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 Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 145

'Turbulences', old friends, an urge for going (as Joni would sing), a desire for a change... lucky for us the (bit) long weekend has arrived! And here we are, ready to begin it with our latest TOP TEN Jukebox. This week, you can enjoy with the comeback of The Fireworks (what a pleasure to have their last proposal at our blog), as well as with the new The Death of Pop or Kane Strang songs. But hey, this wouldn't be our playlist if we wouldn't propose you some exciting discoveries, like Kidsmoke or Art School Jocks. Just give it a listen and enjoy your free time. We'll do for sure :)! And 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

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 106

While we finish the traditional Best of the year so far posts (always a hard but pleasant task) here we have prepared a new TOP TEN Jukebox for you, a mixture between noisy, rockier and rough (always within the Blog's idiosyncrasy) and blissful, poppier and melodic. A couple of friends returning to form (The Fireworks' tune is a killer, Bubblegum Lemonade's classy), a little tribute to the great Bob Mould and the gloomy, terrific first song by Preoccupations (formerly Viet Cong). Plus, of course, several new bands to get excited about  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

Best Songs of the Year 2015: 100-76

After Concerts, Books, EPs and Records, it's time for the final list: the 5th edition of the Bloodbuzzed's Best Songs of the Year. Here are our 100 favourite songs of the last twelve months. As the Blog aims to give a modest space for as many bands as possible, and luckily the amount of exciting music keeps increasing we have limited the songs the same group/artist can have in the list to just two. As usual, we have divided the selected tunes in four different posts of 25 songs each, packed in a soundcloud playlist (also available at our Souncloud page). So, to begin with, here's the first round with tunes from 100 to 76. Please don't take the order's list too seriously. At the end, it's just an excuse to celebrate another year of great music! Next round coming very soon!

100. Home- Tomiji
99.  So Long- Anomie
98.  Heart attack- Hideous Towns
97.  Oh me!- The Swapsies
96.  Laura- Wildhoney
95. Los líderes africanos- El Lado Oscuro de la Broca
94. Dream on, bably blue- Chorusgirl
93. Alligator- Nevski
92. Carbon- Tuff Love
91. Terrible- Knife Pleats
90.  Broken necks- Eskimeaux
89. Love won’t save you- Crayon Fields
88. Herman- Sleepy Seeds
87. 1000 years- Dianas
86. Hey Joan- The Stammer
85. Lottery- Oh, Rose
84. Umi - Pinkshinyultrablast
83. Let You Know- The Fireworks
82. Religion of mine- Summer Fiction
81. The scene between- The Go! Team
80. Breaking- Soft Science
79. 6000 dias- Boogarins
78. Take a little time- Kathryn Calder
77. Made my mind up- Mikal Cronin
76.  Can’t you feel –Bruising

Best Records and EPs of the year 2015... so far

Here we are once again, half of the year is already gone. So, honouring one of the Blog's favourite traditions, and after a very tough decision, here are, in our opinion, the 25 best records and EPs of the year 2015 so far (until half June). As we did in previous years, the albums and EPs are listed in alphabetical order (the complete, final list will arrive when the year ends). Hoping you enjoy these great artists as much as we do!* Stay tuned, we are working on our favourite songs of this six months of music!

Apparitions- Ghost Transmission
Beat the Champ- The Mountain Goats
Beta- El Lado Oscuro de la Broca
Carrie & Lowell- Sufjan Stevens
Desperate Journalist- Desperate Journalist
Everything Else Matters- Pinkshinyultrablast
El Despertar- Reina Republicana
Goon- Tobias Jesso Jr.
Holding Pattern- The Treasures of Mexico
I don't want to let you down - Sharon Van Etten
I Love You, Honeybear- Father John Misty
Jekyll Island- Surf City
Love is love - Skittle Alley
MCIII- Mikal Cronin
Melbourne, Florida- Dick Diver
Murder Shoes - Murder Shoes
No Cities to Love- Sleater-Kinney
No One's Coming to for Us - Trust Fund
Oh, Rompehielos- The New Raemon
Overeasy EP - Diet Cig
Pure American Gum - American Culture
Range Anxiety- Twerps
Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I just Sit- Courtney Barnett
Switch Me On- The Fireworks
Wild EP - Young Romance

Click on the years to check our 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 selections!

* Note: Still have to properly listen The Catenary Wires's "Red Red Skies" and the forthcoming Day Ravies "Liminal Zones" which, considering what I have listened so far, seem fated to be on the list.

These Go to 11: interviewing The Fireworks

Sometimes songs become etched in your mind for long, demanding you to sing them again & again. That's the case with The Fireworks music since we discovered them two years ago. So imagine how delighted are we to have Mattew Rimell and their eloquent answers on our second interview of 2015. These Go to 11! 

