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?

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 270

Fall has arrived, and with the change of the seasons, also the preface of a new confinement... Somewhat inevitable, this pensive and let's say, "holding pattern" state of mind has permeated our TOP TEN JUKEBOX, moody and ruminant (with a couple of vanishing, more upbeat, points), but with several stunning tracks, straight to the best-of-the year lists. "For everything, there is a season", the old bard used to sing, you know... Have a great week ahead, and remember to join us at our Soundcloud page!

BloodBuzzed · Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 270

Direct links to 2020 Jukebox playlists

Week 250  Week 251  Week 252  Week 253 Week 254  Week 255  Week 256  Week 257 

Week 258  Week 259  Week 260  Week 261  Week 262 Week 263  Week 264  Week 265

Week 266  Week 267  Week 268  Week 269

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 263

We're back! Our fun, pleasant, battery-charging yet weird & masked holidays (altogether) are officially over. So it's time to return to our regular "duties", meaning a lot of music to listen and share with you. To begin with, here's our first TOP TEN JUKEBOX of the "season", full of stunning music, heavily relying in these infallible, aquatic sounds "from down under" (if you get what we mean...) as well as  exciting new finds. Have a nice weekend, and remember to join us at our Soundcloud page!

BloodBuzzed · Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 263

Direct links to 2020 Jukebox playlists

Week 250  Week 251  Week 252  Week 253 Week 254  Week 255  Week 256  Week 257 

Week 258  Week 259  Week 260  Week 261  Week 262

A Confinement's Soundtrack

WE'RE BACK! After more than three months we have decided to return. It has been a long hiatus, we know. It's not hard to understand the situation has been daunting out there (still is for half of the planet, take care friends) with the pandemic. And, in these circunstancies, we just didn't feel the logic of keep following the madness of new releases. Or, to put it simply, we weren't "in the mood" (that would require a much longer and complex explanation on culture vs consumism). But that doesn't mean we haven't been listening to music. And now that Europe is getting back to this "new normal", we feel the time has arrived to return to form and get back to our humble task of supporting independent labels (now more than ever) and bring you the most exciting music. To begin with, and in order to dust ourselves off after such a long time, here's a special playlist. One that doesn't take into consideration what's new. Just the albums, groups & artists we have been listening the most during this confinement. 

Discoverer 162: new indie findings

Keeping the recovered pace in our discoverer series, today we bring you a trio of indiepop wonders "found" in between the end of the 2017 and the beginning of 2018. Fear no more, the jangly guitars are back!

A Certain Smile. We begin in Portland, Oregon, to meet this quartet formed around 2015, the brainchild of Thomas Andrew, who has been and indiepop activist in Pacific Northwest USA (Toffee Club Sunday brunch, radio music host at Freeform Radio), and several music ensembles on his back. One of them, Port of Call, alongside his best friend Tom Fleischer, formed in 2002 (then in Philly), can be described as the seed of A Certain Smile, as some of the tunes of their debut album 'Fits & Starts', dates back from that college years era (there are some tunes available at their bandcamp from 2004 and 2014 under their current nickname). Technically out in summer of 2017, their self-released record is fuzzy pop blast, extremely catchy and contagious, yet with space to flirt with shoegazy atmospheres. Nine vitamin pills to recharge your indiepop batteries anytime you need...   

The BV's. Jump to the "old continent" with a transnational proposal, between Augsburg, Germany and Falmouth, Cornwall, UK, formed in 2016,when Fred Jehle met Josh Turner in the latest weeks of an university exchange in UK, beginning writing tunes at a very enthusiastic, DIY pace. That initial material became their debut album 'Speaking from a Distance', out past April via Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten. The positive reviews helped the duo gain momentum, expading the project to a full live band, which allowed them to tour with Blog favourites The Bats and The Luxembourg Signal. Direct result of that latter tour, now The BV's are back with 12” EP 'Interpunktion' out just now. Somewhere in between the most atmospheric side of jangle-pop and the most melodic face of shoegaze, like The Field Mice through a wall of sound and reverb, The BV's are a real treat to the ears, expansive and warm. Exciting band not to be missed.  

