Best Records of the Year 2016

No time to waste! After EPs and Concerts, now it's the turn for the Best Records of 2016! As usual, here's the list with the 30 albums that we have listened, enjoyed and hummed the most during the last twelve months. It's always a very challenging list to do, being forced to leave many bands & artists that could have a spot here, But, at least for us, here's the biggest & most wonderful part of the soundtrack of our year. Enjoy & stay tuned, books and songs of the year coming soon! 

30. Wordless Wonder- Real Numbers
29. No Burden- Lucy Dacus
28. Cut and Paste- Oscar
27. Algo nos va a pasar- Espíritusanto
26. Spilt Milk- Pete Astor
25. Around the House- Chook Race
24. Juvenilia- Juvenilia
23. Psychopomp- Japanese Breakfast
22. At Swim- Lisa Hannigan
21. CVEEC3- Cómo Vivir en el Campo
20. Lost Time- Tacocat
19. The Holiday Crowd- The Holiday Crowd
18. Crystal Cafe- Witching Waves
17. Here- Teenage Fanclub
16. Up to Anything- The Goon Sax
15. Midnight Room- Springtime Carnivore
14. Don’t Let the Kids Win- Julia Jacklin
13. La Puerta Giratoria- Invisible Harvey
12. Everything You’ve Come to Expect- The Last Shadow Puppets
11. Luck or Magic- Britta Phillips
10. El Progreso- Sr. Chinarro
9.   Everybody’s Dying to Meet You- Flowers
8.   Psiconáutica- Linda Guilala
7.   Hit Reset- The Julie Ruin
6.   You Know Who You Are- Nada Surf
5.  Babes Never Die- Honeyblood
4.  Postal- Chicharrón
3. Minor Victories- Minor Victories
2. Puberty 2- Mitski
1. My Woman- Angel Olsen

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

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 104

Strange days ahead, strange days indeed: politically, in what regards to work, in what refers to society, in what has to do with the future. It probably has something to do with late Spring, who knows. That's why we have chosen a pretty eclectic TOP TEN Jukebox for our latest playlist, with the regular new finds but also the returns (in full form) of the great Kathleen Hanna and our beloved Linda Guilala. 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

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 98

Tomorrow is Record Store Day, and at Bloodbuzzed we are going to celebrate it as deserves with a weekend full of music which began yesterday with Tindersticks', continues tomorrow with Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott's and goes further, as it extends to next week with The Posies. But there's space to something other than gigs, as here comes a terrific new TOP TEN Jukebox for your ears only. Astonishing tunes from beloved bands like Childsaint or Fear of Men, the first taste of a most desired record, sophomore LP by The Julie Ruin or the needed dose of new & exciting discoveries. Overall, a playlist you can't miss. Take care and remember: all songs are listed at our Soundcloud page (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 Week 76   Week 77   Week 78  Week 79   Week 80

Week 81   Week 82   Week 83  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 

Primavera Sound 2015 in brief, day 3

No time to waste: here's the third chapter of our Primavera Sound 2015's chronicles. Friday 29th was the 'riot grrrl' day, full of acts to see: from music myths to most promising bands. Did it meet the expectations? Here's the answer...

The Good

Núria Graham: Saw her a couple of years ago at the presentation of a book: a young talent gifted with a mind blowing voice, but playing that sort of folkie-pop tunes seen too many times. But what we found at Pitchfork stage on Friday was something completely unexpected. An artist capable of doing whatever she wants, with tunes that morph into several things in a matter of seconds, from PJ Harvey abrasiveness to St.Vincent experimental approach to indie-rock to James Blake soulfulness. The discovery of the Festival.

Ms. Graham, the surprise of the Festival. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Ex Hex: 'Rips' was one the best albums of past year, as fun, playful and addictive as rock should be. And that's exactly what the trio formed by Mary Timony, Betsy Wright and Laura Harris delivered at Pitchfork stage. Impossible not to smile with the guitar riffs, the rock-hero poses and the unstoppable strength of their tunes. We love you Mary Timony.

