Best Records of the Year 2020: 1-20

As promised yesterday, it's time to close the list of Best Records of 2020 with our Top 20. In a year of (worldwide) struggles, shortcomings, and forced introspection, music has had a balsamic effect. While listening the albums again in order to draft the list, we have seen sort of a trend (aside from a couple of exceptions and the Blog's trademark love for the Antipodean sounds) in the selection: an eerie, pensive, yet very warm vibe. Makes total sense. These are comforting, enduring songs against the uncertainty. Hope these are shared (or about to be) feelings with you all. So, enjoy the music and Happy 2021!  

20.  Vida Exterior- Kiwis 
19.  There Is No Other- Isobel Campbell
18.  Are You In Love?- Basia Bulat
17. The Universal Want- Doves
16. Drowning in Blessings- Sinead O’Brien 
15. Under the Spell of Joy- Death Valley Girls
14. A Strange Dream- Smokescreens
13. Marjorie- Núria Graham
12. The Very Most Needs Help- The Very Most
11. The Passing Scene- Leah Senior

10. You Might Be Happy Someday- The Reds, Pinks & Purples
9.  Saint Cloud- Waxahatchee
8.  From a View- Floodlights

7.  Mystic Hotline- Latitude

6.  Feral- RVG

5.  Introduction, Presence- Nation of Language

4.  Serpentine Prison- Matt Berninger

3. Foothills- The Bats

2. Shore- Fleet Foxes

1. See You Tomorrow- The Innocence Mission

Want to check the best recors of 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 and 2011?

Discoverer 98: new indie findings

First Sunday of August and many bands to introduce you to! Three special proposals you shouldn't miss!

Luluc. Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett's story is a slow-burnt one. Hailing from Melbourne but Brooklyn-based, they first met in Scotland. The music chemistry was undeniable but not the timing. Life got in their way. Back to Australia, got jobs & studies to follow and separately played in other bands. But the death of Randell's father impelled her to focus on music and, eventually, she reunited with Hassett, recording 'Dear Hamlyn' in 2008. Opening slots for Lucinda Williams, Fleet Foxes, and José Gonzàlez followed, as well as praise from Nick Drake's legendary producer Joe Boyd and No Depression co-founder Peter Blackstock. The latest put Luluc in contact with Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Poneman, who signed them. After a 2010 failed attempt to make second record in Australia, they met The National's Aaron Dessner, who became not just the LP producer in his Brooklyn studio, but a de facto third, unofficial band member. The result of their collaboration is 'Passerby', out since July. A gorgeous, delicate, subtly arranged affair. Dreamy and melancholic indie-folk. Haunting.

Space Daze. This is the new, flamboyant and ethereal indiepop solo project of Danny Rowland, the lead guitarist & songwriter of our beloved Seattle band Seapony. Few months ago, in March 2014, he challenged himself to a songwriting experiment: to write & record a new song every day for an entire month. The process only lasted twelve days, enough to came out with a complete album, entitled 'Follow My Light Back Home' and released in June on always reliable label Beautiful Strange Records as a limited cassette edition. Quite immediate but genuinely warm, full of twangy guitars & spacious instrumentals, its jangle-pop meeting surf-rock. 'You're in love with the sun', sings our dear Jeremy Jensen's in one of his perfect tunes. That's the exact feeling Space Daze music evokes into the listener. A delicious, sunny pop collection of songs.

Teen Canteen. Indietracks' live discovery, where they opened the Festival and won me over. Split between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Carla Easton, Sita Pieracinni, Amanda Williams and Deborah Smith formed in 2012 and released their debut single 'Honey', mixed by Bill Ryder-Jones, via Edinburgh Arts Collective Neu! Reekie! at the end of 2013. The buzz began, fostered with their engaging shows at festivals and supporting established names like The Pastels, Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield and Stealing Sheep. Now, after the June release of their irresistible second 7" single 'You're Still Mine / Vagabond' it's about time you'll add Teen Canteen to your "bands to fall in love with" list. Glimmering, bright indiepop tunes, high on sugar but not short of sharpness, and with huge breathtaking harmonies to stop the Planet's rotation for a while.   

Best Records of the Year 2011

Songs, movies, books, gigs, and finally, the Best Records (EPs included) of the Year. Obviously, a very personal list.

