The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 218

It's been somewhat of a struggle finding the time to keep writing (life seems to be getting in their way more frequently) and maintaining a "sustainable" pace of updates at the Blog. We'll try, promise. But that doesn't mean we ain't listening to new, exciting music, ready to be gathered and packed in a flamboyant new TOP TEN JUKEBOX for your ears only. This week we have a pretty even combination of beloved names such as Martha Ffion, Shana Cleveland or She Sir, alongside most promising newcomers (with a double dose of "local product"). Plus a very special closing tune: the cover of Teenage Fanclub's 'Broken' made by fans as a way to say goodbye to founding member Gerard Love late last year. A beautiful, heartfelt tribute to someone who has been an intrinsencal part in the soundtrack of our lives (thanks Gerry). Hope you enjoy. And remember, all the songs are available at our Soundcloud. (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2019 Jukebox playlists

Week 214  Week 215 Week 216  Week 217

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 157

Despite we are counting down days for our deserved and longed holidays (hoping that the strike at El Prat Airport ends and we are able to fly... or, at some point, we are going to start thinking we are jinxed) we are here still proposing you new tunes at our TOP TEN Jukebox! This week we bring you an old gem thanks to The Siddeleys, but also plenty of new discoveries like the jangle-pop proposal of Verandan, the Summer vibes of Walter Etc or the indiepop from the Singaporean band Sobs. A lot to discover and enjoy in this new round of our playlist!  Take care and remember, all songs are available at our Soundcloud. (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2017 Jukebox playlists

Week 126  Week 127  Week 128  Week 129  Week 130  Week 131 Week 132  Week 133
Week 134  Week 135  Week 136  Week 137  Week 138  Week 139 Week 140  Week 141
Week 142  Week 143  Week 144  Week 145  Week 146  Week 147  Week 148 Week 149
Week 150  Week 151  Week 152  Week 153  Week 154  Week 155  Week 156

Discoverer 108: new indie findings

We reach December, so it's time to prepare our best-of-the-year-lists. But before the drama begins, three more proposals at our Discoverer Series for your ears only. Enjoy!

Fire Island Pines. Thanks to the always excellent Blog Don't Eat the Yellow Snow I can introduce you to this sextet from Wadebridge, Cornwall, UK. Formed in late 2010, they made their debut with 'Bratislava' EP a year later, followed by another EP, 'Rickie Lee Jones' on early 2012. After the limited 7" '1915 / Midwest' on our dear Manic Pop! Records in 2013, this year we can finally enjoy their first full album, entitled 'True Grit' and available since July through Firestation Records. Go check it out. You're going to find Jarvis Cocker-alike-vocals, jangly guitar lines, irresistible melodies and... trumpets! A truly great indiepop find!

Childsaint. Back to Perth, Australia to meet this all-female quartet, initially, in early 2013, a project for songwriters Chloe McGrath and Jane Azzopardi but expanded into their full form band in 2014 with drummer Ashlyn Koh and bass player Rhian Todhunter. A couple of tunes surfaced online in February 2013, followed this year by 'Dessert' anticipating single from 'sick' EP their debut release, out since September. Four exciting tunes, buried in haze, fed in dreams, darkness and beauty comprised within intriguing music pills, with a style that can remind you bands like Warpaint or Hella Better Dancer. Haunting pop hypnosis.  

No/No. And we end in Milwaukee, USA, with a band recently born from the ashes of The Delphines, named one of the best local bands of the 2010s and with a very recommendable album 'Hush', out in early 2014. But focusing in this newborn group, with first EP 'Drag' out on Milwaukee Record since late October, and another one, entitled 'XO', to arrive next week, now we have at least 8 great reasons to be excited. No/No makes instantly catchy, contagious music. Pop very high on added vitamins merging 80s new wave, waves of reverb with softly whispered vocals. Dark and sweet. Bubblegum candy, all-dressed in black. The most pleasant surrender.

Discoverer 89: new indie findings

It's been an non-desired hiatus, but here we are, back with a trio of great discoveries, enjoy!

