The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 74

A transition weekend ahead of us, from warm Autumn to the first days of cold (in Barcelona's definition of cold), from relative quietness to action on what regards to work and with a tone of music coming our way next weekend with Primavera Club 2015. It deserves a mostly (requesting permission to Ex Hex) gentle TOP TEN Jukebox, with the likes of Martin Courtney, Camera Shy, The Airplanes or newcomers Florist, Sunturns and Hearts & Tigers to ease taking a breath, gather strength and focus on what's about to come. All this songs are also available at our Soundcloud, so please 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
Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  
Week 51   Week 52  Week 53  Week 54    Week 55  
Week 56   Week 57   Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 
Week 61   Week 62   Week 63  Week 64  Week 65 
Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70 
Week 71   Week 72   Week 73 

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 39

For this last weekend of January, we have prepared a very powerful and diverse TOP TEN playlist, starting from the amazing new Torres' song (so intense and full of emotion) to the guttural guitar riffs of Only You, and following with the sunshine-surf style of  The Orielles or the 'poppie' touch of Diet Cig. Also, we haven't forgotten our local bands, this time with The Zephyr Bones, the new sign from our beloved friends at La Castanya. As you see, plenty to choose, so listen & enjoy! And remember, this is also available on our Blog's soundcloud page.

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1   Week 8     Week 15     Week 22   Week 29   Week 36
Week 2    Week 9     Week 16    Week 23  Week 30   Week 37
Week 3    Week 10   Week 17    Week 24  Week 31 
Week 4    Week 11   Week 18    Week 25   Week 32
Week 5    Week 12  Week 19    Week 26   Week 33
Week 6    Week 13  Week 20    Week 27   Week 34
Week 7     Week 14    Week 21    Week 28   Week 35

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 36

Back to our regular posts after Christmas, and we do it so with the first round of our TOP TEN playlist series! Exciting comebacks, leaded by my dear Rose Elinor Dougall, and many new discoveries, several hailing from down under. As always, the playlist is also available at our Blog's soundcloud page.

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1   Week 8     Week 15     Week 22   Week 29
Week 2    Week 9     Week 16    Week 23  Week 30 
Week 3    Week 10   Week 17    Week 24  Week 31 
Week 4    Week 11   Week 18    Week 25   Week 32
Week 5    Week 12  Week 19    Week 26   Week 33
Week 6    Week 13  Week 20    Week 27   Week 34
Week 7     Week 14    Week 21    Week 28   Week 35

Best Records of the Decade So Far

As promised, and following the Best Spanish Records, here are our Best Records of the Decade So Far, with our 60th favourite albums released within the first five years of the decade (2010-2014). As you can imagine, it has been a tough one to make, leaving out many records we love is SO painful. Anyway, just enjoy it & stay tuned. We are working on a spectacular list with our Best Songs of the Decade So Far (we love playlists too!)

60, Say Yes!- The Hi-Life Companion
59. You Love It Here- I Was a King
58. Sugaring Season- Beth Orton
57. Tall Tall Shadow- Basia Bulat
56. Build a Rocket Boys!- Elbow
55. Siesta- The Zebras