30. Native Speaker- Braids
29. Los Últimos Bañistas- Los Últimos Bañistas
28. Share the Joy- Vivian Girls
27. Strange Mercy- St. Vincent
26. Nihil Obstat- Disco Las Palmeras!
25. Passenger- Lisa Hannigan
24. Hearts- I Break Horses
23. Odio París- Odio París
22. What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?- The Vaccines
21. Cold- Be Forest
20. Clang of the Concrete Swans- Comet Gain
19. Dig On- She Keeps Bees
18. Escapar con el Anticiclón- Manos de Topo
17. Evening Tapestry- Brown Recluse
16. Alela Diane & Wild Divine- Alela Diane & Wild Divine
15. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
14. Build A Rocket Boys!- Elbow
13. Raven in the Grave- The Raveonettes
12. Creatures of an Hour- Still Corners
11.Cape Dory- Tennis
10. Submarine- Alex Turner
9. The Rip Tide- Beirut
8. Cults- Cults
7. Fuerteventura- Russian Red
6. Belong- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
5. The King is Dead- The Decemberists
4. Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys
3. Collapse Into Now- R.E.M.
2. Veronica Falls- Veronica Falls
1. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey

Best Songs of the Year 2011: 25-1

And finally, we reach the end of this countdown among the best songs of the year with the 25 best tunes of 2011, always in my modest opinion, of course. Hope you have enjoyed the music ride!

25. Lose It- Austra

24. Alien Girl- The Very Most

23. Go Outside- Cults 

22. Cruel- St.Vincent

21. Impressions from a City Morning- Brown Recluse 

20. Heaven's Gonna Happen Now- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart 

19. The Bad in Each Other- Feist 

18. Bedouin Dress- Fleet Foxes

17. Jesus Came to My Birthday Party- The Middle East 

16. That’s Where You’re Wrong- Arctic Monkeys
15. Fast Fast- Let’s Buy Happiness
14. I Hate You But I Love You- Russian Red

13. Hiding Tonight- Alex Turner
12. Überlin- R.E.M.
11. Margot- Nat Johnson and The Figureheads
10. Knots- Lisa Hannigan
9. Port of a Call- Beirut

8. Exile Vilify- The National
7. Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys
6. Come On Over- Veronica Falls
5. Calamity Song- The Decemberists
4. The Words that Maketh Murder- PJ Harvey
3. Lippy Kids- Elbow
2. Reckless Serenade- Arctic Monkeys 

1. It Happened Today- R.E.M.

Check the rest of the 100 songs here:
First part: 100-76
Second part: 75-51
Third part: 50-26 

Best Songs of the Year 2011: 50-26

Hope you enjoyed the previous two chapters of the first Bloodbuzzed Songs of the Year. As promised on Monday, now we arrive to 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 the 2011 will arrive on Sunday. Hope you like it! 

50. Elijah- Alela Diane
49. Black Night- The Dodos
48. The Dreamer- The Tallest Man on Earth
47. Clang of the Concrete Swans- Comet Gain
46. Forget that You're Young- The Raveonettes
45. If I Had a Gun- Noel Gallagher
44. Tus Siete Diferencias- Manos de Topo
43. In the Dark Places- PJ Harvey
42. One Moment- Motorama
41. Lemonade- Braids
40. Royal Blue- Cold War Kids
39. Funeral Song- Minks
38. El Gran Apagón- Los Últimos Bañistas
37. Gun Shy- Widowspeak
36. The Fountain- Veronica Falls
35. It's Hard to Get Around the Wind- Alex Turner
34. Think You Can Wait- The National
33. Down By the Water- The Decemberists
32. Oh My Heart- R.E.M.
31. Go Betweens- Mazes
30. Take Me Somewhere- Tennis
29. Right Side of My Brain- Veronica Falls
28. Heart in Your Heartbreak- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
27. The Last Living Rose- PJ Harvey
26. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes

Road trip: a list of records for driving

From tomorrow until Sunday I'll be on a road trip, a small break (somewhat forced) from work. But before leaving and following Kathryn Calder's idea/list you can read on the recommendable music website playgroundmag.net, here's my list of records that, in my opinion, must-be on any unforgettable indie music trip. That's what we'll be hearing in our car tomorrow. Which would be yours? Have fun!

Highway Revisited- Bod Dylan. Mandatory. A classic among classics. Hard for me to imagine a song that fits the road better that the iconic "Like a Rolling Stone". "Blonde on Blonde" won't we a bad choice either. Perfect start.

The Joshua Tree- U2. The second undisputed and personal classic that had to be included. Songs with a cinematic quality, that evoke landscapes, ideal for the open spaces and long roads.

Murmur- R.E.M. And the third masterpiece. A unique record, mysterious and joyful at the same time.

Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys. Sunny day ahead on the road? Then it's a perfect choice. Don't forget your sunglasses!

Franz Ferdinand- Franz Ferdinand. We accelerate the rhythm as we drive. Uptempo, dynamic and catchiest indie-rock. Plus is one of the favourite bands of the driver, so I have to concede her that.

I Love Your Glasses/Fuerteventura- Russian Red. On the list 'cause we'll see her gig on Friday at Mercat Música Viva de Vic. Besides, her songs are perfect for a sunny and lazy early afternoon.

Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes/The King Is Dead- The Decemberists/ The Rip Tide- Beirut. This trio of records/artists come "in a pack" because this is the perfect music for a trip to the countryside. As a matter of fact, any record from them will do.

The Back Room- Editors/Turn On the Bright Lights- Interpol. Change of mood, more somber, upbeat and gloomy. Great choices for night driving.

Central Reservation- Beth Orton. My choice for late night/early morning driving. What else could be better than returning home lulled by Beth's voice?

Discoverer 21: new indie findings

Back with the weekly proposals!

Elephant Stone. Checking the great Indiecater label, I heard the song "Bombs Bomb Away", and then "I Am Blind", that blow me out. What a discovery! This band comes from Montreal (thanks again, Canada!), leaded by Rishi Dhir. In 2009 they debuted with the stunning album "The Seven Seas", nominated for a Polaris Music Prize. They returned with "The Glass Box" EP in 2010, and  seems we'll have more tunes soon. That would be a blessing, because Rishi and co. are goldmisth genius of indie-pop song. From jangle to power-pop, sometimes with an Indian feel, they offer music gems. Absolute must.

Red Shoe Diaries. Since July we can enjoy "When I Find My Heart", second EP from this five-piece band hailing from Nottingham, UK. After a very well received self-released debut EP, gigs along The Wave Pictures, A Sunny Day in Glasgow or Nouvelle Vague, and playing festivals like the great Indietracks in 2010, the time has come for the Diaries to gather the attention they deserve. Because is hard to find such a perfect collection of indiepop gems. Classic, sophisticated, with a scent of epic and literary skills. It has MASTERPIECE written all over it. Run to grab your (limited) copy!

We Are Trees. James Nee and Josiah Schlater come from Virginia, USA. In July 2010 released their first EP, "Boyfriend", but their sophomore effort, "Girlfriend", out since March, is the one catching the blogosphere attention. Whispering voices, lo-fi acoustics predominates, and with the help of cello and violin, the duo creates a peculiar, intriguing, hazy neofolk that sometimes evolves to indie-rock territory (check the glorious "I Don't Believe In Love").  Reviewers compare them with Grizzly Bear mixed with Guided By Voices or Fleet Foxes. I prefer to say they have a unique and exciting voice of their own. Listen. Have your say. You won't regret it.

Autumn in concerts

Oh September, always a month of plans.... This is how our autumn music calendar looks like so far. Some highly expected shows!!

SEPTEMBER

13. Kathryn Calder + Miss Carrusel at Sala Monasterio


16. Russian Red at Mercat Música Viva de Vic
17. Prisma en Llamas + Me and The Bees at Heliògabal
23. Villagers at Plaça del Rei (as part of BAM Festival). More to see that night, to decide...
24. Herman Düne + Mando Diao at Antiga Fàbrica Damm (as part of BAM Festival)

OCTOBER

14. Rubik at Sala Nitsa
27. Alela Diane at La [2] de Apolo. A must.

NOVEMBER

16. Fanfarlo at Sala Bikini. Yeah! Finally!
20. Elbow + Howling Bells at Casino de l'Aliança del Poblenou. Super-happy to see Garvey and Co. after FIB Festival, plus the chance of seeing Howling Bells for the first time!!


26. The Bright at Sala Sidecar. Very excited to see them again, hoping for a full band show...
27. Fleet Foxes + Vetiver at L'Auditori

Except the Russian Red gig, all the venues are located in Barcelona. Not bad for starters, don't you think?

"Helplessness Blues", Fleet Foxes, 21st century folk

Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
With few exceptions (including the pretty brutal review from Gavin Haines on NME, which should start a serious debate about what do we call music journalism) the second album of the Seattle indie folk band is receiving the universal acclaim from critics around the globe, certifying the privileged status the band has achieved.

In my opinion, after having the album on repeat for a long time (my enthusiasm for them has grown a lot since I saw them at Primavera Sound Festival), "Helplessness Blues", is a fair follow-up of their beloved predecessor. That's a reason to be happy, but also to raise a question mark. Let's go step by step.

