Best Records of the Year 2017

After our favourite EPs, and without wasting no more time, now it's time to unveil our Best Records of 2017! As in previous years, we have listed the 30 albums that we have listened and enjoyed the most during the last twelve months. As always, choosing between all the bands/artists' new releases that we have enjoyed during this 2017 has been very hard, but after thinking it quite a lot (which is also fun & a good excuse to have a great soundtrack with you) we believe that we have made a very varied and complete list. Awaited comebacks, new discoveries and in short, a lot of exciting music! Give it a try and stay tuned, because while you are listening this, in our opinion, amazing collection of records, we are finishing our the best songs of the year ... Coming soon!

30. Powerplant - Girlpool
29. Holiday Destination - Nadine Shah
28. Tomorrow - The Keep Left Signs
27. Rescued Objects - Arts & Leisure
26. The Weather Station- The Weather Station
25. Into the Shroud - Flesh World
24. Life After Youth - Land of Talk
23. Change of State - Novella
22. Nothing Feels Natural - Priests
21. Records de Kyoto - Últim Cavall
20. In Phrases - Zebra Hunt
19. Fits & Starts - A Certain Smile
18. Others Towns Than Ours - Last Leaves
17. Lost World - Star Tropics
16. Morningside - Fazerdaze
15. Stellular - Rose Elinor Dougall
14. Antisocialites - Alvvays
13. Els Afores - Renaldo & Clara
12. Mental Illness - Aimee Mann
11. A Deeper Understanding - The War On Drugs
10. The Courtneys II - The Courtneys
9. The Deep Set - The Bats
8. Second of Spring - Beaches
7. Slowdive - Slowdive
6. Sleep Well Beast - The National
5. Or - Eyelids
4. Blue field - The Luxembourg Signal
3. Relatives In Descent - Protomartyr
2. Crybaby - Danny de la Matyr
1. The Navigator - Hurray for the Riff Raff






Special mentions note: There are some records that we are discovering & enjoying just right now. Therefore, as they have 'arrived late' to our ears, they haven't made the list, but we are pretty sure that, with a little more time ahead, they would part of the "chosen few". Three come to mind right now: Las Ruinas - 'Latidos Cósmicos', Nuevos Hobbies - 'Palmeras' and The Ocean Party - 'Beauty Point'.

Want to check last year's list? Then check here
Or do you prefer checking 2015?
And 2014? Or 2013? And 2012's? Click here
Or 2011's?

These Go to 11: interviewing Danny De La Matyr

It's been a long, very long time. But here we are, ready to revamp our beloved interview section! And who could be better for starting over than the musician responsible of one of our favourite albums of the year so far (look for him in our end-of-the year lists)? Without further ado, here are the answers to our questionnaire by the great Danny De La Matyr answers. These Go to 11!

Danny De La Matyr, keeping an eye on the sky

Danny De La Matyr

This multi-faceted Texan musician quickly became a name within the emergent scene of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Covering The Beatles and fronting the power-pop combo The Days were the first steps before moving to L.A., where he played with the likes of Rhett Miller, Jesse Malin or Lukas Haas. Next move was assembling his own band, The Sheers, with whom he released the LP 'Goodbye World' in 2006 and, later on, he joined Luther Russell on several albums and tours, as well as being part of 'Those Pretty Wrongs's debut album (Luther’s project with Big Star's legend Jody Stephens). In return, Russell produced the first De La Matyr's solo release, 'Lines b/w “How Can It Be' in 2013. And at the beginning of 2017, he released first full-length 'Crybaby' via the wise and most beloved label Pretty Olivia Records. An endearing, arresting, instant classic for anyone who loves melodies and harmony-driven rock, and a lot of soul and honesty pouring out a flawless collection of four minute gems. Here we go!

Blue, red and, of course, always pop...

1.First record that you bought (be honest)

Wow, a really tough thing to remember. The first thing that comes to mind is 'The Red Album' and 'The Blue Album' by The Beatles that were double records. The ones I bought were colored vinyl. I though that was so cool.

