These Go to 11: interviewing Out Of Map Records

After interviewing The Birkins, we are decided to enhance the Blog's section again so here's a new and exciting one. This time we move to France (sadly just virtually) to meet a young label with a bright future ahead, run by lovely people, Out of Map Records. These Go to 11!

Muskeeters of indie...

Marie-Agnès Hallé & Rodolphe Binot, Out Of Map
Out of Map Records was created by Marie-Agnès Hallé with the help of Rodolphe Binot and Quentin Leclere, both from the promising band Nevski around 2010. It's the result of a brave but logical movement of Marie-Agnès after a long career in music industry during the last 15 years: cultural writer at her city's official website, Rouen (Normandy, France), runner of her own indie-pop radio show, quintessential part of a label run by a colleague.. Thanks to that intense task, she has met a lot of artists and musicians internationally, because she has had time also for being a touring manager. I Impressive, right? So after caring so much about music it was just natural for her to make the jump and run her own label. Like Nevski's debut EP, label's first release, exciting music awaits us, folks. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

Getting righteous!

Marie-Agnès: I grew up with many records around me at home, my dad was a teacher and an artist, drawing and a great guitarist. I could listen thanks to him many good vinyls. He loved Bernstein, Django Reinhardt, Simon & Garfunkel, The Bee Gees, The Beatles etc. I knew by heart West Side Story about 5 years old! I am born in 1973. As I had two older brothers who bought audio tapes, vinyls, then cds, I didn’t feel the need to buy records early.. I just had to pick one in the discography in the room next door ;) as far as I remember… I think that the first stuff I really bought on my own was in USA, where I travelled when I was 16 years and it was a tape of The Righteous Brothers. I realize now that I had in my childhood an extremely kitschy taste!
Rodolphe: A second hand copy of ‘In Utero’ by Nirvana, when I was 10 or 11. Fascinating.

80s Lolita asking for a cab ...

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

MA:The first concert was when I was very young. It was Mozart’s 'Die Zauberflöte' opera. My grand-ma was violinist and brought me the love of classical music. The first really ‘pop’ concert was in Normandy where I am from, on holidays in Deauville in 1988, it was a Vanessa Paradis gig. I couldn’t tell you honestly if I enjoyed it because during the first song ‘Joe le taxi’, I collapsed. All I remember of this gig is receiving a big slap in the face from a volunteer firefighters to wake me up.
R: The first show I attended was the Pixies when they reunited in 2004. It was in a big arena, didn't see anything but it blew me away. The last one was a Nevski show three days ago, we played with 4 other bands. Nothing to be remembered.

Blame it on the MTV

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)

MA: Goodness Raül ! it is not embarrassing at all! I love this question! I have many many many answers and it will be a heartbreak feeling to pick one … If only i could make you a list! The Milli Vanilli and The Shaggs, worse music either but they bring me happiness (I cannot stop laughing listening to them.)
R: ‘Heart of Glass’ by Blondie. I don't know if it's embarrassing but I feel guilty for that anyway.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)

MA:There are two objects I cherish: a flexible disc of the Speech made by General Charles de Gaulle in september 1962. I really take care of this jewel. The second music item that I adore because it contains many symbols too is a vinyl of West Side Story from the sixties.

R: I’m not a collector but I like my classical music records, because they sound and look good. I also like my old and cheap guitar strap.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

MA: Here comes again my kitschy side: I love the 'Trololo Song'. The amazing russian man, Eduard Khil, managed to sing with only some onomatopoeia lyrics 'yeyeyeye ho ho ho dadada ho heeeee' with his baritone voice. Gorgeous! This song stuck in my head, can drive me crazy for days, in singing the trololo song everywhere all day long. Originally, the lyrics, too hard for the soviet government were like that 'I'm riding my stallion on a prairie, so-and-so mustang, and my beloved Mary is thousand miles away knitting a stocking for me'.
R: ‘Desolation Row’ by Bob Dylan, the whole thing is amazing. I'd also mention the line ‘I hate people when they're not polite’ in Talking Heads' ‘Psycho Killer’.

The real rose of the 2nd Stones...