On one hand, half of the album is simply gorgeous. Their craftsmanship talent cannot be more than overtly acclaimed in front of songs like opener "Montezuma", the humming  "Battery Kinzie", the Arabic vibe of "Bedouin Dress", the medieval "Sim Sala Bim", the homonym epic of "Helplessness Blues" or the sublime waltsy, fingerpicking style of "Lorelai". Robin Pecknold's voice shimmers, the arrangements and melodies soar, and one has to wonder if critics like Haines are just haters (maybe he hates folk) or people with a serious problem on the ears.

But compared to their debut something is missing. Some tunes, like "Blue Spotted Tail", "Someone You'd Admire" or "Grown Ocean" pass unnoticed. And then we have the two "slashed" songs, "The Plains/Bitter Dancer" and "The Shrine/An Argument", which could be qualified as interesting folk experiments, but where the sections doesn't really fit together.

And having in mind these disparities on the interest/entity of the songs (just my opinion of course), some needed diversity is also lacking on the album to avoid that feeling of getting tiring towards the end of it. Their first album had a slightly different approach to Americana in each song, from the rootsiness of Crosby, Still, Nash and Young, to the pop vocal harmonies and cheerfulness of The Beach Boys. Instead, "Heplessness Blues" is dominated by a publicly recognized embrace of the sixties folk boom. And more importantly, is dominated entirely by Pecknold (we could say the same about the lyrics), who sometimes seems to be almost alone in the task. Yes, intimacy and self-restraint could be excellent choices, but I have the feeling the record misses some foot-stomping or more electric guitars (almost absent except on the experimental/instrumental sections of the aforementioned "slashed" songs), particularly in its final part.

Maybe my opinion of the album has to do more with the terrific impression they gave after seeing them live. On stage, their music was not only beautiful, it was genuinely alive. During half of "Helpnessness Blues" I had that mesmerizing, contagious sensation again. But it didn't last the whole album.

SCORE: 6,5/10

Best songs of the year 2011... so far

It's middle June, and a good moment for taking a look to what has the year 2011 offered so far in terms of music. Here's a playlist with the best 25 songs (in my opinion, of course) of the year. Some songs have been dropped, because the selection followed two criteria: songs released during 2011, and just 1 song per group/artist, so I could include 25 different proposals. They are not in order of preference, just trying to combine them in a good playlist. Hope you enjoy!

1. Heart in Your Heartbreak- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
2. Calamity Song- The Decemberists
3. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
4. It Happened Today- R.E.M.
5. The Words that Maketh Murder- PJ Harvey
6. Black Night- The Dodos
7. Fast Fast- Let's Buy Happiness
8. Lose It- Austra
9. I Hate You But I Love You- Russian Red
10. Alien Girl- The Very Most
11. World Around You- Rubik
12. Impressions from a City Morning- Brown Recluse
13. Take Me Somewhere- Tennis
14. Jesus Came to My Birthday Party- The Middle East
15. Will Do- TV On the Radio
16. Funeral Song- Minks
17. Forget that You're Young- The Raveonettes
18. One Moment- Motorama
19. Even Though I'm a Woman- Seeker Lover Keeper
20. For Jacob with Malaria- Boca Chica
21. Reckless Serenade- Arctic Monkeys
22. Royal Blue- Cold War Kids
23. Exile Vilify- The National
24. Lippy Kids- Elbow
25. Go Outside- Cults

A song that I would definitely include is "Margot", by the great Nat Johnson, but I couldn't find it. And some songs that would have been on the list without the "just one song per artist criteria" are "Bitter Branches", "In the Dark Places" by PJ Harvey, "Überlin", "Oh My Heart" by R.E.M., "Think You Can Wait" by The National and "Down by the Water" by The Decemberists.

Day 4 at Primavera Sound: Let the Festival shake

Folk-rock brilliance for a great Saturday at Primavera Sound!

The Good
Small band, great attitude. Must be hard to play in one of the smallest stages of the Festival, at the time the football match starts. But Deep Sea Arcade showed attitude, passion and upbeat melodies to forget about Messi for a while easily.
Stadium indie-folk: The Tallest Man on Earth proved that he is not only a man of talents, but also a great showman, and helped by a (surprisingly) enthusiast crowd, the Swedish gave us a great show. Later in the afternoon, Fleet Foxes doubled down and proved how uplifting is their music, I would say that even contagious: the songs from "Helplessness Blues", "Mykonos", "Your Protector" or "White Winter Hymn" shimmered on the open spaces, fuelled by the passionate sing-alongs of a pleased audience

The Bad
Warpaint: I was really looking forward to their concert....but they ruined it with an awful sounding, really harming for the ears and killing the amalgamation of guitars and harmonies that makes their psychedelic-rock so enjoyable. Only at considerable distance from the stage the gig was audible. Missed opportunity.

