: All the bands that act at the Minifestival provide us a great joy. We always count with a band of 'our time', from when we actively began to be involved with music. This year, we could highlight Close Lobsters, a mythical indie band that have been insisting several years until finally they have gotten away with it and they will play at the 20th edition of the Minifestival. That the bands are willing to play considering how little we can offer them in return make us so proud.
Xavier: Buffff...Luke Haines or The Trash Can Sinatras or...

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Carles: To me indie is a type of music that in my case has become a way of life. Because it was as consequence of listening this music, 'rare, unknown for the majority', that I met my partner Xavi collaborating in his fanzine Miracles For Sale. Then we launched Marca Acme and finally we embarked in the adventure of Minifestival.
Xavier: The chance of being wrong but no businessman or investor tells you that you are wrong an how you should do things.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Carles: In ten years, maybe we will continue as now... Trying to attract some brand to our project, so they give us carte blanche to sign (as Florentino*, referring to F. Pérez, president of Real Madrid Football Club), whoever we might want, but without any success... Being more realistic, we'll be working all the year to be able to add another edition to our track record...While we have health and the public respond we will stand up. Oh, and maybe in ten years we can bring some of those bands that now fill magazine pages...and that one day were an important part of the soundtrack of a few lives.
Xavier: Trying to organize the 30th Minifestival... and hoping to help that my daughter or someone else can begin projects like ours. And I would like to write again a fanzine when I retire!

Zillion thanks Carles & Xavier, thanks Minifestival!

The Indie Anthology 54: essential songs

Revamped section, here's another one for our Indie Anthology, this time thanks to the great Minifestival de Música Independent de Barcelona. One of the bands playing at 2015's edition is an incredible, unexpected and extremely exciting comeback. First, with 'Kunstwerk in Spacetime', a great EP on our dear Shelflife Records... and now playing in my city? The tribute was mandatory.

Song: ln Spite of These Times
Artist: Close Lobsters
Year: 1987

I can't exactly remember when I first heard of the Lobsters. I'm pretty sure it was quite long ago, at a time when I was doing 'some research' on The Paisley Underground bands after getting knocked out by The Dream Syndicate's 'Days of Wine and Roses', and then the Internet source brought me to the Close Lobsters. Wow, 'Foxheads Stalk This Land' blew my mind! It was jangle-pop, sure, full of the trademark ringing & shining guitars, but there was a different, more straightforward, post-punk-rockier vibe too. A genuine strength combined with an unparalleled talent to build indie-pop flammable anthems. Like the glorious 'In Spite of These Times'. An intro made in heaven, the rickenbackers chiming, keyboards subtly creating the atmosphere, and Andrew Burnett vocals right up in front of you, forcing you to move, dance and sing-along until the tune explodes. Oh my! The unstoppable force of nature that is the majestic chorus where the carpe diem coda "don't let it slip through your hands" is delivered like a thunderstorm, before it all ends modestly, saying bye with a little, shy bang after all the epic. Oh, God, if I'm getting emotional just by writing this imagine when I see them live in February...

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 12

After Primavera Sound Festival here's our twelfth round of our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes I have been enjoying the most lately. Almost three months of Bloodbuzzed Jukebox and we keep bringing you new songs each week. This time, you can enjoy with brilliant St.Vincent, two excellent collaborations like Greenland Sea and Coquelicot or Spanish Indie like Beach Beach. And of course, this is also available at the blog's soundcloud (come on and Join Us!).

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6 
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9 
Week 10
Week 11

Welcome to the Jukebox!