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
MA: So those I would have dream to meet: Serge Gainsbourg, Lou Reed, Kevin Ayers, John Lennon and Claudine Longet (to ask her if she had really shooted Spider, her lover, in Aspen 1976.). These last years, I was wondering what kind of persons are Stuart Murdoch, Johnny Marr and Neil Hannon.

R: I'd drink some wine in the South of France with Kevin Ayers and John Squire. He’s the best pop guitarist I can think of.

In the head of Syd...

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)

MA: My favorite artwork is the cover of 'This is Beaumont'. The picture, the name, the colours, all the elements fit in perfection with the music. When you read the songs titles on the back cover, 'Bacharach', 'Girls and Maths', 'Love is 1968', 'Hey Barbara', 'His London' etc... you yell ‘of course!’. The girlie-sixties picture on the album is elegant and charming, like the Blueboys Keith Girdler and Paul Stuart awesome compositions. The spirit of Sarah Records is in this artwork. 

R: ‘The Madcap Laughs’ by Syd Barrett, the cover perfectly reflects the mood of the album. And it looks good.

Let's dance with Liza!

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

MA: I read a lot, more than I listen to music… so it’s a hard job to pick one book. I’ll pick two in suffering: William Styron, ‘Sophie's Choice’ and Michel Houellebecq, ‘Les Particules élémentaires'. I choose them because I have read everything from the both writers. They deeply touch me. I don’t have any hesitation for the movie: 'West Side Story' in DVD! after that, a piece of french films from Godard, Truffaut, Audiard. Oh oui, and I have plan to watch 'Cabaret' with Liza Minelli these next days.
R: ‘Uranus’ by Marcel Aymé and Louis Aragon’s poetry.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of

MA: The Nevski EP we signed on Out of Map!!! Of course! The label was created five years ago and during all these years, I wanted this EP but I had to wait this long time after the musicians, studying all other the world. When they get finally in the studio, rehearsing and recording, it was in August but for me it was Christmas ! Now, the first album is already on its way, and Santa Claus is back!

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
MA: Well, oui, let’s be serious Raül. Indie means ‘independant’ for me and a spirit for the fans of indie, a beautiful club full of great strange people, like a family. An indie band or indie musician is the opposite of the product: they are able to decide, to say ‘no’ to a label and the music industry when they try to drive with only profit on mind. Indie bands don’t lose their pants. Indie fans share this way of thinking, like this air of freedom and help each other to form a Resistance.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 

MA: Where I am now, no matter the country, the city... I will surely be with the people I love, reading, painting, listening music, helping musicians who deserve attention. Somewhere on a sofa, (a bigger one in 10 years because after books and music, my third passion is chocolate) living the same ‘indie’ life.
R: Growing potatoes in Scotland.

                                                               Zillion thanks Marie-Agnès & Rodolphe, thanks Out Of Map!

These Go to 11: interviewing The Birkins

This week we are extremely happy at the Blog, because we recover the interview series after another hiatus and, to do the comeback in a proper way, we have one of our favourite national bands answering the questionnaire (can't deny we have a soft spot with them). We are referring to The Birkins! One of the funniest and sincerest interviews we have had, something logical considering how charming and good-natured are this folks, as nicer as their music. Thanks for your time and honesty, we laughed a lot! These Go to 11!

Canarias' finest: The Birkins, islanders of pop 

The Birkins

Daniel Machín, Sergio Miró, Alby Ramírez and Cristina Santana formed The Birkins in 2008 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. They quickly started to make some noise, as a year later they won the nationwide Heineken Greenspace contest, signing with our beloved label El Genio Equivocado in 2011. Then came their self titled debut album and instantly, we fell in love with their mix of British pop, French chanson, Americana and an intriguing experimental side. Two years later, in February 2013, they released 'Châteaux en Espagne' a new example of classy, diverse and colourful indie pop. Finally, this last September they have launched 'Souvenirs', another gem on a flawless career so far, one where each song shows their care, taste and scope of their idiosincratic way of understanding pop, something you can also see if you have the wisdom of watching them live. Here we go!

