Best Songs of the Year 2019: 100-76

Happy New Year! We are back and, as we promised last week, after the lists of EPs and Records, we are ready to unveil our Best Songs of 2019! If you are a regular follower of the Blog you'll probably know our "rules", but let us remind you anyway. A) We divide our favourite 100 tunes in four different posts of 25 songs each. B)  We limit the maximum number of songs from the same group/artist to just two. C) Bands/artists can only have one tune per "round". And, of course, we compile the songs on playlists (see below), so you can enjoy them as many times as you like (follow us in Spotify!). Hope you enjoy our selection and stay tuned, next round coming very soon!

100. Kansas Plains- Future Silence

99. Gem- Daughter of Swords

98. I Will Never Let You Down- Whoa Melodic
97. Let Go- Angela Perley
96. Family Portrait Revisited- Kool Aid
95. Write Home- Rose Hotel
94. The Other Side of Midnight- Star Tropics
93. In the Dark- Summer Flake
92. New Reality- Patio
91. Eye 2 Eye- Witching Waves
90. Foot of Afrikka- Sambassadeur
89. Take the Journey- Molly Tuttle
88. 4AM- The Maureens
87. Un Bosque- Pauline en la Playa
86. Only a Traveler- Itasca
85. Fortune Teller- Night Flowers
84. Away- Molly Linen
83. Everyone Hides- Wilco
82. Love Keeps Kicking- Martha
81. Sicilian Crest- The Mountain Goats
80. Chasing a Feeling- Business of Dreams
79. No Bullets Spent- Spoon
78. Love in Lunacy (Saturn in Return)- Purple Pilgrims
77. Aspiring to Be a Bloke- Possible Humans
76. Used to Be Lonely- Whitney

The Indie Anthology 72: essential songs

I was looking for a Spanish band/artist for the next chapter of our Anthology, and considering the choking, shameful shift towards "neocon" and extreme right policies & attitudes (Latin America, Trump, Hungary, Poland, UK, Turkey, Spain... and the list keeps growing) we are suffering (and/or we are about to suffer) I really need a truly gorgeous song to counter it, to get shelter from the despicable "outside", at least for a while, thanks to music. And there's no better band to do so than Pauline en la Playa.

Song: Cabezas Locas
Artist: Pauline en la Playa
Year: 2001

I would live, happily ever after, inside the songs of Mar & Alicia Álvarez. Pauline en la Playa have created a genuine pop universe, completely of their own. Full of fables, poetry, violins, delicate, sometimes subtle, others rich and lush, instrumental details, sweet vocal harmonies and eternal melodies. I discovered them during my last university years (Radio 3 again) with 'Tormenta de ranas' and the majestic single 'Cabezas Locas' (it has been a very close call between this song, 'Titubeas' and 'Relevé', please check their complete discography, you'll thank me, granted). A tune with one of the most mind blowing beginnings ever and the perfect soundtrack for those sunny afternoon walks from the train to home. The dusk setting in slowly, while the tune embraces you, warm, uplifting, joyous (my apologies because the sound is pretty low in the video below, couldn't find a better option). Pauline en la Playa, main originators of Stendhal Syndrome in Spanish indiepop since 1997.

Best Spanish Records of the Decade So Far

With the end of 2014, half the decade has now gone, so following the proposal of several magazines   like Pitchfork or NME, we have been thinking about our favourite records of the decade so far (2010-2014), and after a thoughtful deliberation here are the results (let's face it, we love making lists). First of all, the Best Spanish Records of the Decade So Far! 15th albums that, in our opinion, are the highlights of five years with great music in our country. Hope you like it! And stay tuned, the international list is going to appear very soon! 