Ex Hex, rock goddesses. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Damien Rice: We only saw about the second half of his show, but it was simply tremendous. All alone at Primavera stage he sounded immense, thunderous, gigantic. What a difference compared with the Black Keys on Thursday!

The Bad

Hidden stage: This interesting, appealing idea can improve. It's ok tickets have to be picked on a specific time and after they are gone, they are gone. But it doesn't make much sense to place the time to collect the tickets just before the gig itself. Or the queues afterwards. Anyway, once inside we were eager to see The Pastels... but the gig didn't meet the expectations. Maybe the venue (there's a wall boxing one of the sides of the stage, weird), or maybe the band, don't know, but although not saying it was a bad one, it was a bit mumsy, lifeless.

Hidden afternoon with The Pastels. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Julie Ruin: Seeing Kathleen Hanna live was, undoubtedly, one of the highlights of the Festival. And, in that sense, the show was something to remember. She is magnetic, an uncontainable force at stage. But the sound was awful (it's punk I got it but still), and her voice quite so-so, so despite the fun and straightforwardness of 'Run Fast', the show was, frankly, disappointing.

The one and only, Kathleen Hanna. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Ride: Impeccable and sounding good all the gig but not very moving (maybe the people at the front rows have a different opinion). Slowdive's show last year was intense and emotionally charged. Can't say the same about Ride's performance.

Hearing beautiful noises with Ride. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Queen

Sleater-Kinney: Can't compare with the extraordinary show we were fortunate to attend in Paris a couple of months ago, but still, at Heineken stage they put a show to ratify what Sleater-Kinney means. Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss are stage beasts. No matter they play new tunes or classics, they throw all they have in every song. They are honesty, intensity and truth every single second performing. They are simply one of the best bands out there, and they demonstrated, once again, at Primavera Sound. The finale, with 'Dig Me Out', 'Entertain' and (yes, yes, yes) 'Modern Girl' can't be beaten.

Sleater- Kinney, the definition of a power trio. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

One more "big day" to come, Saturday 30th's chronicle about to arrive!

Primavera Sound 2015: my draft schedule

And the day has come. It's time to, at least make the first attempt, and try to assemble the puzzle that the Primavera Sound Festival schedules' are. And also time to start digesting and make some painful choices due to the recurring, I guess they are inevitable, overlaps. So, are you ready to "play" with us? Pending on Primavera als Parcs' schedule this is what our PS 2015 looks like (initial impressions):  

  

Thursday, May 28th, Parc del Fòrum
18:35 Twerps (Pitchfork)
19:45 Viet Cong (Pitchfork)
21:10 The Replacements (Primavera)
22:20 Antony and the Johnsons (Heineken)* 
22:50 Spiritualized (ATP)
23:45 The Black Keys (Primavera)
The "easy" day, it goes quite smoothly, with the sole exception of missing Antony and the Johnsons (although I'm very far from being a fan, I was curious), and the clash between the highly recommendable Ought versus The Replacements.

Friday, May 29th, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 The Pastels (Heineken Hidden Stage) 
17:45 Núria Graham (Pitchfork)
19:00 Ex Hex (Pitchfork)
20:35 The Julie Ruin (Ray-Ban)
22:20 Sleater-Kinney (Heineken) 
23:45 Ride (Primavera)
The "big day" it's a pretty excruciating one. Getting into the Pastels' gig will be tough (as you have to grab the tickets well in advance that same day). There's not a lot to choose among until Ex Hex... and then overlaps all over until. Will see The Julie Ruin so bye to The New Pornographers, Patti Smith, Tobias Jesso Jr.. and also to Damien Rice and Belle and Sebastian, 'cause the important gig of the day is, of course, Sleater-Kinney. Then Ride and over? What an incredible day could have been...