The Queen
PJ Harvey. The GREAT, EXTRAORDINARY PJ Harvey I should say. What a fantastic performance yesterday night. I had doubts about how the songs of "Let England Shake" were going to sound live, particularly at the main stage of the Festival, but by the time she played "The Words that Maketh Murder" it was clear the night was going to be unforgettable. A flawless, intense and enormous gig, with brutal performances of "Bitter Branches", "In the Dark Places", or classic renditions of "The Sky Lit Up" or "Big Exit" (to name a few). Truly amazing.

My Primavera Sound 2011: we have timetables!

Primavera Sound posted today the timetables for the whole Festival. The countdown (and the overlaps suffering) has officially started!! Here's what My PS 2011 will look like:

Wednesday 25th Poble Espanyol
19:30 Comet Gain
20:45 Echo & The Bunnymen performing  "Crocodiles" and "Heaven Up Here"

Thursday 26th Parc del Fòrum

19:15 Cults (All Tomorrow's Parties stage)
23:00 The Walkmen (Pitchfork stage)
00:45 Interpol (Llevant stage)

Friday 27th Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Sufjan Stevens (Auditori) if possible....
Alternate option 17:00 Ainara LeGardon (RayBan stage)
18:00 Avi Buffalo (San Miguel stage)
19:15 Tennis (All Tomorrow's Parties)
20:00 M.Ward (San Miguel)
21:15 The National (Llevant)
22:45 Belle & Sebastian (San Miguel)
01:45 Pulp (San Miguel)

Saturday 28th Parc del Fòrum
17.30 The Tallest Man On Earth (San Miguel)
18:45 Warpaint (Llevant)
19:40 Fleet Foxes (San Miguel)
20:30 The Album Leaf (All Tomorrow's Parties)
22:30 PJ Harvey (San Miguel)

Sunday 29th Poble Espanyol
17:00 Me & The Bees
18:00 Deakin
19:30 My Teenage Stride
20:30 BMX Bandits
22:00 Mercury Rev performing "Deserter's Songs"

That's what is almost decided so far. Sure I will add more names (Of Montreal, Ford & Lopatin, Odio París, Nosoträsh, Yuck, just to name a few have serious possibilities) to the ones already listed...

A final note on the (very disappointing) controversy surrounding Saturday and the "Match". That's what I'll be seeing instead of the UEFA Champions League Final (Barça against Man. United). I understand (I like football and I support Barça) what a significant date is, but not compared with music. No question about it.

New songs from TV on the Radio and Fleet Foxes

Tomorrow is reserved for the recent indie discoveries, but today I bring you some new songs from two renown bands that will have new albums in the next months: TV on the Radio and Fleet Foxes.

"Nine Types of Light", the new record from the New Yorkers TV on the Radio, will be released on April 12th. "Will Do" is the first single, accompanied of a quite compelling, sad, video.


Want more? You can get "Caffeinated Consciousness" here, a very different kind of song.

Change of style. Fleet Foxes will be back on May 3rd with "Helplessness Blues". We already heard the title track before, but a couple of new tunes, "Bedouin Dress" and Battery Kinzie" are also ready to give you a better taste of the forthcoming album. By the way, the album reached the net yesterday, when the band's label Sub Pop accidentally sent out early streams to those who pre-ordered the album, and someone recorded the streams....
Bedouin Dress

Battery Kinzie  (its a ripped song)

"Mine Smell Like Honey" & "Helplessness Blues"

Two very special links to end the month. First, the new song of the awaited comeback from Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues" -you also have a download option if you prefer-.

http://soundcloud.com/bella-union/fleet-foxes-helplessness-blues







And, as an exclusive -European fans cannot watch it yet-, the official video of "Mine Smell Like Honey" the first single from "Collapse Into Now". R.E.M. is back!! The bad news is that the band has no intention of touring this time...

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid60485628001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAABumiUU~,CmZu1qzq0Nw3UXXcjNZT7puzP-7CIsu7&bclid=60491244001&bctid=771902824001
(sorry for the long link, but as I said it's an unofficial source)