 Scarier than Nostradamus's profecies

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
Alby: The first one I got with my own money (I saved for weeks!) was a vinyl of 'The Final Countdown', by Europe, I was 7. You asked me to be honest! (laughs).

Daniel: I was more or less the same age as Alby when I bought my first tapes (yes, I am that old). I bought 6 tapes by The Beatles looking for ‘Yesterday’ because I didn’t know its name at the time.
Cris: I believe I was eleven years old and my mother gave me some money… and I bought a copy of 'Nevermind' by Nirvana. I was in love with Kurt Cobain.
Sergio: My first recollection of a proofed purchase with my own Money is for a VHS, 'The synchronicity concert' by The Police. My player had a poor quality copy of it at home that had already made me decide that I wanted to play drums.

We had to choose the pic, but we'll keep the secret...  

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
Alby: The first concert I recall attending to was Miguel Rios (big Spanish act back in the 80s) during his Rock ‘n’ Rios Tour, although I may have attended way more before that time and I just don’t remember them. My parents used to take me to concerts from a very early age. The last ones were U2 in Barcelona and Dave Matthews Band in Madrid, both during the same weekend.
Daniel: The first concert I attended to was Suede. The concert started at midnight but we were there by seven p.m. And the last one was Patti Smith, it was a great concert.
Cris: Dani is lying because I know that his first concert was Emilio Aragón, near his house (laughs). I don’t remember my first concert… maybe a concert by Los Sabandeños at Teatro Pérez Galdos’, here in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The last was one was a week ago: Japoneses Dos here in Las Palmas too.
Sergio: The first one was Luz Casal, and the last one was Asian Dub Foundation at WOMAD Fuerteventura. 

Ejem, ejem better not to comment!

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Alby: I guess I have quite a few guilty pleasures, such as Abba, The Bee Gees or ELO. Or maybe I shouldn’t feel that guilty about it, should I? (laughs).
Daniel: I’ve always wanted to make a tribute in one of my songs to the opening credits of “Deep throat”
Cris: I really couldn’t tell.
Sergio: Like Alby, I have plenty of time for Abba and the ELO; I´m also willing to defend a couple of songs by Lady Gaga, but only if you force me to.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Alby: I’m really proud -being a record collector- to have our last album 'Souvenirs' on vinyl as a part of my collection. But collector mode on it could be a copy of Queen’s 'A Night at the Opera' dedicated by Brian May or the box set reissue of Peter Gabriel’s 'So' also by the man himself.
Daniel: A 1966 Lp by The Beatles.
Sergio: I grew up as a proud member of the CD generation, so I don´t think that any of the ítems from my Collection has an Amazing value other than the music that it contains. The whole mono recordings by the Beatles are something to hold on tight to, and also the beautiful editions of  'The complete Motown Singles', of which I own seven volumes (now, if I were to find the long out of print Volume six, that would certainly be a valuable item)

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
Alby: 'Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see'. You just can’t fail with The Beatles, right?
Daniel: 'La cobardía es asunto de los hombres no de los amantes' by Silvio Rodriguez, which means 'Being coward is a matter of men, not lovers'. And another one is 'who wants to live forever, when love must die?', by Queen.

Yes indeed, everybody knows...

Cris: ‘True love will find you in the end, you'll find out just who was your friend, don’t be sad, I know you will, but don’t give up until, true love finds you in the end’ by Daniel Johnston. Easy and clear.
Sergio: 'Everybody knows that you've been faithful / give or take a night or two / Everybody knows you've been discreet / But there were so many people you just had to meet / Without your clothes / And everybody knows', by Leonard Cohen; in Spanish I could pick this one by Josele Santiago, from Los Enemigos: 'He debido llegar ya, he debido de llegar. Sí, porque al abrir la puerta allí estaba yo viendo la tele con mi mujer, conmigo y con mi mujer'.

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Alby: I’d love to have the chance to speak to Nels Cline, guitarist of Wilco, because I’m a great fan of his playing and his approach to the instrument. But I’d love to have a nice conversation with Dave Grohl too. I think that guy has one of the most brilliant minds in music nowadays and he has such wide knowledge of music that it has to be awesome to share a coffee or something with him while chatting.
Daniel: I would like to have met Serge Gainsbourg and Lucio Battisti. I think they were very good song writers and I think we are like-minded.
Cris: I’d like to know Serge Gainsbourg, drink some whisky and smoke some Gitanes with him.
Sergio: I can´t think of anyone more huggable and interesting than Leonard Cohen.