54. Sky at Night- I Am Kloot
53. The Luxembourg Signal- The Luxembourg Signal

52. Colour of the Trap- Miles Kane
51. Cold- Be Forest
50. Release Me- The Like
49. The Fool - Warpaint
48. The Soft City- The Soft City
47. Bang Goes the Knighthood - The Divine Comedy
46. Torres- Torres
45. Desire Lines- Camera Obscura
44. Cape Dory- Tennis
43. The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years- The Wild Swans
42. Are We There Yet?- Sharon Van Etten
41. Sealed with a Kiss- Alpaca Sports
40. Evans the Death- Evans the Death
39. Atlas- Real Estate
38. Only in Dreams- Dum Dum Girls
37. The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas - Courtney Barnett
36. Canines- Shrag
35. Veronica Falls- Veronica Falls
34. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light- Spiritualized
33. Alps - Motorama
32. Moth- ExLovers
31. Over the Bluffs- The Holiday Crowd
30. Loveless Unbeliever- The School
29. Collapse Into Now- R.E.M.
28. Ride Your Heart- Bleached
27. Kill My Blues- The Corin Tucker Band
26. Oshin- DIIV
25. Without Why - Rose Elinor Dougall
24. Heart of My Own- Basia Bulat
23. A Year with the Very Most - The Very Most
22. Trouble Will Find Me- The National
21. What we lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood - The Mynabirds
20. Choose Your Own Adventure- Arts & Leisure
19. Europe- Allo Darlin'
18. The Suburbs - Arcade Fire
17. Always- Alvvays
16. Hospitality- Hospitality
15. Between the Times and the Tides- Lee Ranaldo
14. Heaven- The Walkmen
13. The King is Dead- The Decemberists
12. Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys
11. Personal Record- Eleanor Friedberger
10. Silence Yourself- Savages
9. Loom- Fear of Men
8. Honeyblood- Honeyblood
7. Wild Flag- Wild Flag
6. Teen Dream - Beach House
5. Rips- Ex Hex
4. Days- Real Estate
3. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey
2. Tramp- Sharon Van Etten
1. High Violet - The National

Primavera Sound 2013 in brief, day 2

Already exhausted, but here comes the quick update of the second day, first of the "big ones" of Primavera Sound Festival 2013. Our particular music trip!

The Good

Jehnny Beth, Savages
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Savages: Our bet of the day (probably of the Festival too) and they didn't disappoint. Unfortunately lead guitarist Gemma Thompson had a serious issue with her guitar halfway to their gig, so after solving it, their set got shortened. But what a striking band Savages are. Singer Jehnny Beth is a fierce, sharp, mind blowing stage presence. Songs are like razorblades. They look for you, hunt you, get you and don't let you go. A real shock to your system. Brutal.
Deerhunter-Grizzly Bear: I know they are big "alternative" bands with a consolidated, prestigious position on the alternative scene. But until yesterday, I honestly never gave much attention to them. My mistake. Won't happen again. Very good shows, stunning songs.
Sound quality: As we hoped for on Wednesday, the sound quality (the exception being Adidas Original) was very high in all the stages we went yesterday. Great improvement.

The Bad

Dinosaur Jr., PS13. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Evans the Death: If Savages was our first must of the day, Evans the Death was our second. A personal favourite, and the chance to see them on one of the smallest venues was extremely appealing. But they gave a terrible show. Terrible. Awful sound, a complete lack of interest on playing, and a singer who was clearly drunk, destroying completely their beautiful tunes. The performance of "Telling Lies" still hurts me. What a disappointment.
Cigarettes & alcohol: And mobile phones. And pogos. And posers & fakers. I'll never understand what's the point of paying for a music Festival when all you want is getting drunk, show your clothes and keep chatting with your mobile or your partner. Can't you do that every *****ing weekend of the year?

The Queen

Phoenix' Thomas Mars on screen
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Seven bands on a day: Our schedule was quite a challenge (and I'm sure many people saw even more bands than us): Wild Nothing- Savages- Evans the Death- Dinosaur Jr.- Deerhunter- Grizzly Bear- Phoenix. It was tiring (distances are killing) but absolutely rewarding. With the aforementioned exception, I enjoyed six very different, good/very good shows (I would like to highlight Wild Nothing and Mr. Mascis in particular) on the same day. How many festivals can offer the same? That's what makes Primavera, despite all "issues" (that become quite secondary), so unbeatable at the end.

Third day beginning in few hours. Many more bands to talk about. Briefing available here!

Primavera Sound 2013: my draft schedule

3rd attempt. Not even two weeks before Primavera Sound 2013 begins, and now we have (virtually) all the information needed to try to design our schedule for the Festival. Here it is!