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

The first concert i attended was Leon Redbone. My dad took me when I was 10 or so.

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
'Right Down The Line' by Gerry Rafferty.

Sir Macca, the pop royalty

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
My ’67 Gretsch Tennessean.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

'Something For You' by Sarabeth Tucek.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)

Sir Paul McCartney ('kinda' obvious. I suppose).

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

Always liked the real graphic style covers like 'XTC'’s English Settlement or Todd Rundgren’s 'Something/Anything'

'The Human Stain', Zuckerman in
the age of impeachment

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

Books, 'The Human Stain' by Philip Roth

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
'How Can It Be'.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
It means a lot of hard work. it means getting a lot of help from your friends. And most importantly, it means art first, no compromises.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
I see myself collaborating with more, likeminded, songwriters. I have not done enough of that, and I think it makes one a better songwriter. I also see myself as way more prolific and perhaps producing some artists that I admire.

 Zillion thanks Danny!

Discoverer 153: new indie findings

It wasn't planned, we guarantee you! But this week's trio of music findings in our discoverer series, are all based in Texas (Dallas & Austin) so here comes our unexpected little tribute to the 'Lone Star State'. A place for great music!

Danny de la Matyr. Born & raised in Dallas, Texas, and following the footsteps of his father, a country musician, Danny quickly blossomed into a gifted artist (he majored in painting and drawing) within the emergent scene around Denton. Aside playing in a renowned Beatles cover band, A Hard Night’s Day, he fronted The Days, a celebrated local power-pop combo who published one album 'The Mystery Of The Watched Pot' in 1996 before calling it a day. Then De La Matyr moved to L.A., making himself a name as in-demand guitarist/singer (playing for Rhett Miller, Jesse Malin or Lukas Haas), while he assembled another short-fated band, The Sheers, who recorded LP 'Goodbye World' in 2006. Next step for Danny was backing Luther Russell on several albums and tours, as well as contributing harmonies to the self-titled debut album by Those Pretty Wrongs, Luther’s project with Big Star's legend Jody Stephens. In return, Luther got in charge of production duties of De la Matyr's first solo album, which got an anticipated release with the 7" 'Lines b/w “How Can It Be' in late 2013. Now, since February 2017, and thanks to our beloved Pretty Olivia Records, 'Crybaby' has seen the light of day. I could remark Danny's masterful songcrafting, his arresting voice... but these would be understatements. Let me say it sounds as exciting, haunting and disarming as finding there was another amazing Big Star record "missing", waiting to be discovered. This Blog album of the year so far...

credit

Molly Burch. Born and raised in L.A., California, but now based in Austin, Ms. Burch was surrounded by the arts since a very early age, as both her parents work in the movie industry (as writer/producer and casting director). The old Hollywood musicals were a first but major influence. One that impulsed her finding her own voice as a teenager and packing up to University of North Carolina in Asheville to study Jazz Vocal Performance, where she met guitarist Dailey Toliver, a key contributor to her music. After moving to Austin Burch began to write her own songs, tunes that, with the help of Toliver and Dan Duszynski of Cross Record, have become 'Please Be Mine', debut album out since February via Captured Tracks. A soulful, smoky, vintage affair, one in which Burch's vocals stand out, an Angel Olsen close pal as well as a modern Patsy Cline reincarnation, warm, raw & real. Definitely one to watch, folks.

Blushing. And we remain in Austin for our last discoverer of the week, this promising dream-pop/shoegaze quartet (as a curiosity, formed by two married couples) formed in the summer of 2015, when Michelle Soto found the right music companion for her guitar compositions in Christina Carmona, quickly enlisting their respective husbands's talents on drums and lead guitar to assemble a proper band. Now we can enjoy their self-released debut EP 'Tether', out since January 13th, four tunes that are able to channel the eerie atmospheres of dream-pop, the most serene, ecstatic beauty of shoegaze, and the knack for pop melodies of, let's say, Lush or even The Sundays. A blissful beginning for a must-follow band.