Saints the great Aramburu painted 

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Alby: Spinal Tap’s 'Smell The Glove' (laughs) Nah, just kidding. I really loved Blur’s artwork for their last record. So cool! I don’t have a favorite though.
Daniel: 'Between the Buttons' by The Rolling Stones.
Cris: I really like the artworks of Javier Aramburu, especially the ones for Los Planetas: ‘Unidad de desplazamiento’ and ‘Encuentro con entidades’.
Sergio: I wouldn´t be able to pick a single favourite one. The one I´ve appreciated the most this year is 'Why make sense', by Hot Chip, and for some reason, while I was writing this I thought of 'Abbatoir blues/The lyre of Orpheus', by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.

May the 'original' force be with you

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Alby: If books, the Game of Thrones saga (so much fun in those pages), if movies, Star Wars (the original one, aka Episode IV). I saw that movie on VHS when I was 5 and I’m still shocked!
Daniel: 'One hundred years of solitude', 'Cien años de soledad' by Gabriel García Márquez. It’s a book you should read at least eight times.
Cris: Books and movies!!! It’s very difficult to choose! A book: ‘Ensayo sobre la ceguera’ by José Saramago. A film: ‘Les 400 coups’ by François Truffaut.

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
Alby: Probably 'Toute cette lumière', from our second album. To me that’s the best example of co-writing we’ve had in the band so far.
Daniel: 'De profundis Clamavi'. I wrote it in 30 seconds.
Cris: 'Chloè'. A sound impact with three chords.
Sergio: In terms of how they ended up being arranged and recorded, all of the above, plus 'Chloè' and 'Arabian nights'.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Alby: This is not mine, I am copying from Sergio here, but to me it means “asking for favours”.
Daniel: It means creative freedom whichever the style is.
Cris: We do what we want, when we want, where we want… without conditions.
Sergio: There you go, Alby said it for me. To quote the great Kermit the frog, it´s not easy being green, and being indie is not much easier. It´s also good fun, though.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 
Alby: I’d love to be touring the world with The Birkins, still making records and hopefully reaching a wider audience with our music.

Daniel: if I knew it, I’d become a fortune teller and make millions. But I hope we will get better and better, time will tell.
Cris: Touring with The Birkins!!!!

                                                                                                                      Zillion thanks The Birkins!

These Go to 11: interviewing Linda Guilala

Keeping the love for Galizian bands! Discovered this year, and loved them at Indietracks. So we are extremely happy to count with Linda Guilala answering our questionnaire. These Go to 11! 

Ivan Juniper, Linda Guilala 

Linda Guilala, pop in the middle
 of the storm

Hailing from Vigo and born from the ashes of Juniper Moon in 2005, Iván and Eva began their new project propelled by their love for electricity and old, bizarre Japanese sci-fi movies. A year after, the duo came out with their first self-produced demos, grabbing the attention of Spanish radios. In 2009 their debut album 'Bucles Infinitos' arrived on Elefant Records, followed in 2011 with 'Paranormal' EP. This year, and transformed into a trio, the group has released another EP, 'Xeristar', out since March. A tremendous example of noise, electric shocks, very few boundaries, shoegazing blasts, and a fond love for iconic bands like My Bloody Valentine, Black Tambourine, Pale Saints or The Jesus and Mary Chain. Storms and dreams shaped into fantastic songs. Here we go!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
'In Utero' by Nirvana.

A-HA, couldn't be more 80s than them

2. First and last concert you have attended (be honest too!)
Although I'm not sure 100%, I think it was Manta Ray in the 90's, at Cafe Edesa Theatre in Ponferrada. What I do remember is that it cost me 300 pesetas, a drink included. The last one is Musculo, the band that played with us in our last concert. Lately, we play a lot in Linda Guilala, so the concerts that we see are the bands playing with us.

