The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 242

A bit later this week, but still on time to bring you another TOP TEN JUKEBOX. And what playlist we have gathered for your ears only! A magnificent selection of indiepop with stunning comebacks from surefires like A Certain Smile, Night Flowers or Soccer Mommy plus the usual dose of new findings! As you are about to hear, there's a lot in this music list to help you to enjoy the Sunday. And as always, remember to join us in our Soundcloud page.

Direct links to 2019 Jukebox playlists

Week 214  Week 215 Week 216  Week 217 Week 218 Week 219 Week 220 Week 221 

Week 222 Week 223  Week 224  Week 225 Week 226  Week 227 Week 228 Week 229

Week 230 Week 231  Week 232  Week 233  Week 234 Week 235 Week 236 Week 237
Week 238 Week 239  Week 240  Week 241

Primavera Sound 2019 in brief, day 1

We are quickly approaching the final stretch of Primavera Sound Festival (PS) 2019! So, while we try to recharge some batteries before the long Saturday (we never learn, don't mix work and Festival, folks), we are to ready to begin with the first post of our traditional quick chronicles of what are we experiencing there. What follows is our take of Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th. Let's go!

Long-haired and hyper-addictive indiepop from the North.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Good

Melenas: In a year where indiepop has been clearly neglected, to begin the Festival with such a wonderful band became kind of a statement... aside from 45 minutes of fun. The band from Pamplona has everything: guitars, melodies, knockout choruses, and that ease at stage that can be disguised no matter how many hats, jewelry or poses you can't ... if you haven't got tunes. Instant love.

Malkmus and Co., sparkling hard. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Mr. Malkmus: Didn't have very good memories of our previous experience with Stephen Malkmus (a Primavera Club show, quite a looong ago). But at Primavera stage on Thursday we were able to remove that thorn in our side. Defending their fantastic latest album 'Sparkle Hard' (love 'Solid Silk' and 'Middle America'), Mr Malkmus (celebrating his birthday) and the Jicks were rockier, groovier and goofy all the way. A pleasant, enjoyable gig from start to finish. Monkey off our backs...

The Bad

New normalities: It's the DEBATE, in capital letters, around PS: has the Festival sold its soul? Or it's just embracing the sign of the times in music? If you somewhat follow this Blog you should easily guess we clearly incline ourselves for the first question. We could discuss it for hours, but to summarise it: PS is now following the trend of "catch-all" festivals, meaning mainstream music has to be a very meaningful part of it. The difference is PS still tries to hide that turn in the discourse, pretty elaborated, of the "New Normal". But when you just get into the Parc of Fòrum and realise the record fair and flatstock (posters fair) have been replaced by a Pull & Bear store (and Idealista and Ikea are also Festival brands, note the irony when housing it's by far the biggest, poignant and shameful, problem of the city) is easy to see for yourself what the new reality is...

Welcome to the "new & normal" Primavera Sound mall. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen
The female assault: Not everything in the "PS move" is negative or dubious. As a matter of fact, there's one conscious decision, no matter if it has arrived a bit too late, that has to be praised. Of the eight first acts watched in the two days of PS, six were completely female or female fronted/leaded, a trend that has followed (you'll see) during the whole event. In that initial batch of gigs Julien Baker and Soccer Mommy gave solid, almost flawless performances... but we have to highlight Bridget St John and Courtney Barnett shows. The veteran folksinger achieved moments of pure magic (that rendition of Dylan's classic "Just Like a Woman", these meaningful lyrics still so valid today), while our beloved young Australian took the clothing stage by a storm with a heavyweight performance, offering so much electricity and grit that was capable to overcame the chatters and posers (a.k.a the usual suspects) gathered in Mordor.

Sometimes Courtney charms you and kills it, and sometimes she just kills it.
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Stay tuned, the second chronicle of the PS19, covering Friday 31st, is just around the corner!

Primavera Sound 2019: my draft schedule

As the tradition obliges, here comes one of our favourite Blog posts! Because the Primavera Sound Festival timetables' were disclosed yesterday, so the time of making our own 'path' trough the line-up has already arrived. At first sight, it doesn't look as promising as previous editions (at least for us, but that's something we knew already, sign of the times and "new normalities") but we know that one of the charms of this festival is to discover new bands... just seems that in this 2019 more than ever!