Saturday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
16:00 Patti Smith (Auditori Rockdelux)
17:30 Ben Watt (Auditori Rockdelux) 
18:55 The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (Primavera)
20:30 Tori Amos (Ray-Ban)
21:40 DIIV (Pitchfork)
22.20 Interpol Heineken)*
23:00 Flyying Colours (H & M Pro)
23:45 The Strokes  (Primavera)
Same sad song. Nice start with Patti and Ben Watt, then a sort of a wasteland (although we'll manage) and more clashes. DIIV will be the chosen band and then, whatever happens...

Sunday, May 31th, Apolo/Sala BARTS
19:40 Soledad Vélez (BARTS) 
20:45 Torres (BARTS) 
A very relaxed day with just one gig that we really want to attend, but what a gig. We love Torres... Sure (and also hope) there will be more changes and adds to this schedule as the Festival approaches. We'll see!

* Incomplete, or depending on the distances between stages

Primavera Sound 2015: first impressions

Primavera Sound Festival 2015's line-up unveiled! The show was quick and the videogame used to reveal the band names was a funny idea, (although a bit too easy?).Hipsters/posers were quite ok compared with previous years (except when the food arrived, the animal instincts appeared no matter how cool you dress) and the overall feeling was a pleasant one. Thanks to the organisers. 

But let’s go to key question. What an impressive line-up they have gathered! We are extremely happy they have followed our advice (kidding of course) and prepared an almost riot grrrl stage (by the sea perhaps?) on Friday with The Julie Ruin, Ex Hex and Sleater-Kinney. Amazing. Now please no overlaps, at least on Friday.

As happened last year, we’ll focus on the “middle class”, although my better half will strongly push for seeing The Black Keys and The Strokes (huge question marks on the latest one), which looks, as always, interesting, diverse, and with a lot of potential. DIIV, Eels (finally!), Spiritualized, Patti Smith, Torres (YEEES!) and a huge list of well-known (like Belle and Sebastian) and recently discovered names (Twerps to name one)… If we are lucky with the overlaps, this edition could be simply spectacular.

So, honouring the Blog’s tradition, here’s our traditional rough (we don't have the timetables yet) “paint & colour” version of the line-up with our first impressions on the bands we are willing to see. Promising, right?