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
My guilty pleasure is A-HA.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
This is very complicated, I value a lot my first "pressings" of The Vaselines. 

Antonio Galvañ,
love makes noise 

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
My favourite lyrics are the ones from the album of Family and Antonio Galvañ from Parade. Usually, I don't like much the typical love songs and that sort of stuff, I think they are pretty rubbish, drivel. Although I have to admit that I have some songs like these in my own repertoire.

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

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
That's indeed complicated to answer. I like a lot almost all The Stone Roses 7'', but you know, that's today and tomorrow could be another, completely different thing.

Cinemascope's sci-fi

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

'Forbidden Planet' is my all-time favourite film, and in a more experimental context, 'Pink Narcissus' from James Bidgoog.  

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of
None, I never hear Linda Guilala nor any of my other groups, Because I suffer a lot hearing them, and I always find all sort of defects.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Sure it's serious for me, very serious. I'm indie, and I'm proud of it. I have no problem of saying it openly and confront whoever prostitutes the term. It's a way of doing things and a way of life. I try to get involved in as many "indie" things as possible: I schedule concerts, record and collaborate with groups and I always do it with the same spirit of independence and self-sufficiency. Above all it's about being faithful to the things I believe.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Well, I see myself doing exactly the same. Playing in some band, looking for second hand albums, strange films and B-movies, collecting Tin Toys and, above all, listening a lot of music and being happy about it.

Zillion thanks Linda Guilala!

These Go to 11: interviewing Blooper

Coming from Seattle, this week we have the three members of Blooper, responsible of one of the EPs of the year, answering our weekly questionnaire.These Go to 11!

Blooper 

Wish all bloops would be like this one...

In 2011, Adriano Santi began Blooper as a solo project, releasing 'Ballard Avenue' EP. Quickly realising he wanted to assemble a full band, Darrin Ruder and Chris Quirk joined him and, as trio, they came out with 'Go Away' EP, published in May 2012. A year later, thanks to the extincted Manic Pop Records, they put out a 7'' called 'Long Distance'. Finally, this year, and with Chris Mac replacing Ruder, they've joined Jigsaw Records, publishing the EP 'So Very Small'. As we have said previously, this EP is a real pop feast, an extraordinary mixture of power-pop, surf, garage and 60's vibes, driven by guitars and full of captivating melodies. Read it carefully & enjoy it. Here we go!

The "legendary" teen movie

1. First record that you bought (be honest)

Adriano: Nirvana - 'Bleach'
Chris Mac: Jon Cougar - 'American Fool' (tape)
Chris Q: 'The Goonies Soundtrack' (tape)

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

Adriano: First - Guns n’ Roses when I was 11. Last - Allo Darlin’ and Zebra Hunt (we played with them)
Chris Mac: Honestly don’t remember my first (my parents frequently went to concerts), last one was a house show with friends (Iji, OK Vancouver OK, etc).
Chris Q: First was The Lemonheads; the most recent was Bob Mould, with Cymbals Eat Guitars

Guilty pleasure? Yes, indeed

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
Adriano: I don’t know if this is bad but I listen to a lot of King Crimson and Yes sometimes.
Chris Mac: I guess the only band from my early teen years that I can still tolerate in small doses is Rush. Oh, and the first Tears For Fears album is still amazing.

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Adriano: A first US pressing of 'She Loves You b/w I’ll Get You' on Swan Records - the Beatles’ first release in the US.
Chris Mac: Hard to say, with a collection of 15,000+ records/cds/tapes, but I might choose the 'Tomorrow Ends Today' bootleg lp from Primal Scream’s early (ie. good) period. Never seen it before, never seen it since.
Chris Q: Not a collector, sorry. I like my snare drum.

Introducing... Cheap Girls

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)

Adriano: Can I just say Elliott Smith’s entire body of work? No? Ok, the lyrics to 'Waltz #2' by Elliott Smith then.
Chris Mac: I’m gonna cheat and say the entire discography of Cheap Girls, a band that I simply cannot stop listening to, and identifying with their lyrics.
Chris Q: I’m a stereotypical drummer with no memory for lyrics, so it’s hard to say. I do like that final section of Built To Spill’s 'Kicked It In The Sun', though.