Wednesday,  May 29th, 
18:00 Melenas (Primavera)
19:10 Hatchie (Primavera)

Just two names we are really interested in for the opening day (sorry, not feeling Big Red Machine that much) but attractive enough to be there for the afternoon...

Thursday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Julien Baker (Auditori Rockdelux)
18:10 Soccer Mommy (Ray-Ban)
19:00 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks (Primavera)
21:50 Courtney Barnett (Pull & Bear)
23:15 Interpol (Seat) 
Pretty complete and straightforward day... that could have been wonderful without the clashes, a couple of them being simply terrible: Mr. Malkmus overlaps with half of Big Thief's gig, and Interpol with Guided by Voices. So, though questions to be resolved ahead. Mac DeMarco before Courtney? Mr. Pollard or a band that has returned with a very solid record after a couple of letdowns? Or even considering watching Pylon Reenacment society (also clashing with the aforementioned two)?)

Friday, May 31st, Parc del Fòrum
16:45 Lucy Dacus (Ray-Ban)
17:35 Snail Mail (Primavera)
18:30 Birkins feat Ken Stringfellow play Ziggy Stardust (Your Heineken Stage)
19:35 Kurt Vile & The Violators (Pull & Bear)
22:30 Suede (Ray-Ban)
23:50 Low (Primavera)
00:55 Kate Tempest (Ray-Ban)
Another pretty full day (why is Lucy Dacus starting that early?) with only a gap between Kurt Vile and Suede (right now leaning towards Liz Phair). Not bad on paper...

Saturday, June 1rst, Parc del Fòrum
19:15 Built to Spill (Primavera)
20:15 Me and the Bees play The Breeders (Your Heineken Stage)
22:55 Jarvis Cocker (Ray-Ban)
01:30 Stereolab (Ray-Ban)
If Jarvis doesn't save it (any of you has an idea of what kind of performance will offer to us?) this is a frustrating day. Almost nothing to be excited for until Built to Spill, which overlaps (hope just slightly) with our dear Me and the Bees. There, more emptiness (Drab Majesty?) until the Jarvis' enigma and waiting for Stereolab's time (one of the few must-see of this PS19 for us) with Primal Scream.

Sunday, June 2nd, 
18:20 Filthy Friends (Primavera a la ciutat -Barcelona)
23.30 The Beths (Sala Apolo)
And more frustration to end the Festival. Two big, mandatory acts for us (Peter Buck & Corin Tucker? They should be headliners... ALWAYS), separated by many hours and locations, damn it what a terrible schedule!

Stay tuned for further developments!!

Best Records of the Year 2018

After our favorite EPs, now is time to move to their "big brothers". So, without any further delay, it's our pleasure to unveil our Best Records of 2018! Our 30 "mandatory" albums, many of them part of our personal soundtrack of the year, others recent discoveries that couldn't be highlighted enough. Never easy, but always a delightful task to do, we are particularly happy with our humble list for this year, as it somewhat balances consecrated artists, Blog favourites, plus our trademark bunch of emerging bands. In short, a fair summary of 2018 in music (the one that matters to us, at least) and for sure, a pretty stunning and varied collection of music proposals. Don't go very far away, 'cause we are finishing our best of the year songs... More soon!

30. Two Months In Ben Woolley's Room- Lachlan Denton
29. Algo Que Romper- Terrier
28. Birds Of America- Lake Ruth
27. Parallel Universe Blues- Papercuts
26. The Bluest Star- Free Cake for Every Creature
25. The Oddfellows Hall- The Ocean Party
24. We’re Not Talking- The Goon Sax
23. Ignore The Feeling- Rose Ette
22. Asunción- Sr. Chinarro
21. This Is Glue- Salad Boys
20. Silver Dollar Moment- The Orielles
19. Lush- Snail Mail
18. Sparkle Hard- Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
17. Longwave- Dropkick
16. Sunday Best- Martha Ffion
15. Songs Of Praise- Shame
14. Where We Were Together- Say Sue Me
13. Wanderer- Cat Power
12. Clean- Soccer Mommy
11. Future Me Hates Me- The Beths
10. Elastic Days- J. Mascis
9. God’s Favourite Customer- Father John Misty
8. Everything Sparks Joy- The Treasures of Mexico
7. Tú Siempre Ganas​- Hazte Lapón
6. And Nothing Hurts- Spiritualized
5. Snow Bound- The Chills
4. Young Scum- Young Scum
3. Wild Notion- Night Flowers
2. Hope Downs- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever
1. Historian- Lucy Dacus