The Understudies. Coming from London, the band formed in 2008, debuting with EP "Wanting vs Getting" in 2010 on Odd Box Records. The double-sided 7" single "Everyone Deserves at Least One Summer of Love" followed in 2011, and finally, since a couple of weeks ago, we can enjoy their debut album "Let Desire Guide Your Hand" released by Firestation Records. Classic heartwarming indiepop, utterly romantic, clearly reminiscent of The Beautiful South (boy-girl vocals passionately dealing with all our mundane miseries) and Morrissey, nicely invigorated & embellished by the arrangements of A Little Orchestra. Soul music, sweet British guitar pop full of soul. 

Withered Hand. Behind the enigmatic nickmane hides Dan Wilson, a Scottish musician based in Edinburgh, who played in several bands until he began a solo musical career at age 30, after one of his close friends died and he became father. That period of his life heavily determined his hugely praised debut "Good News" in 2009 (re-released in 2011 on Absolutely Kosher Records in the States). Now he's back with sophomore album "New Gods", out since February via Fortuna Pop (UK) & Slumberland Records (USA). Featuring stellar appearances from Pam Berry (Black Tambourine), Eugene Kelly (The Vaselines), members of Belle & Sebastian & Frightened Rabbit, the album is a mind-blowing example of a musician with a unique gift to pen perfect indiepop tunes. Unmissable.  
School. This Swedish quartet formed by quite famous musicians from different Gothenburg bands singing in English for the first time, just gathered last year, offering three wonderful singles to date: debut "So Long" in late 2013, followed by "Clouds Aside" and now "Head Over Here", all of which through Luxury. Timeless indiepop pieces, showing a style that fits comfortably in an addictive place between jangle and dream-pop, with the bursting vocals of Alice B completing the arresting, immediately catchy trio of extremely promising tunes. Eagerly awaiting for more! 

Discoverer 82: new indie findings

More discoveries this Sunday, also kind of paying some dues to a couple of bands. Enjoy!

Joanna Gruesome. I know, I know. My bad. I'm super-late at this party. My excuse is that I didn't like "Sugarcrush" at first (still believe its a great song with a too noisy end) but after seeing them making many of the best-of lists I gave a proper listen immediately realising my (huge) mistake. Based in Cardiff, the quintet met in an anger management counseling group (bad behaviour at school) forming late 2010. Their explosive shows around the local scene and a couple of 7" on underground labels Art Is Hard and Happy Happy Birthday To Me, made the buzz grow, until Fortuna Pop! signed them, releasing debut album "Weird Sister" (Slumberland in the US) in September 2013. Menacing twee-pop that mutes into hardcore explosions? Yes sir, extreme contrasts are what define Gruesome's style. Think on Veronica Falls melting with Bikini Kill, shiny pop melodies packed with a killer noise. Knock-out.

The Felt Tips. Another band long-time pending on my MUST-LISTEN list (yes, I do have that list), they began to form in late 2005 when Spaniard Miguel Navarro landed in Glasgow and replied Andrew Paterson’s old ad looking to form a band members. It was a slow start and until 2008 the quartet wasn't completed. Local shows and 3 singles on Cloudberry and Weepop came out between 2007-2009, until they managed to get funded by the Scottish Arts Council (aww Scottland) funded to record their debut album, "Living and Growing", on Plastilina Records in 2010. Gigs around Europe and US followed, with the group back in studio in 2012, unleashing their sophomore LP, "Symbolic Violence", in May 2013 on Firestation Records. Pure, classic jangle-pop so full of hooks, bittersweet lyrics and emotional crushes you won't believe their albums barely last 30 minutes. Indie-pop artisans.

Ancient Times. Based in Brighton, George Smale started as a solo act in July 2012 with three recorded demos, but by November it was already an expanded live band project. First release arrived in February 2013, the split cassette EP with Furrow "From the Land to the Sea", followed by "Nightschool/Hieroglyphic" single on Soft Power Records in October. His stunning little collection of tunes grows next week with single "Healer", via Jigsaw Records. Sure, The Smiths influence (his vocals, my godness!) is evident, but there's much more: dream-pop, shoegazer vibes, swerving structures, enduring riffs... Don't forget this name.