The Sonic man

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Adriano: George Harrison, Link Wray, Brian Wilson, Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Elliott Smith.
Chris Mac: No one in particular. Anybody I’d want to talk to is approachable, but if I had to pick one who wasn't, it might be Thurston Moore.
Chris Q: Philip Glass.

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Adriano: Anything Reid Miles did for the Blue Note label in the 60s.
Chris Mac: Nothing really springs to mind…
Chris Q: I grew up on tapes and CDs, and the artwork didn’t stand out there unfortunately.

Murakami's cat

8. Books or movies? Depending on your answer recommend us one (trick: you can choose both) 
Adriano: Both. My favourite movie is 'The 400 Blows' and my favourite book is 'Kafka on the Shore' by Haruki Murakami
Chris Mac: You can’t go wrong with 'Die Hard'.
Chris Q: Brazil + John Kennedy Toole’s 'Confederacy of Dunces'.

9. Release (of yours) you are most proud of

Adriano: I still really like 'Pike Street'.
Chris Mac: Probably 'Day Things Fell Apart' by Suretoss (my old band)
Chris Q: 'Shaky' is fun to play.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Adriano: Like any label that’s been around for more than a couple years, “Indie” has pretty much lost all of its meaning. There are “Indie” labels that pretty much operate like majors, “Indie” bands who make craploads of money… but I think as long as the sort of do it yourself vibe is still there, that’s indie.
Chris Mac: I’d have to say that anyone who does things for themselves - for their own personal pleasure - has the indie spirit. Anyone who forms a band/starts a label without the pretense of “making it big”.
Chris Q: What they said.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Adriano: I don’t even know where I’m going to be in 10 minutes…
Chris Mac: Same house, same life. I’m very resistant to change.
Chris Q: Still playing music, probably still in basements and garages..

Zillion thanks Blooper!

The Love Anniversary Playlist

Today is a very special day, me and my girlfriend are celebrating our second anniversary together. So I hope you allow us this playlist, largely discussed and analysed, that is a compendium of the 24 songs/bands (one for each month being together) that have been/are important in our relationship. Needless to say, it is a extremely personal playlist, listed in some sort of chronological order regarding our relation, with a few of my favourites, few of hers, and many others that can't only be understood for us. But anyway, is the nicest excuse to put some music on!!

1. Editors - Munich
2. The Strokes - Someday
3. Kaiser Chiefs - Never Miss a Beat
4. Franz Ferdinand - Michael
5. Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World
6. R. E. M. - You Are The Everything
7. The Divine Comedy - I Like 
If we had to choose just one band/artist as "Our" soundtrack, it would be him, so Neil, be "warned" that at the November gig in Barcelona you'll have two ardent fans on the front rows 
8. Basia Bulat - Heart of My Own 
First gig together
9.  Eels - Hey Man (Now You're Really Living) 
10. The Decemberists - Don't Carry It All
11. Beirut - Nantes
12. Arctic Monkeys - She's Thunderstorms
13. Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait
14. Russian Red - The Sun The Trees
15. The Bright - Your Private Garden 
Most followed band together, so far
16. Kings of Leon - Talihina Sky
17. Miles Kane - Come Closer
18. The Vaccines - If You Wanna
19. Dum Dum Girls - Bedroom Eyes
20. Manos de Topo - Animal de Compañía 
Like them, we have a particular sense of humour
21. Ramones - I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
22. Wild Flag - Romance 
23. The Walkmen - Song for Leigh
24. Cat Power - Sea of Love 
Perfect end of the playlist, don't you think?

The 25 greatest artists of the last 25 years: 25 to 11

For its 25th Anniversary, Qmagazine proposes a challenging and attractive poll. To vote for the 25 greatest artists of the last 25 years (Q was born in 1986), but with only 3 chances of adding different names than the listed on the web, I decided to make my own. So, this is my top 25. Many are personal favourites, but included a few that, despite not being really my cup of tea, deserve a recognition due to their influence, legacy or career. I also discarded the vast majority of bands with less than a decade of activity.