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2015

27th-31st May

ALBERT HAMMOND JR. • ALT-J • AMERICAN FOOTBALL • ANDREW WEATHERALL ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS • ARIEL PINK • ARTHUR RUSSELL INSTRUMENTALS BABES IN TOYLAND • BAXTER DURY • BELLE & SEBASTIAN • BEN WATT • BENJAMIN BOOKER • THE BLACK KEYS • THE BOHICAS • BOREALS • BRAND NEW • CARIBOU • CHEATAHS • CHET FAKER • CHILDHOOD • CHRISTINA ROSENVINGE • THE CHURCH • CINERAMA • DJ COCO • D.D DUMBO • DAMIEN RICE • DAN DEACON • DAVE P. • DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 • DER PANTHER • DIIV • DISAPPEARS • DIXON • DULCE PAJARA DE JUVENTUD • EARTH • EARTHLESS • EELS • EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN • ELECTRIC WIZARD • EX HEX • EXXASENS • FERRAN PALAU • FOXYGEN • FUCKED UP • FUMACA PRETA • GERMA AIRE • THE GHOST OF A SABER TOOTH TIGER • GIANT SAND • GREYLAG • GÚDAR • GUI BORATTO • HANS-JOACHIM ROEDELIUS • HAR MAR SUPERSTAR (dj set) • HEALTH • HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER • HOOKWORMS • THE HOTELIER • IBEYI • ICEAGE • INTERPOL • JAMBINAI • JAMES BLAKE • JESSICA & THE FLETCHERS • JOAN MIQUEL OLIVER • JON HOPKINS • JOSE GONZALEZ • THE JUAN MACLEAN • JULIAN CASABLANCAS+THE VOIDZ • THE JULIE RUIN • JUNGLE • KELELA KEVIN MORBY • THE KVB • LAS RUINAS • LES AMBASSADEURS • LES SUEQUES • LOS PUNSETES • LOST TAPES • MAC DEMARCO • MARC PIÑOL • MARC RIBOT'S CERAMIC DOG • MDOU MOCTAR • MIKAL CRONIN • MIKE SIMONETTI • MINERAL • MIQUEL SERRA • MOURN • MOVEMENT • MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND • NANCY WHANG (dj set) NELEONARD • THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS • NUEVA VOLCANO • NÚRIA GRAHAM • OCELLOT • OMD • OUGHT • PALLBEARER • PANAMA • PANDA BEAR • PATTI SMITH & BAND perform HORSES • PERFUME GENIUS • PERRO • PHARMAKON • RATKING • THE REPLACEMENTS • RICHIE HAWTIN • RIDE • ROCIO MARQUEZ • ROMAN FLOGEL • RUN THE JEWELS • SALVAJE MONTOYA • THE SAURS • SHABAZZ PALACES • SHELLAC SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO • SINGLE MOTHERS • SLEAFORD MODS • SLEATER-KINNEY • SOAK • THE SOFT MOON • SPIRITUALIZED • SR. CHINARRO • STRAND OF OAKS • THE STROKES • THE SUICIDE OF WESTERN CULTURE • SUN KIL MOON • SUNN 0))) • SWANS • THEE OH SEES • THE THURSTON MOORE BAND • TOBIAS JESSO JR.• TONY ALLEN • TORRES • TUNE-YARDS • TWERPS • TWIN SHADOW • TYLER THE CREATOR • UMBERTO & ANTONI MAIOVVI • UNDERWORLD dubnobasswithmyheadman live • UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA • VIET CONG • VOIVOD • WHITE HILLS • YASMINE HAMDAN • YOUNGHUSBAND • THE ZEPHYR BONES

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"

Primavera Sound 2014: Timetables, 1rst attempt

PS14: the clashes' nightmare begins...

Here it is, the timetables for the Primavera Sound 2014 are unveiled... Still pending on some additional things, like Primavera als Parcs' schedule or the remaining small stages, but for the first attempt, this is what my PS 2014 looks like:

Wednesday, May 28th, La [2] Apolo
20:30 Aries 
21.30 Beach Beach 
22.30 Me and the Bees
Zero doubts here. Not very interested on Wednesday bands at Parc del Fòrum and La Castanya's showcase looks so exciting this is a no brainer. Me and the Bees presenting their new record! Can't wait...

Thursday, May 29th, Parc del Fòrum
17:45 Grupo de Expertos Solynieve (Sony)
18:40 Real Estate (Heineken)
19:35 Midlake (Sony)*
20:40 Warpaint (Heineken)
21:50 St. Vincent (Sony)
23:00 Queens of the Stone Age (Heineken) 
00:30 Arcade Fire (Sony)
If the schedules fit and there's time enough to move from Sony to Heineken and viceversa stages this should be an amazing day... Fingers crossed!

Friday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
19:25 Jenny Lewis (Sony)
20:40 Dr. John and The Nite Trippers (Ray-Ban)*
21:40 Slowdive (Sony) 
22:50 The Julie Ruin (Ray-Ban)
00:20 The National (Sony)
Terrible what a dramatic day it's going to be: Slowdive versus Sharon Van Etten? No Pixies? No War on Drugs? No Lee Ranaldo? That's criminal and, sorry to say, I believe the organisation could have done better, it's pretty strange to me not to think many of the public interested in one of the aforementioned won't like to watch any of the other names... so why are they playing at almost the same times?