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

Primavera Sound 2019: first impressions

We're back! Fresh from our break... and surprised with the announcement, almost out of the blue (at least for us, but we are guessing the amount and caliber of certain headliners by certain Festivals within the country might have had something to do) of the Primavera Sound's line-up 2019. So let's dive in...

Labelled as the #NewNormal and heralded as the perfect encounter between the 'state of music', parity and the trademark eclecticism of the Festival, there's a bit to be annoyed for. First, why now? Getting involved in the parity debate looks kind of  'too little, too late'. But hey, better late than never. You are welcome. The worst part, if you ask us, is that there's a feeling of a worrying marketing product created (that video doesn't help) as an excuse to justify a roster that, at first glimpse, lacks some substance and exciting names, replaced by extremely lame (being very polite) and mainstream trends that (product placement alert, product placement alert) behind cool (music genre?) terms such as Urban are eager to sell sneakers, hats, glasses or tracksuits.   

But at the same time, and despite some huge misses that we thought almost granted, like Robert Forster (new album and European tour in Spring), The Chills (one of the records of 2018) and Sharon Van Etten (although I'm very scared of the new album judging by first tunes), there's quite a lot to be excited for, in particular the amazing return of Stereolab, the unexpected gig of Filthy Friends (Primavera, if you are having Peter Buck & Corin Tucker in Barcelona why don't you ask them for more, in any of their multiple incarnations) and the chance of seeing live some of the artists responsible for the best LPs of 2018, like Lucy Dacus or Soccer Mommy.

As always, this is just the Blog's first impression. We are happy it seems this Primavera's edition recovers the traditional vast offer in what regards to the 'middle and small class', so we are certain we are about to 'discover' several proposals to add to 'our' Festival routes. So, all in all, let's honour the Blog’s tradition: here’s our rough paint & colour' version of 2019 line-up with the bands we are willing to see. Suggestions are welcomed and as always, a lot to listen ahead!!