The Keep Left Signs. And we end in Sweden (not 100% sure, though, not much info out there) to enjoy this combo formed in the spring 2015 with members from the bands The Mare and The Electric Pop Group who, out of the blue, delivered their debut mini-album 'Tomorrow' in early December 2017. Co-released by our beloved friends at Shelflife alongside Spanish label Kocliko Records, this seven tunes are fine example of classic, timeless indiepop with a knack for melodies, melancholic vibes and that quintessential jangling guitars driving that we, "the usual suspects", need in regular doses to keep us going. A little gem to be rescued and treasured that we hope is just a first chapter of more to come...

Best Songs of the Year 2017: 25-1

We made it, here's the final round of our Best Songs of the Year! The last 25 songs of our particular list, one that ranges from consecrated artists and supergroups to rising bands, without forgetting most beloved comebacks and Blog favourites. We encourage you to listen the Spotify playlist below, the songs deserve it. And we do hope you have enjoyed this 'musical tour' as much as we have done preparing it. We are taking some days off starting tomorrow, along with the music, we wish you Happy holidays and New Year. See you in 2018!   

25. The Orielles- Sugar Tastes Like Salt
24. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever- Julie’s Place
23. Milk Teddy- Rock‘n’Roll Cretin
22. Land of Talk- This Tim
21. Spinning Coin - Raining on Hope Street
20. Mick Trouble- Second Offence
19. Kurt Vile & Courtney Barnett- Over Everything
18. Jeremy Neale- Small Talk
17. Aldous Harding- Imagining My Man
16. Rose Elinor Dougall- Colour of Water
15. Sea Blite- Cerulean
14. U2- Red Flag Day
13. The War on Drugs- Holding On
12. Hater- Mental Haven
11. Cayetana- Mesa
10. Last Leaves- The World We Had
9. The Bats- Rooftops
8. Real Estate- Darling
7. Danny de la Matyr-Lines
6. The Luxembourg Signal- Laura Palmer
5. The National- Day I Die
4. Hurray for the Riff Raff- Pa’lante
3. Protomartyr- A Private Understanding
2. Alvvays- In Undertow
1. Filthy Friends- Any Kind Of Crowd

Best Records of the Year 2017

After our favourite EPs, and without wasting no more time, now it's time to unveil our Best Records of 2017! As in previous years, we have listed the 30 albums that we have listened and enjoyed the most during the last twelve months. As always, choosing between all the bands/artists' new releases that we have enjoyed during this 2017 has been very hard, but after thinking it quite a lot (which is also fun & a good excuse to have a great soundtrack with you) we believe that we have made a very varied and complete list. Awaited comebacks, new discoveries and in short, a lot of exciting music! Give it a try and stay tuned, because while you are listening this, in our opinion, amazing collection of records, we are finishing our the best songs of the year ... Coming soon!

30. Powerplant - Girlpool
29. Holiday Destination - Nadine Shah
28. Tomorrow - The Keep Left Signs
27. Rescued Objects - Arts & Leisure
26. The Weather Station- The Weather Station
25. Into the Shroud - Flesh World
24. Life After Youth - Land of Talk
23. Change of State - Novella
22. Nothing Feels Natural - Priests
21. Records de Kyoto - Últim Cavall
20. In Phrases - Zebra Hunt
19. Fits & Starts - A Certain Smile
18. Others Towns Than Ours - Last Leaves
17. Lost World - Star Tropics
16. Morningside - Fazerdaze
15. Stellular - Rose Elinor Dougall
14. Antisocialites - Alvvays
13. Els Afores - Renaldo & Clara
12. Mental Illness - Aimee Mann
11. A Deeper Understanding - The War On Drugs
10. The Courtneys II - The Courtneys
9. The Deep Set - The Bats
8. Second of Spring - Beaches
7. Slowdive - Slowdive
6. Sleep Well Beast - The National
5. Or - Eyelids
4. Blue field - The Luxembourg Signal
3. Relatives In Descent - Protomartyr
2. Crybaby - Danny de la Matyr
1. The Navigator - Hurray for the Riff Raff






