Best Records of the Year 2016

No time to waste! After EPs and Concerts, now it's the turn for the Best Records of 2016! As usual, here's the list with the 30 albums that we have listened, enjoyed and hummed the most during the last twelve months. It's always a very challenging list to do, being forced to leave many bands & artists that could have a spot here, But, at least for us, here's the biggest & most wonderful part of the soundtrack of our year. Enjoy & stay tuned, books and songs of the year coming soon! 

30. Wordless Wonder- Real Numbers
29. No Burden- Lucy Dacus
28. Cut and Paste- Oscar
27. Algo nos va a pasar- Espíritusanto
26. Spilt Milk- Pete Astor
25. Around the House- Chook Race
24. Juvenilia- Juvenilia
23. Psychopomp- Japanese Breakfast
22. At Swim- Lisa Hannigan
21. CVEEC3- Cómo Vivir en el Campo
20. Lost Time- Tacocat
19. The Holiday Crowd- The Holiday Crowd
18. Crystal Cafe- Witching Waves
17. Here- Teenage Fanclub
16. Up to Anything- The Goon Sax
15. Midnight Room- Springtime Carnivore
14. Don’t Let the Kids Win- Julia Jacklin
13. La Puerta Giratoria- Invisible Harvey
12. Everything You’ve Come to Expect- The Last Shadow Puppets
11. Luck or Magic- Britta Phillips
10. El Progreso- Sr. Chinarro
9.   Everybody’s Dying to Meet You- Flowers
8.   Psiconáutica- Linda Guilala
7.   Hit Reset- The Julie Ruin
6.   You Know Who You Are- Nada Surf
5.  Babes Never Die- Honeyblood
4.  Postal- Chicharrón
3. Minor Victories- Minor Victories
2. Puberty 2- Mitski
1. My Woman- Angel Olsen

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

The Sexiest Women of Indie

Ok, today a very different sort of post. Don't take it too seriously. 

Last week, Nerve magazine posted a very peculiar list on their website, "The 10 Sexiest Women in Indie Rock: 2012". I usually wouldn't care (not to say post) about that sort of "issues", but the list has provoked a "seriously" funny discussion with some friends and my girlfriend. So, after a long (kidding) deliberation process, here's mine. As you will see, they are not just beautiful women, but foremost, great indie musicians. They are all artists I like/love. So, let's talk about girls who play guitars (or keyboards, or cellos, or just sing, whatever)!

11. Miriam Gutierrez
(The Bright) 

12. Jenny Lewis
(Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis, Jen and John) 

10. Kate Jackson
(The Long Blondes, Kate Jackson Group) 

9. Rose Elinor Dougall
(The Pipettes, Rose Elinor Dougall) 

8. Basia Bulat

7. Annie Monroe (The Like)

6. Lourdes Hernández
(Russian Red) 

5. Gemma Hayes

4. Chan Marshall
(Cat Power)

3. Lisa Hannigan

2. Annie Clark (St. Vincent) 

1. Zooey Deschanel (She & Him)

 Coming very soon, the male list, done by my girlfriend....

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 

Indie music videos to keep you watching

Back from a lovely long weekend, so I decided to start posting again with some very cool music videos to share with you.

As expected, I'm constantly listening the long-awaited, self-titled debut album from Veronica Falls. "Bad Feeling", its latest single, out in Slumberland Records or Bella Union now has a video. Check it out!


Another record just released that deserves a lot of attention. St.Vincent's "Strange Mercy" is a very special, rewarding one, and "Cruel", besides an excellent song, now has one of the best videos of the year.


Fanfarlo's new record is approaching, and now we have "Replicate", the single and video, to prove it. A very curious tune, intriguing and experimental without losing their trademark talent for the most contagious hook. A real grower.


Another well expected debut album is "Welcome to Condale" from Summer Camp. "Better Off Without You" is their new single, and its impossibly catchy and joyful despite its lyrics, feelings that the cool split-screen video is able to recreate with brilliance.


And finally, the premiere of the charming new video from Lisa Hannigan, "Knots". What can I say? Eternal love

Let's Buy Happiness, Lisa Hannigan and Veronica Falls amazing new songs!

Going back to music after a couple of political posts, because this week has been one to remember in that sense. Great new songs from Feist, The Rapture, Atlas Sound, Florence & The Machine, St. Vincent, some new amazing discoveries, and above all, three new gems from soft spots of mine, favourites of this blog.