25. Massive Attack. The first entry of the list, and in a close fight with Portishead and Depeche Mode, was reserved to an electronic music act, an style that, despite not being interested in, has been essential to understand music in these 25 years. So I chose them, because of "Blue Lines", "Teardrop", the elegance, the innovation and the value of a career focused on create something, and not just commercial success.

24. The Smiths/Morrissey. I can't stand Bigmouth, and with very few exceptions, his solo career leaves me quite indifferent, but The Smiths were amazing and their influence is immense. The fathers of indie?

23. Coldplay. Before everything turned ridiculously huge, and sorry to say, empty, Chris Martin and co. they had great albums and an extraordinary ability to connect with their audience.

22. The Beautiful South. A personal soft spot I couldn't help but include on the list. From 1989 to 2001, but specially during the Jacqui Abbot period, they were pop genius, combining great lyrics (Paul Heaton deserves recognition among the greatest) with unforgettable melodies.

21. Sufjan Stevens. A fair good share of the rebirth of folk (indie-folk) we have witnessed lately rests on Sufjan's shoulders. A true artist, in the whole sense of the word.

20. Elbow. The underdogs that finally succeed. Underrated during many years, their flawless career is among the most solid, relevant and exciting of the last decade.

19. The Walkmen. "Just" a bit more than a decade active, but what a decade! "Bows and Arrows", "You and Me" and "Lisbon" are the trio of aces of an extraordinary career so far. Among the greatest bands of the last decade.

18. Eels. Mr. E's career is one of a kind. The freak that become "beautiful" has shown many different and exciting sides during all this years, but always sounding as himself. Besides, his memories "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" are among the best "music books" ever written.

17. The White Stripes. Voice, drums, guitars. Red, black and white. An unlikely shock to the system that became a music scene of their own. And Jack White remains one of the most intriguing music personalities of contemporary music.

16. Teenage Fanclub. "Bandwagonesque", "Thirteen", "Grand Prix" and tens of other indie gems deserve a better recognition of the fabulous but underrated band, whose real influence has yet to be measured. Scottish finest.

15. Nick Cave. Twelve albums with the Bad Seeds (starting to count from 1986 onwards) and two more with Grinderman, to build an undisputable, universal reputation. As passionate, bloody and doomed as rock can be.

14. The Cure. Probably lost their magic long ago, but from 1987 to 1992 ("Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me", "Disintegration" and "Wish") they were outstanding, and their legacy is immortal.

13. Natalie Merchant. "In My Tribe", "Our Time in Eden" and "MTV Unplugged" while she was with 10.000 Maniacs, "Tigerlilly", "Ophelia", "Motherland" solo, her words, and her incorruptible attitude makes Ms. Merchant one of the most relevant artists, no matter long hiatus and minor activity recently. Always special.

12. Nirvana. Although far from being a fan, the influence, weight and personality of Kurt Cobain obviously deserves a mention on this list. They were a band. Now they are a myth.

11. Radiohead. Another sure-fire, very hard to measure their enormous influence and impact. Not really keen on their latest decade, but "OK Computer" alone grants the band a well deserved place on the list.

Check the rest of the list, the final ten spots, here.

New Radiohead songs for the Record Store Day

Today is the Record Store Day.

The original idea of the Record Store Day was created in 2007 to celebrate the unique culture of the then 700 indie store records that were listed in the United States and hundreds more internationally. Indie store owners and artists gathers to present special and promotional releases as well as live concerts. Although not very remarkable in Spain yet, just the first time is being held, 19 countries celebrate the 16th of April as a day for music. And that's important.

Among the most remarkable releases of the day we have special single editions from The White Stripes (sic), Arctic Monkeys, Warpaint, Suede, Joy Division, Grinderman (featuring The National's Matt Berninger) and very curious EP from Franz Ferdinand or Nirvana, just to name a few. But one of the most expected releases is the limited (just 2000 copies) new single from Radiohead, "Supercollider"/"The Butcher". "Supercollider" (heard a few times live during the "In Rainbows" tour but never released) is superb. Collectors and music lovers, enjoy the day!!

Radiohead "Supercollider + The Butcher" (link to the Soundcloud stream)