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2019

27 May - 2 June

070 Shake • Agoria live • Agost • Aïsha Devi • Albany • Aldous Harding • Aleesha • Alice Phoebe Lou • Alondra Bentley • Ama Lou • Amyl and The Sniffers • Anastasia Kristensen live • Anthony Naples live • Apparat live & dj • Avalon Emerson • Bakar • Batu • Bea Pelea • Beak> • The Beths • BFlecha • Big Red Machine • Big Thief • Bliss Signal • Boy Pablo • Brat Star • Bridget St. John • Built To Spill • Carcass • Cardi B • Cariño • Carly Rae Jepsen • Cate Le Bon • Caterina Barbieri • CHAI • Channel Tres • Charli XCX • Christina Rosenvinge • Christine and The Queens • Clairo • Clara! • Dj Coco • Coucou Chloe • Courtesy • Courtney Barnett • Cuco • CupcakKe • Cupido • Cybotron • Dâm-Funk • Danny Brown • Danny L Harle live • David August • Daymé Arocena • Deerhunter • Demdike Stare • Denis Sulta • Derby Motoreta's Burrito Cachimba • Dirty Projectors • Djrum • Dr. Rubinstein • Drab Majesty • Dream Wife • Ecran Total • Efrim Manuel Menuck • Elena Setién • Empress Of • Epsilove • Erykah Badu • Fantastic Man b2b Tornado Wallace • Filthy Friends • FKA twigs • Flaca • Flohio • Forest Drive West • Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes • Frinda Di Lanco • Fucked Up • Future • Gangsta Boo • Georgia Anne Muldrow • Goa • Goth Boi Clique • Guided By Voices • Haru Nemuri • Hatchie • Helena Hauff • Hieroglyphic Being • Homeshake • Hurricane G feat Tony Touch • Ian Isiah • Iglooghost • IM • Interpol • Isa·bel • Ivy Queen • Izabel • J Balvin • James Blake • Janelle Monáe • Japanese • Jarvis Cocker introducing JARV IS • JASSS • Jawbreaker • Jayda G • Job Jobse • Jon Hassell • Joy Orbison • JPEGMAFIA • Julia Holter • Julien Baker • June of 44 • Jungle • Kali Uchis • Kate Tempest • Kelly Kapøwsky • Kodie Shane • Krystal Klear • Kurt Vile & The Violators • La Goony Chonga • La Zowi • Las Odio • Laurel Halo dj set • Lidia Damunt • Lil Moss • Linn Da Quebrada • Lisabö • Liz Phair • Lizzo • Lndfk • Lolina • Low • Loyle Carner • Lucy Dacus • Mac DeMarco • Mad Miran • Mafalda • The Mani-las • Dj Marcelle • María José Llergo • Maribou State • Marie Davidson • Mark Luva • Melenas • The Messthetics • Midori Takada • Mina • Miya Folick • Modeselektor live • Mow • Mozhgan • Mumdance • Mura Masa • Museless • Mykki Blanco • Myrkur • The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices featuring Lisa Gerrard • Nas • Nathy Peluso • The Necks • Neneh Cherry • Nilüfer Yanya • Nina Kraviz • Nitzer Ebb • Nosedrip • Object Blue • Objekt live & dj • Octo Octa b2b Eris Drew • Odina • Overmono live & dj • Pavvla • Peach • Peggy Gou • Dj Playero • Pond • Primal Scream • Princess Nokia • Pusha T • Putochinomaricón • r.e.a.l. • Retirada! • Richie Hawtin Close • Rico Nasty • Robyn • Róisín Murphy • Rosa Pistola • Rosalía • Dj Rosario & Sama Yax • Roza Terenzi • Rrucculla • Shakti Alliance (Ivy Barkakati, Modet, Vir) • Shellac • Shonen Knife • Sigrid • slowthai • Snail Mail • Soccer Mommy • Solange • Somadamantina • Sons Of Kemet XL • SOPHIE • Steffi • Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks • Stereolab • Sticky M.A. • Stiff Little Fingers • Suede • Dj Supermarkt • Suzanne Ciani • Tame Impala • Tierra Whack • Tim Hecker & Konoyo Ensemble • Tirzah • Tomberlin • Tony Touch & Friends (Don Chezina + Soni WithanEYE) • upsammy • Uzielito Mix • Veronica Vasicka live • Vicky Groovy • Voiski live • Wednesday Campanella • Xols • Yaeji • Ylia • Yung Beef dj set • Yves Tumor full band

Green- Definetely seeing them. Absolute must
Orange- If there are no overlaps (in particular with the green ones), I'll be there for sure
Yellow- Curious about it/on "research mode"/nice option if there's no overlap

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 148

We know, we know, We are a bit late again. But it has been another really long, busy, stressful week... just before getting abducted by next week's Primavera Sound Festival (for those who will be there, see you at Forum!). Anyway, here's our new TOP TEN Jukebox! Besides, there has been too many great tunes lately to be skipped, some dropped by familiar 'faces' like our beloved Courtney Barnett (come back to Barcelona!), The Popguns or the stunning return to the Luxembourg Signal, plus an eclectic bunch of new discoveries like Breakfast Muff's feminist song or the wobbly keyboards of School Damage. Hope you have a nice Sunday! 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

Best Songs of the Year 2016: 100-76

After Concerts, EPs and Records, we start our particular countdown of the Best Songs of the Year! As in previous editions, we are going to unveil our favourite 100 tunes of 2016, divided in four different posts of 25 songs each*, compiled on Spotify playlists. Probably the hardest choice of the year, today is time to unveil the tunes listed from 100 to 76! We hope you enjoy our selection, at least as much as we have had while listening all this incredible artists & bands. Next round coming very, very soon!