Special mentions note: There are some records that we are discovering & enjoying just right now. Therefore, as they have 'arrived late' to our ears, they haven't made the list, but we are pretty sure that, with a little more time ahead, they would part of the "chosen few". Three come to mind right now: Las Ruinas - 'Latidos Cósmicos', Nuevos Hobbies - 'Palmeras' and The Ocean Party - 'Beauty Point'.

Want to check last year's list? Then check here
Or do you prefer checking 2015?
And 2014? Or 2013? And 2012's? Click here
Or 2011's?

Best Songs of the Year 2017...so far

As promised, here’s our list with our best songs of 2017 to date! This year, as the "tune harvest" is excellent so far, we have had to expand the playlist from our usual 30 to 40. That is the only change, with the rest of the ‘rules’ remaining the same: alphabetical order, as the proper rank is in December, all songs released during 2017, and just one tune per group. You can enjoy all of them on the Spotify playlist below. Hope you like it, we believe it's a great soundtrack of this nearly past six months!

Afghan Whigs - Demon in Profile

Aldous Harding - Imagining my Man

Algiers - The Underside of Power

Amber Arcades - It changes

Big Thief - Shark Smile

Cayetana - Am I Dead Yet?

Chemtrails - Deranged

Cosmen Adelaida - Contra la Pared

Danny de la Matyr -Lines

Fazerdaze - Lucky girl

Filthy Friends - Any Kind of Crowd

Hater - Mental Haven

Hurray for the Riff Raff - Pa’lante

Jay Som - 1 Billion Dogs

Land of Talk - This Time

LCD Soundsystem - Call the Police

Los Planetas - Espíritu Olímpico

Lunch Ladies - Love Is Overrated

Marika Hackman - My Lover Cindy

Mark Lanegan -Beehive

Real Estate - Darling

Renaldo & Clara - Sense Voler

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - Julie’s Place

Rose Elinor Dougall - Colour of Water

Slowdive - Star Roving

Spinning Coin - Raining on Hope Street

The Bats - Rooftops

The Big Moon - Sucker

The Districts - If Before I Wake

The Luxembourg Signal - Laura Palmer

The Molochs - No More Cryin'

The National - The System Only Dreams in Total Darkness

The Orielles - Sugar Tastes Like Salt

The Popguns - So Long

The Stammer - Over & Over

The Stevens - Chancer

Tim Darcy - Tall Glass of Water

Vagabon - The Embers

We.the Pigs - Go Away

Zuzu - What You Want

And if you want to check the previous years, click on 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 selections!

Best Records and EPs of the year 2017... so far

Here we are again, half of the year has almost passed... Which means it´s time to unveil our list with our 25 best records and EPs of the year so far! According to tradition, the albums and EPs are listed in alphabetical order, as the proper ranking will arrive at the end of 2017, as usual. Hoping you enjoy these amazing selection of great music (the year has been quite good to date, and what´s ahead looks exciting) so we recommend you to stay tunned, because, for starters our favourite songs of this six months are about to be online very soon!

Aimee Mann - Mental Illness
Alexandra Savior - Belladonna of Sadness
Apartamentos Acapulco - Nuevos Testamentos
Chastity Belt - I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone
Danny de la Matyr - Crybaby
Desperate Journalist - Grow Up
Fazerdaze - Morningside
Ghost Transmission - Echoes
Hazel English - Just Give In/ Never Going Home
Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Navigator
Kevin Morby - City Music
Land of Talk - Life After Youth
Novella - Change of State
Priests - Nothing Feels Natural
Renaldo & Clara - Els Afores
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - The French Press
Rose Elinor Dougall- Stellular
Slowdive - Slowdive
Stutter Steps - Floored
The Bats - The Deep Set
The Courtneys - The Courtneys II
The Fireworks - Dream About You EP
The Magnetic Fields - 50 Songs Memoir
The Mountain Goats - Goths
Últim Cavall - Records de Kyoto

More lists? Click on the years to check our 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 selections!