Wednesday, May 22nd, Parc del Fòrum/Apolo
18:00 Aliment (Ray-Ban stage)
19:00 The Bots (Ray-Ban)
20:00 Guards (Ray-Ban)
21.00 The Vaccines (Ray-Ban)
22.10 Evans the Death (Salón Smint Myspace)
00.00 Cheatahs (La [2] de Apolo)
01.00 Veronica Falls (La [2] de Apolo)

Thursday, May 23rd, Parc del Fòrum
18:25 Wild Nothing (Heineken stage)
19:30 Savages (Pitchfork)
20:30 Tame Impala (Heineken)
21:45 Dinosaur Jr. (Primavera)
22:55 The Postal Service (Heineken)
00:15 Grizzly Bear (Primavera)
01:40 Phoenix (Heineken)
Possible changes of Evans the Death at 20.45 at Adidas Originals stage instead of Tame Impala and Menomena at 00.30 at Vice stage instead Grizzly Bear.

Friday, May 24th, Parc del Fòrum
16:00 Ethan Johns (Auditori Rockdelux)
18:10 Kurt Vile & The Violators (Heineken)
19:30 Daniel Johnston (Auditori)
21:30 The Breeders performing Last Splash (Primavera)
22:45 Local Natives (Pitchfork)
23:50 Daughter (Vice)
01:30 Blur (Heineken)
03.15 Titus Andronicus (Primavera)
The organizations has made some changes on the schedule... that didn't help one bit. The Auditori will be so full with Daniel Johnston that maybe watching Peace at the same time at the Primavera stage might be a good option. Plus several empty hours with no clear option to attend...

Saturday, May 25th, Parc del Fòrum
18:35 Adam Green & Binki Shapiro (Heineken stage)
19:45 Rodríguez (Primavera stage)
20:55 Band of Horses (Heineken)
23.30 Camera Obscura (Ray-Ban)
01:05 Los Planetas (Primavera)
No changes on this day, very unfortunate with the schedule. Missing Bored Spies, The Babies, Sr. Chinarro, Grushenka... and to make it worse, there are several moments when nothing really interests me, in particular in between Band of Horses and Camera Obscura. We'll see...

Sunday, May 26th, Apolo/Sala BARTS
19:30 The Orchids (Sala BARTS)
20:30 Julie Doiron (BARTS)
21:30 Sr.Chinarro (BARTS)
22.30 Come (BARTS)
Easy and, on paper, comfortable last day. Still missing for the Primavera als Parcs schedule, where there are a couple of bands I would like to see. Even despite some disappointments and several decissions to be made, it's a busy & exciting schedule, don't you think?

Primavera Sound 2013: Timetables, 1st attempt

Here it is, the timetables for the Primavera Sound 2013 are arriving... slowly, one per day. Something a bit questionable, if you ask me, that way of showing them, but well, that's the organization choice after all. Still pending on several things, but for the first attempt, this is what my PS 2013 looks like:

Wednesday, May 22nd, Parc del Fòrum
18:00 Aliment (Ray-Ban stage)
19:00 The Bots (Ray-Ban)
20:00 Guards (Ray-Ban)
21.00 The Vaccines (Ray-Ban)
Pending on the Salón Myspace Mint timetables on Wednesday, because Evans the Death will be a must. And also wishing to know what time will the shows at Apolo begin, hoping to arrive to see Veronica Falls.

Thursday, May 23rd, Parc del Fòrum
18:30 Wild Nothing (Heineken stage)
19:30 Savages (Pitchfork)
20:40 Tame Impala (Heineken)
21:50 Dinosaur Jr. (Primavera)
23:00 The Postal Service (Heineken)
00:10 Grizzly Bear (Primavera)
01:40 Phoenix (Heineken)
On paper, a terrible terrible day, not because of the bands, of course, but for the bad luck regarding mobility between stages. Going back and forth to Heineken-Primavera stages is a nightmare, the worst option. So I'm more than convinced that some bands will be sacrificed just to reduce the numbers of "processions/pilgrimages"...