The Fireworks, indiepop pyromaniacs

Matthew Rimell, The Fireworks 
Formed in 2011, when friends finally convinced Matthew Rimell to transform the songs he was singing them over the phone into a proper band, the London-Brighton quartet, composed by Rimell, Emma Hall (Pocketbooks), Isabel Albiol (Things in Herds) and Shaun Charman (The Popguns, The Wedding Present, wow!) stole our hearts and ears with their self-titled debut EP in March 2013 via (of course) Shelflife. That first release was followed by the 7'' 'Runaround' that same year, while 2014 saw them involved in collaborations like 'Nobody's Business' and the recording of their highly anticipated first album, 'Switch Me On', finally out this month. Relentless noise-pop, instant catchy melodies and vocal harmonies infused on feedback... A flawless LP where distorsion and reverb meets melodic pop, full of hooks and punch-perfect tunes. Here we go!

Sounds like a load of hick wap, over over!

1. First record that you bought (be honest)
First record bought for me by my Nan was 'My Boy Lollipop' by Millie Small when I was about four. First record I made my mum & dad buy me was 'Knock on Wood' by Amii Stewart, and first record I bought myself was The Fall's 'The Man Whose Head Expanded'.

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

First gig I went was The Fall at Trinity Hall, Bristol 1983 and last gig was our own gig at Rough Trade, launching the album (can I say that?). Before that was The JMC gig doing 'Psychocandy' late last year.

Generating endless songs & flares since mid 60s

3. Guilty pleasure (song/band you shouldn’t like but you do, yes, it’s the embarrassing question)
It took me ages to explore progressive rock. A friend literally made me listen, almost as a sort of challenge. I really like Van Der Graff Generator. They’re not the easiest band to listen to, but when you get into it, they are unbelievably clever, musically & lyrically. When I saw them live (a few times, when they reformed) you could feel the love/fondness they have for each other, really magical. Mind you, there’s prog I just can’t tolerate. Maybe, I’ll give it a go when I’m a pensioner. No way! There’s prog & there’s prog, in the same way as anything else.

To die for a Primal Scream 7''

4. Most precious music item you own (collector mode on)
Well, if I didn’t have certain 7” singles I would probably lose it. I remember bringing home a hand full of Creation 7” and being completely knocked out by Primal Scream’s 'All Fall Down/It Happens'. If anything happened to that single, they might have to come and take me away. Yes, I wouldn’t be right. I feel the same way about Razorcuts' 'Sorry To Embarrase You' 12”, four tracks that completely stir and move the soul. Life isn’t the same after those songs.

5. Favorite lyrics (not yours)
The first lyrics to truly move me and make me realise stuff, was getting into Joy Division, when I was 13. They were the first band I truly got into. I can’t listen to 'New Dawn Fades' by them too much, probably once every few years… Otherwise I’d be an emotional wreck. But yes, 'New Dawn Fades' makes me cry, almost instantly. It’s also Ian’s voice there is something otherness and fragile about it.

Lawrence, the enigmatic king of Belgravia

6. Musician/s you would like to meet (should be alive, for obvious reasons, but you can choose a dead one too)
Never meet your heroes, really and truly don’t. Although, I interviewed Lawrence from Felt a couple of years ago because we (Big Pink Cake) were putting on his film and he was really sweet. He was highly entertaining and just lovely to meet. I’m afraid though nerves might get the better of me in these situations… I’d much rather send a clone of myself to do it and then report back. I think that people you admire it’s the mystery and what it conjures up in your head, why burst the bubble?

7. Favorite artwork album (not yours)
Too many to mention. Joy Division – 'Unknown Pleasures'. Beat Happening – 'Black Candy'. Siouxsie and the Banshees – 'The Scream'. The Jesus and Mary Chain – 'Psychocandy'. It really has to present something about the music, the band. Something that’s true to the bone, or why bother really? I think the look is incredibly important, especially for people who function in a more visual way and like to explore everything in time to the music and are able to lose them self.

The one & only Count Dracula

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

I love black and white stuff, film that done to maximize on expression is just so great. 'Citizen Kane', 'Mildred Pierce', 'Psycho', 'Metropolis', anything with Bela Lugosi in it. A rainy Saturday or Sunday, is there anything better than curling up to a good film? Books, stark stuff like George Orwells – 'Nineteen Eighty Four', 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?' by Philip K Dick, 'War of the Worlds' by H. G. Wells.

9. Song (of yours) you are most proud of
I have a problem with the concept of ‘pride’ I don’t get it. Pride seems a bit bloated to me… So I can think of songs that I like… I like ‘Let You Know’ from our new album, 'Switch Me On'… I think the words, sentiment, and feeling, reminds me of something honest and true, to a specific time, which I think is really important. If it doesn't involve honesty, there is no point, in my opinion.

10. What does it mean indie for you? (yes, the “serious question”)
Indie has become to mean something… But it used to mean just independent and that is exactly what it is… Standing on your own ground and creating it yourself. Indie has become a much over used label over the past twenty or more years. Being independent means doing things yourself, being involved in something that you have created and, more importantly, financed yourself… But then there are companies that are independent too, helping independent minded people further there idea. I would love to see a world where people were more independently minded, in everything that they do really. Working small scale is more personal and more relative. Billy Childish recently said ‘name me one thing that’s got bigger and better?’ Schumacher’s book ‘Small is beautiful’ has been massively influential in calling for more localised independent ways of working. Independent stuff gives me hope and in a world that seems increasingly more corporate. It’s massively important that the independent sector exists.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Wow! Who knows? Living it happily I hope. I hope I’m still doing something music related. Or semi retired, working part time, downsizing on the four letter word ‘work’ and living maybe by the sea or The West Country... And the further west you go the better it gets – in terms of scenery. Crossing things off the list, especially counties I’d like to visit and places I’d like to see.