* Note: Currently listening to Fleet Foxes, Ride, She Sir new albums or the terrific EP from We. the Pigs... pretty sure some of them are "fated" to be on the Best Of lists at the end of the year...

The Indie Anthology 76: essential songs

Been meaning to update the Anthology section for such a long time.. it's been ages! But finally, here we are, ready for the next chapter that, surprise surprise, bring us back (always good to be back) to my beloved Antipodes, specifically to the city of indiepop, Dunedin, in order to meet one of those Flying Nun bands that were (at least here) placed criminally "under the radar", despite their graceful and ethereal tunes. So, no time to waste, let's return to the magic island...

Song: As Does the Sun
Artist: Look Blue Go Purple
Year: 1985
Once started, I couldn't help but keep the "hunting" among the music treasures awaiting me from the Antipodes. Can't remember exactly where or how (I'm pretty sure some lost text within the Internet) that was defining Look Blue Go Purple (LBGP) as the 'female Bats'. Of course, had to check them immediately. And yes, I did understand the comparison. But no, they deserved attention on their own, not because gender issues or a similitude to amazing bands. 'Bewitched', there has never been an EP name more appropriate to reflect its content. There's something chilling, mysterious (can I say otherworldly?) yet instantly melodic and catchy in the quintet's indiepop approach (hints of baroque pop as well as folk), a pretty short career with so many stunning pieces (at least, check their 'Compilation' album folks, you won't regret it). It's been a very close fight between 'As Does the Sun' versus 'Circumspect Penelope', with 'I Don't Want You Anyway' and 'Cactus Cat' ranking closely behind, but Norma O'Malley's flute makes the difference here, adding a sylphlike, intangible quality to a tune that flourishes thanks to their trademark Byrdesque guitar lines and the captivating echo that propels the vocal harmonies. I always think LBGP tunes would fit majestically in an adventure movie or book, when the hidden treasure is discovered, revealing itself as something antique and for sure, unique, but what's even more important, everlasting... like their music.

Music to look forward in 2017

A bit later than last year, but a tradition is a tradition. Here are our new year's music wishes! A quick top ten of summary of the music releases/events we're looking forward the most in this 2017.

Stellular's about to land,
the voice is back

1. The year begins with Rose Elinor Dougall’s new album ‘Stellular’, arriving next week. What can we say? It’s been too long without her and I’m pretty anxious to hear it. Please tour Spain, please tour Spain, please tour Spain… Exactly the same can be said with masters The Bats, who will release ‘The Deep Set’ in January 27th. A terrific way to start 2017, musically speaking (no politics in this post or we’ll all get depressed).

2. Two sophomore albums from two mesmerizing bands that you SHOULD see live if you have the chance. After the mighty ‘Land’, Novella returns to action with ‘Change of State’, scheduled for mid-February, with the first tunes setting the bar as high as expected. And Desperate Journalist will follow with ‘Grow Up’, arriving in late March, a record that should confirm them as one of the bands to follow devotedly.

3. Two of the Blog’s most anticipated and awaited albums of 2017 doesn’t have a release date yet, which make us even more impatient to get some update on them. We’re referring, of course to "our" music genius from Boise and most beloved sure-fire, Jeremy Jensen, aka The Very Most. He announced a few days ago details on new music are about to come, yay! The other is a debuting name that has all the numbers to release one of this blogger’s record of the year; Filthy Friends, or the supergroup (usually not my cup of tea) lead by Corin Tucker and Peter Buck, alongside plus Scott McCaughey, Kurt Bloch and Bill Rieflin. Judging from the first glimpses you can hear at the Internet (Todos los Santos’ Festival and first tune ‘Despierta’) expectations couldn’t be higher...