Let's Buy Happiness- "Dirty Lakes"

It is not the first time, and I'm 100% sure won't be the last, I write about this Newcastle band. If "No Hot Ashes" EP was a wonderful start, "Six Wolves", an excellent follow-up, and "Fast Fast" one of the best songs of the year so far, now we have "Dirty Lakes", their next single, out on September 26th. I'm starting to believe that if Sarah Hall sings it, even the phonebook will sound hauntingly beautiful. Because the track is, again, hypnotic indie-pop, a superb blend between the sweetness of her voice and the peculiar, almost ethereal guitar line, exploding into a winning chorus. Knock-out, again.
Let's Buy Happiness - Dirty Lakes

Lisa Hannigan- "A Sail"
We already reported that "Passengers", her new album, slowly approaches (has been pushed back to an October 10th release), but I can say the first tastes of the record are impressive. I'm officially in love with  “A Sail” (that you can get for free right after joining her mailing list), a quintessential Lisa Hannigan's tune: an unforgettable melody propelled with her warm, mesmerizing vocals. Need more? Then try the faster and equally loveable "Knots" or the bluesy “Flowers”. Eagerly waiting for October!

Veronica Falls- "Bad Feeling"
Followed since "Found Love In A Graveyard" and "Beachy Head" conquered the blogosphere, this summer, after being completely won by "Come On Over", I was lucky to see them at the FIB Festival. Their terrific performance showed that their album, out September, is going to be one the highlights of 2011. First single "Bad Feeling" mixes an edgier sound at the start, driven by pounding drums, with their trademark male/female vocals. Is another outstanding example of their indie-pop style, catchy as hell, but with a mysterious and dark halo. Irresistible  combination.
Veronica Falls - Bad Feeling 

The Ladies of Indie are coming back!

August starts with new songs and announcements from some of my favourite singer/songwriters. Ready for some videos?

My beloved Basia Bulat has to come back (hopefully very soon) with a new album. While we wait for it, here's a new song (although we were lucky to hear in Barcelona), premiered with a stunningly simple yet brilliant video (courtesy of the talented people from Yours Truly). Great as always.

BASIA BULAT "IT CAN'T BE YOU" from Yours Truly

After many listens, I'm still undecided about this one. "Do You Remember" is the first single from Ane's Brun forthcoming album "It All Starts with One", that will be out this autumn. The video (first chapter from a short film based on her music) is pretty curious. Have your say!

Ane Brun - Do You Remember (Official Video)

I told you it wouldn't be the last time I would thank Eardrumsmusic. Gospel Music is not a new album, but a project from Black Kids' Owen Holmes. His first release, on 2010, was the EP “Duettes”, featured lovely duets with Shirley Simms (Magnetic Fields), Darren Hayman, SoKo and Cassie Ramone (Vivian Girls) and Tracyanne Campbell from Camera Obscura on this delicious song, "Automobile"!


The fantastic and criminally underrated Irish songstress Gemma Hayes released her fourth album, "Let It Break", at the end of May. I finally had the chance of checking the record, and all I can do is recommend you to do the same. Emotional and intense tunes, like on this "Shock to My System" one of the gems of the album.


A couple of announcements to end the post. Another Irish lady, the lovely Lisa Hannigan has her new album finished and set to release in September. It's going to be called "Passenger". And last, Feist has confirmed her return after the huge success of "The Reminder". "Metals" will be out in October 4. And if you have artistic talents and feel like painting, you can change the colours of the album cover in her facebook page for special prizes....

Playlisting: An indie Irish mixtape for St. Patrick's Day

As today is Saint Patrick's Day, here's a compilation of tunes (not the sort of Irish drunken pub songs everybody knows) from some of the best Irish indie bands, plus two music essentials act of music history. Enjoy!

1. Fragile- God is An Astronaut
2. No Line on the Horizon- U2
3. Pavement Tune- The Frames
4. Some Surprise- The Cake Sale
5. Big Sur- The Thrills
6. Back of My Hand- Gemma Hayes
7. Sweet Thing- Van Morrison
8. Have you ever been in Love- The Divine Comedy
9. Ruby Blue- Roisin Murphy
10. Girl From Mars- Ash
11. Secret- Delorentos
12. Becoming a Jackal- Villagers
13. Formulae- JJ72
14. Where You Belong- Language of Flowers
15. Be Good or Be Gone- Fionn Regan
16. Sing For Your Supper- Cathy Davey
17. Lille- Lisa Hannigan

Here's the SPOTIFY LINK

Beannachtai na Féile Pádrag oraibh!