15. Soundtrack for a Winter's Tale - The Bright
14. Los Últimos Bañistas - Los Últimos Bañistas
13. Reina Republicana - Reina Republicana
12. Disco de Autoayuda para Mutantes - Las Ruinas
11. Escapar con el Anticiclón - Manos de Topo
10. Nihil Obstat- Disco Las Palmeras!
9. Lost Album - Coach Station Reunion
8. Fuerteventura - Russian Red
7. A Farewell to Youth - When Nalda Became Punk
6. Técnicas Subversivas - Grushenka
5. De lo Concreto a lo General - Doble Pletina
4. Fuerza Bien - Mee and the Bees
3. Fruits del Teu Bosc - Renaldo y Clara
2. La Foto Fantasma - Cosmen Adelaida

1. El Mundo Se Va a Acabar - Pauline en la Playa

Best Songs of the Year 2013: 25-1

And here it is. Tthe fourth and last chapter of our favourite 100 tunes of the year, with our Top 25 Songs of 2013. Again, you have the complete (22 tunes) playlist at our newly created Soundcloud page, and if the song isn't available there, you'll have an alternative direct link. Hope you enjoyed the musical ride!

25. Johnny Cash- Coach Station Reunion
24. 2am- Northern Spies
23. Another Game On Saturday- The Swapsies
22. Julie (Come Out of the Rain)- Josh Rouse
21. Honey- Torres
20. Lucky Too- Males
19. If You Still Want Me- Veronica Falls (link to video)
18. Into the Sun- The Proctors
17. El Caminar- Wiggum
16. Teenager- Go Violets
15. If You Were My Captain- Big Summer
14. London Bound- Just Handshakes (We’re British)
13. Terco- Doble Pletina
12. Delphine (With a Purpose)- Trick Mammoth
11. Heavy Feet- Local Natives
10. Methuselah- San Fermin
9. Pink Rabbits- The National
8. Future Vanishes- Rose Elinor Dougall
7. A Ton of Love- Editors
6. Singing Time- Eleanor Friedberger
5. Break It to You Gently- Camera Obscura
4. Husbands- Savages
3. Relevé- Pauline en la Playa
2. Tall Tall Shadow- Basia Bulat
1. This is the Last Time-The National

Click here to check the SoundCloud playlist!

Spanish Indie 14: suggesting the best national acts

A new round of "made in Spain" music for your ears only, enjoy!

Pauline en la Playa. Sisters Mar and Alicia Álvarez hail from Gijón, and have quite a long story in their backs. Leaders of Undershakers, a seminal band in the middle-late 90s on the Spanish indie scene. While the band was still active, the two began to work in another direction by 1997, under the name of  “Enfants Terribles“, winning a local prize with their first demos that year. Two years later, in 1999, Pauline en la Playa was finally born, releasing six albums to date, the latest one being “El Mundo Se Va a Acabar“ out this March on Siesta. The last chapter of the exquisite, impossibly charming and warm music of the Álvarez sisters. A sweet, nostalgic and rich indiepop universe.

Les Sueques. Not the first time I write about this quartet and pretty sure it won't be the last either. Coming from Barcelona, they debuted in 2011 with Les Sueques EP on Repetidor Discos. After a replacement on drums with the arrival of Pau (ex Tokyo Sex Destruction) they recently signed with our friends from El Genio Equivocado, becoming one of its most exciting new acts. Something that their debut album, "Cremeu les Perles" out since March. Pop-punk with a twisted, dark, sardonic side, sharp guitar lines and loads of fun and promise. Carefree & homemade riot-girls with a bunch of addictive tunes and sense of humour.

Fighter Pillow. Few information on this yet unsigned act from Barcelona, discovered while searching the bands playing at Primavera als Parcs, one of the most peculiar parallel activities of the Festival. But this band, active since 2011 (at least is what their social networks says) is quite an underground supergroup: Eli Molina from the lovely Me and the Bees (new songs soon please!), Edu Chirinos from our beloved Las Ruinas, Dj Manu Rec and Eric Fuentes. They have an EP, aptly titled "EP#1", for free at their bandcamp. Four tunes that sound as vigorous as stylistically diverse, from urgent indie-rock to a sparse, folk gentle number. Solid music regardless of its form. Band to check.