Filthy Friends, let's talk (again) about the passion...

4. Not enough? There’s not a lot of announcements right now, but you can always trust labels like Flying Nun, Shelflife, Jigsaw Records, Slumberland, Matinée, Test Pattern, WWNBB, February Records, Kanine, Fishrider, Merge, Sub Pop, HHBTM, to just name a few. Sure they have prepared a wonderful year of music for us.

Delightful pop stings granted...  

5. In what regards to national releases, 2017 is the year of several personal favourites returning to action. First take, a trio of infallible bands: Me and the Bees, When Nalda Became Punk and Los Punsetes.

6. Want more? Here’s a second take, courtesy of the great label El Genio Equivocado: Cosmen Adelaida, Ghost Transmission and Grushenka. Add the usual wise ears of the folks running labels like Discos de Kirlian, Pretty Olivia or La Castanya (Beach Beach is also back right?) and the year couldn’t look brighter. And yes, I know there’s some band from Granada set to return too...

7. Time for live music now. Our first VIDA! And with my beloved Real Estate presenting new album? All we have heard about the Festival’s vibes are excellent, so we are really excited about going down to Vilanova i la Geltrú!

8. And another Primavera Sound Festival ahead, this time with all the line-up unveiled and several mandatory gigs, as usual: Angel Olsen, Mitski, Julia Jacklin, Hamilton Leithauser, Magnetic Fields (new album)… and, finally (space for the drums rattling, it’s a “big finally") Teenage Fanclub! The wait is over...

22 years after, new waves of sound await us... 

9. What else? Here’s a potpourri of names (concerts, albums, wishes) that come to our minds at the moment of writing this lines. For sure, another Minifestival is scheduled for March, with Cristina Quesada & Andreas Johnson playing in Barcelona (another "big finally"!), plus our dear Linda Guilala, Luke Haines and Neleonard. Will Lisa Hannigan and beloved Beth Orton tour here? Albums from The Luxembourg Signal, Hospitality, The Feelies, Alvvays, Tim Darcy, The Shins, and... Slowdive (is that for real?) should/could arrive. And let us dream about Michael Stipe taking back the mic...

The end of the world is coming soon (and we know it),
so please come back before it's too late <3

10. And, of course (yes, saved for the very last, to keep “the tension”) this is the year of The National’s comeback... Just in time to strike back at the "fake empire" about to arise in Washington D.C...

Granted, many more records, songs, gigs and amazing moments related with music are awaiting us, so let’s 2017 officially (musically speaking) begin!

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 129

A new year has begun... time for a new Bloodbuzzed Jukebox season! Here comes the first TOP TEN Jukebox of 2017, a playlist that counts with our friends of Me and the Bees (they are also back!), Dois, the new signature of the always music-wise Discos de Kirlian, alongside the second track of the forthcoming The Bats album and the regular dose of new and exciting discoveries, like Lowly or Ratboys. Plenty to listen, enjoy and discover! And remember, all songs are available at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!).

Direct links to 2017 Jukebox playlists

Week 126 Week 127 Week 128

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 126

Despite some turbulences (as the changing, capricious weather) uncertainties and akward situations, another week comes to an end and we have a great TOP TEN Jukebox to close it with a bang. Eight fantastic discoveries, like the unmissable, mind-blowing, Gurr's track, or the latest discovery of the always reliable Matinée Recordings... plus a new tune from Fear of Men and the highlight of the week (month? year?) The Bats are back with a killer! Here's hoping for a tour with a spot in Barcelona, but from now, what a way to return. A lot to enjoy for sure. And remember, all songs are available 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   Week 107 Week 108  Week 109
Week 110 Week 111  Week 112 Week 113   Week 114  Week 115   Week 116  Week 117 
Week 118 Week 119 Week 120 Week 121 Week 122   Week 123   Week 124   Week 125