100. Bottle Rocket- Ahem
99.  Henry- Soccer Mommy
98.  It Didn’t Hurt- We.The pigs
97. Amazing Grace- American Wrestlers
96. Citrus- Animal Daydream
95. The End of Things- Bob Mould
94. The Only Thing I Miss- Featherfin
93. We Are Dreamers- Tindersticks
92. Anxiety- Preoccupations
91. Trauma- Fear of Men
90. Gentle Eyes- Terry Malts
89. Motorway- California Snow Story
88. Capture- Desario
87. Ten Year Tenure- Halfsour
86. Disappear- Young Romance
85. Walden- Sr. Chinarro
84. Atomic Number- Case/Lang/Veirs
83. Anna, Lisa Calls- Happyness
82. Tides- Swimming Tapes
81. Beneath the Black Sea-LNZNDRF
80. Menos de Mi- Neleonard
79. Frank Infatuation- Real Numbers
78. Moon- Beth Orton
77. Recto y Quieto- Palacio de Linares
76.  Fall- Lisa Hannigan

*Same group/artist can only have up to three songs on the complete, 100 tunes list 

Discoverer 147: new indie findings

Here's another round of new proposals in our discoverer series! We make quite a long trip today to bring you some of the most exciting new sounds in pop, enjoy!

Ciggie Witch. We begin in dear Melbourne, Australia with this six-piece, name it music collective or some sort of superband if you prefer, with members also playing in wonderful bands like The Ocean Party and Totally Mild. First releases 'Stupid Hamish' and 'Echidna Cottage', from October 2012 and January 2013 were packed on a limited edition cassette via their own label Osborne Again, with debut album 'Rock and Roll Juice' appearing in June of 2014. Since June, we can enjoy sophomore LP 'Classic Connection', co-released by them and our friends at Lost And Lonesome. Ciggie Witch are pure DIY guitar-driven indiepop, somewhat the missing link between Pavement, Real Estate and The Go-Betweens, languid, slightly awkward but sun kissed tunes with not so joyful lyrics. Contagious yet carefree music.

Palomica. Let's meet British (between Brighton and Bristol?) musician Nicol Parkinson and his experimental, homemade solo music project (he's also member of pop band Frozy and The Nervy Betters) that live has featured members of The Wave Pictures, Joanna Gruesome, The Middle Ones, Trust Fund, The Choo Choo Trains, among others. Palomica's first songs surfaced in 2013, with debut album 'Sometimes It's a Struggle' arriving digitally that June, followed by sophomore LP 'Petito' out just now via Fika Recordings. His music is indiepop, warm, melodic... and extremely unique, as Nicol blends the immediacy of pop with ambient sounds, cacophonies, electronic drones. From The Pastels to the Japanese avant-garde Tori Kudo’s Maher Shalal Hash Baz, everything seems to fit in Palomica's music, an young adventurous of pop.

Soccer Mommy. And finally, let me introduce you to Sophie Allison, a young singer-songwriter (and former soccer player) hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, but based in New York, where she studies English at New York University. Although she has been playing guitar from an early age, this sporty-titled project began to shape just last year, with the apparition online of 'Songs for the Recently Sad' in September 2015, followed in December & January '16 with 'Songs from My Bedroom'. parts 1 & 2.  Now, after teaming with Warren Hildebrand of Foxes In Fiction/Orchid Tapes, Allison has just released 'For Young Hearts', an utterly disarming album. Warm, inviting lo-fi indiepop with a dreamy mood, packed with gorgeous guitar lines, emotional directness and confidence in her vocals and lyrics, and an undeniable feeling of freshness and authenticity. Look for her at the Music Champions League!
  

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 107

With #Brexit and our own election day coming tomorrow was unsure you people were going to be in the mood for a a new TOP TEN Jukebox and, therefore, had my doubts about whether or not to post it. But the amount of excellent tunes, including Blog favourites like Teenage Fanclub (finally back!!), Night Flowers or The Tallest Man on Earth plus our regular dose of exciting findings, makes this playlist a wonderful option to disconnect for a while enjoying a bunch of terrific songs. And remember, all songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!).

Direct links to 2016 Jukebox playlists

Week 84  Week 85  Week 86   Week 87   Week 88  Week 89 Week 90   Week 91   
Week 92  Week 93  Week 94  Week 95   Week 96   Week 97  Week 98  Week 99   
Week 100   Week 101   Week 102   Week 103  Week 104  Week 105   Week 106