Zillion thanks Matthew, thanks The Fireworks!

The Indie Anthology 57: essential songs

Keeping things jangly at the Anthology folks. Here's nothing more than an unmissable classic (thanks to my dear The Fireworks for the inspiration)!

Song: Sunlight Bathed the Golden Glow (single version)
Artist: Felt
Year: 1984

Let's be honest. I'm pretty sure 90% of the Spaniards discovered Felt thanks to Belle and Sebastian and the love Stuart Murdoch has always declared for Lawrence music. And I'm also pretty sure the first time we heard Felt tunes got somewhat disappointed because of Lawrence's voice, much more alike to Lou Reed's, Tom Verlaine's or David Byrne's than Stuart's. But for the ones that didn't give out after one listen, we quickly found an incredible lost band. Delicate, strangely downbeat and intimate even in its more joyous moments, impossibly melodic, melodic as heaven, instrumentally delightful. There are many songs I could have chosen ('Ballad of the Band', 'The Day the Rain Came Down' were close) but 'Sunlight', with that post-punk opening that then turns into a eternal jangly guitar riff ringing all over the tune is just too glorious to resist. Yeah, the golden glow, can't you hear it?...

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 41

What a superb TOP TEN playlist we have prepared for you this week! Ten songs that will leave you breathless. We promise you you won't be able to stop listening. Pure energy, emotion and intensity summarized in a bunch of shoegaze, indie-rock & noise pop gems, like the new proposals of Young Romance (we just love them!), Joanna Gruesome (another adrenalin pill!) or another take from the brilliant Fireworks's album. If you don't believe us, just play it and let us know the result. And remember, this is also available on our Blog's soundcloud page.

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks

Week 1 Week 8 Week 15  Week 22 Week 29 Week 36
Week 2 Week 9  Week 16  Week 23  Week 30   Week 37
Week 3 Week 10 Week 17  Week 24  Week 31  Week 38
Week 4 Week 11  Week 18   Week 25   Week 32   Week 39
Week 5 Week 12 Week 19   Week 26   Week 33   Week 40
Week 6 Week 13 Week 20   Week 27   Week 34
Week 7  Week 14   Week 21   Week 28   Week 35

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox 36

Back to our regular posts after Christmas, and we do it so with the first round of our TOP TEN playlist series! Exciting comebacks, leaded by my dear Rose Elinor Dougall, and many new discoveries, several hailing from down under. As always, the playlist is also available at our Blog's soundcloud page.

Direct links to the previous Jukebox weeks
Week 1   Week 8     Week 15     Week 22   Week 29
Week 2    Week 9     Week 16    Week 23  Week 30 
Week 3    Week 10   Week 17    Week 24  Week 31 
Week 4    Week 11   Week 18    Week 25   Week 32
Week 5    Week 12  Week 19    Week 26   Week 33
Week 6    Week 13  Week 20    Week 27   Week 34
Week 7     Week 14    Week 21    Week 28   Week 35

Discoverer 57: new indie findings

New wonderful discoveries this Sunday. Great indiepop groups on infallible labels, enjoy!

The Fireworks. How many times have I referred to a Shelflife Records' release? Here's another one! Coming from London-Brighton, initially this was just Matthew introducing some of his songs to his closest friends over the phone. Luckily Emma (from the lovely Pocketbooks) Isabel and Carys (later replaced by Shaun) were convinced enough to form a proper band by 2011. Gigs, including Indietracks, and a session for Dandelion Radio followed, hitting the studio on 2012 to record their self-titled first EP, out since March. Instant pop melodies infused on feedback, soaked in reverb. Vocal harmonies assaulting walls of noise. The Pastels backed up by My Bloody Valentine. A noisy indiepop feast.

Northern Spies. Speaking of recurrent labels, this blog & the world would look like a musically miserable place without our beloved EardrumsPop friends and their wonderful free singles. On their EPOP30 they introduce us to the world of Astrid Wiezell Howell, young musician from gorgeous Stockholm, who just started to sing under this nickname after the summer of 2012. With witty but lovable lyrics, she makes the blend of acoustic songwriting and indiepop charm so natural & disarming I'm sure her tunes will become your homespun treasure. Plus the EP comes with some delightful bonuses, so what are you waiting for?

The Smittens. Aww, the music connections! Thanks to Northern Spies I found out about this much veteran combo from Burlington, Vermont. Formed at a party in 2002, since then the quintet has released fourth studio albums, a remix ep, a handful of singles and compilation appearances. Their latest LP,  "Believe Me", arrived past summer thanks to another always reliable label, Fika Recordings. They make expansive, in-your-face, joyful indiepop. Believe me, just try one tune, and if doesn't bring you a smile to your face, a ridiculous desire to do some hand clapping or start shaking yourself, I'll stop writing from this moment on.