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 193

As told you, this June is about to be special for us, between books, good music (this weekend you can find us at the Barcelona Independent Sessions Festival 2018) and... holidays in Japan! So, before we pack for travelling to the land of the rising sun (we'll be off for a couple of weeks, but we'll come back strong, with the best of the year so far lists) we leave you with the weekly 'dose' of TOP TEN JUKEBOX. Another playlist full of new discoveries to keep you going through the end of Spring. Have fun and remember, all the songs are available at our Soundcloud . (Join Us!)

Direct links to 2018 Jukebox playlists

Week 171  Week 172  Week 173  Week 174  Week 175 Week 176  Week 177  Week 178 
Week 179  Week 180  Week 181  Week 182  Week 183 Week 184  Week 185  Week 186
Week 187  Week 188  Week 189  Week 190  Week 191 Week 192

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 76

After Primavera Club Festival we return to our regular TOP TEN Jukebox series. This week we bring you a playlist full of new discoveries like Detective Agency released by our dear friends Discos de Kirlian, or Knife Pleats, the latest Rose Melberg's project, another gem coming out on  Jigsaw Records. Always, without forgetting old friends like The Innocence Mission or Martha Ffion. All these songs are also available at our Soundcloud, so please join us! 


Direct links to 2015 Jukebox playlists
Week 36  Week 37  Week 38   Week 39  Week 40 
Week 41  Week 42 Week 43  Week 44   Week 45
Week 46  Week 47   Week 48  Week 49   Week 50  
Week 51   Week 52  Week 53  Week 54    Week 55  
Week 56   Week 57   Week 58  Week 59   Week 60 
Week 61   Week 62   Week 63  Week 64  Week 65 
Week 66   Week 67   Week 68  Week 69   Week 70 
Week 71   Week 72   Week 73  Week 74   Week 75

"Roots and Bells", Town Hall keeps their promise

Roots and Bells- Town Hall

Bloodbuzzed friends' Town Hall are presenting their first album, "Roots and Bells" tomorrow, and this blog has been lucky to hear the full LP well in advance, courtesy of the band. I can guarantee you the NYC trio has met all the expectations. "Roots and Bells" is a very strong debut, with several moments of genuine beauty and with an ambitious scope, pointing the band towards several directions, very far from the traditional, and somewhat limited, indie-folk range.  

"Roots and Bells" opens with "Mary A. Longden" and "Swim Team". For the ones that have followed Town Hall's career, the start might be unsurprising, as first tune was already included on the extremely recommendable "Sticky Notes & Paper Scraps" EP, and the second was the first song premiered of the forthcoming album. But what a couple of fantastic songs they are, announcing all the wonders of Town Hall's sound: warm harmonies, intricate melodies with delicate and gentle additional instrumentation (flutes, violins, violas, cellos) and a precious sense of closeness with the listener (I bet seeing their live has to be a great experience).

"Fix this House" and single "Good Boy", that this blog already premiered, shows the different sides of the band. The mellow indie-folk of the first tune has little to do with the crispier, tense sound, more in the vein of a 90s alternative-pop of the second. It might be among the ones that prefer their more melodic side, but "Good Boy" announces a band with a more diverse musical aspirations, and its a refreshing counterpoint within the record.

"Small" is a gorgeous gem with Phoebe Ryan's voice breaking hearts, that right now might be among my favourites (love its constrained crescendo and beating tempo) while "Rockefeller" serves as the second example of the aforementioned ambition of the band, with their many changes of direction/music background.

Also included on the previous EP "Alright" and "Charlie" open the second half of the record, aligning themselves with the warm closeness of "Small". On the contrary, "The Strongest of Hands" upbeats the tempo  of the album, and should be considered as potential single, in my opinion. The cheerful vibe suits the childish voice of Phoebe Ryan creating a superb, joyful dose of folk-pop.

The trio of final tunes of the album has already known "Just Watching My Breath" as the standout track, with their vibrant, emotional peak at the end being one of the highlights of their music. "Food" benefits from its beautiful arrangements, while closer "Dahill Road" ends the album with an intimate note, just a delicate piano piece mixed with occasional "urban sounds" and Phoebe's singalong that made me remember The Innocence Mission.

Overall, "Roots and Bells" has plenty to offer. Full of enchanting sweet tunes, slow numbers prevail, but thanks to the wise sequence of the album, including the faster number strategically, it flows as a surprising solid whole. Town Hall are not just a new group to discover. After this album, they are a band to follow. You should run to their bandcamp immediately!

SCORE: 7/10

The Indie Anthology 6: essential songs

For our sixth anthologic song, one of my favourite voices in music.

Song: Sweep Down Early
Artist: The Innocence Mission
Year: 2003

Some music has a healing, curative power. The sort of music you don't hear on a daily basis, but you know its there for you, waiting to comfort you when you need it. I discovered The Innocence Mission around 2004, thanks to an indie magazine saluting "Befriended", as another fine example of the gorgeous folk-pop of the band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I was haunted immediately for the combination of vibrating guitars, delicate strings and pianos, the space created in every chord, the jazzy and breezy melodies and of course, the incredible voice of Karen Peris. I could name a dozen songs that could fit here. They are synonym of evocative, moving, disarmingly beautiful music.