Friday, May 24th, Parc del Fòrum
16:00 Ethan Johns (Auditori)
17:40 Pony Bravo (Primavera)
19:10 Peace (Primavera)
21:00 Daniel Johnston (Auditori)
22:45 Local Natives (Pitchfork)
23:50 Daughter (Vice)
01:30 Blur (Heineken)
A thousand doubts. Unclear in the early afternoon, undecided by 20:00, things get better at night. Clash between Johnston and The Breeders. Local Natives or Jesus and Mary Chain? And Titus Andronicus after Blur?

What will be the schedule for Saturday and Sunday? More tomorrow or when the organization decides, who knows!

Best Songs of the Year 2012: 50-26

Hope you are enjoying the Bloodbuzzed Songs of the Year 2012 so far. After the previous two chapters now it's time for the tunes ranked between positions 50 to 26, with the mandatory grooveshark playlist to listen them included. The final part, with the top 25 songs of 2012 will be online tomorrow. Have your say! 

50. Slow Trains- Anaesthetics
49. Our Old Centre Back- Cats On Fire
48. Alférez Provisional- Los Punsetes
47. Teenage Icon- The Vaccines
46. No Sleep- Fountains
45. Sing Up for the Boys in Green- The Very Most
44. Revelation Blues- The Tallest Man On Earth
43. Tightrope-Fanfarlo
42. I Was Running- Alpaca Sports
41. Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings- Father John Misty
40. Eighth Avenue- Hospitality
39. The Letter - Allo Darlin'
38. Only You- Big Wave
37. I’ve Always Known- Rose Elinor Dougall
36. Even the Blind- Echo Lake
35. Genevieve- Stealing Sheep
34. Train from King's Cross Station- Tender Trap
33. Tendons in the Night- Shrag
32. All Your Gold- Bat for Lashes
31. Afraid of Summer- Lost Lander
30. Never Speak of it Again- The Holiday Crowd
29. Catch Your Cold- Evans the Death
28. Dawn Chorus- Beth Orton
27. Simple Song- The Shins
26. Serpents- Sharon Van Etten

Best Records of the Year 2012

As promised yesterday, after the EPs' list, here's the review of the year in what regards to the best records of 2012. In my humble opinion of course. Compared with 2011 I have reduced the number of albums because I wanted to be completely honest. Just records that I have listened and enjoyed fully.

The digital age is a blessing for music lovers, as the amount of music you can discover is virtually  unlimited. But it has a negative side: there's a compulsion, a dramatic acceleration on the way we listen to it. How many spins you give a record before moving to another artist? How many records you have stored in your computer of which you could only name 2-3 songs?

Don't know if the LP idea as we know is fated to disappear, but personally it makes me sad. Anyway, this sort of thoughts should go on a different post. But it serves my purpose to tell you why the records from Lightships, BMX Bandits, This Many Boyfriends, Corin Tucker or Motorama didn't make the list. They sound terrific on a first listen, or from what I have heard by now, and that's exactly why they deserve to be listened properly and not to be included on a list just for the sake of mentioning more albums. Having said that, here's the list!

25. Arts & Leisure- Baby Grand
24. Leaving All Behind- Partido
23. Falling- Seapony
22. Nocturne- Wild Nothing
21. Reading Too Much Into Things Like Everything- The School 
20. Sun- Cat Power
19. Rooms Filled With Light- Fanfarlo
18. Mr. E- Lambchop
17. Wild Peace- Echo Lake
16. Hits In The Car- Strawberry Whiplash
15. All Blackshirts To Me- Cats On Fire
14. Una Montaña Es Una Montaña- Los Punsetes
13. Over the Bluffs- The Holiday Crowd
12. Moth- ExLovers
11. Toy- Toy
10. Bloom- Beach House
9. Canines- Shrag
8. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light- Spiritualized
7. Sugaring Season- Beth Orton
6. Evans the Death- Evans the Death
5. Heaven- The Walkmen
4. Between the Times and the Tides- Lee Ranaldo
3. Europe- Allo Darlin'
2. Hospitality- Hospitality
1. Tramp- Sharon Van Etten

Want to check last year's albums list? Just click here