Saturday, May 31th, Parc del Fòrum
17:20 La Sera (Vice)
18:45 Courtney Barnett (Pitchfork))
20:00 Dum Dum Girls (Pitchfork)
20:50 Hospitality (Vice)
21:50 Volcano Choir (Sony)
01:05 Helen Love (Vice)
02:10 Foals (Heineken)
Not as terrible as Friday but quite disappointing again. At this point I'm sacrificing Television because I'm not going to leave Courtney Barnett's show and don't want to miss Hospitality's... and after that gig... we'll see... Like last year's edition, maybe I'll be back home pretty early.

Sunday, June 1rst, BARTS
19:40 Joana Serrat
20:45 Grouper
21:50 Juana Molina
23:00 Angel Olsen
Another no-brainer, really looking forward to see Angel Olsen live, and I'm curious about a couple of names on BARTS' agenda so not much to discuss here...

Sure it won't be the final schedule!

*Incomplete (depending on the distances between stages)

Primavera Sound 2014: first impressions

And the DAY arrived, the Primavera Sound 2014 unveiled its line-up yesterday night. The movie was so-so imo (too short to make their story appealing) and the theatre was too full of hipster/posers only worried to identify the band names that made it hard to follow, but anyway, that's understandable. PS organisers offered quite a night (for free) to guests, so many thanks in that sense. 

But let’s go to key question. The #BestLineUpEver? No way. But it's a very interesting, diverse, and with a lot of potential line-up. Except Friday (The National & Slowdive, oh yes, oh yes), it’s the year I’m more disinterested with headliners. As a matter of fact, Thursday’s big names are ok for me, Friday are excellent, and Saturday are… annoying. It’s also worrying bands/hypes like Disclosure, Volcano Choir or Haim are so high in the line-up instead of groups like Midlake, Real Estate, Dum Dum Girls. So more than ever, I’ll happily focus on the "middle & lower class" of the line-up, where names like The Julie Ruin, Hospitality, Courtney Barnett or my dear Sharon Van Etten appear. Crossing my fingers overlaps have mercy this edition. They are going to make the difference between an ok Festival or an unforgettable one.

When timetables are confirmed, I'll add our plan for Wednesday and Sunday, but right now for SURE I'm going to La Castanya showcase (Me and the Bees!) and Primavera als Parcs, which looks stunning! But right now, here's how my (our) Primavera Sound 2014 looks like...

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

Best Songs of the Year 2013: 75-51

Chapter II of our favourite 100 tunes released this 2013. 25 more songs, now comprised between positions 75 to 51. Again, you have the complete (20 tunes) playlist at our newly created Soundcloud page, and if the song isn't available there, you'll have an alternative direct link. As we explained on the previous list, only three songs per band, so we've been able to include more groups (bands "affected" by this limitation are The National, Savages and Go Violets). Third part of the list coming very soon, so stay tuned. Hope you enjoy!

75. Math and Physics Club- Long Drag
74. Lose The Reason- The Primitives
73. The Most Beautiful Boy- The Choo Choo Trains
72. Winter Coat- Coach Station Reunion

71. Mean Streets- Tennis
70. Fool of a Kind- Marine Life
69. Lose Control- Brothers in Law
68. Temporary Touch- Selebrities
67. We Don't Have Any Cuts to Waste- The Very Most
66. Daedalus- San Fermin
65. Marshal Dear- Savages (link to video)
64. Show Me the Wonder- Manic Street Preachers (link to video)
63. Let Them All In- I Am Kloot
62. Gun- Chvrches

61. I Don’t Know What to Do With My Hands- Minor Alps
60. Ha Ha Ha- The Julie Ruin
59. Floating- Mequetrefe
58. Dead in Your Head- Bleached
57. Evil/Shy- The Mini Skips
56. Generación Perdida- Las Ruinas
55. Girls Like Us- Pins
54. Through the Deep, Dark Wood- The Veils
53. El Mundo Se Va a Acabar- Pauline en la Playa
52. Can You Keep A Secret- The Birthday Kiss
51. Wanted- Go Violets

Click here to check the SoundCloud playlist!

Best Records of the Year 2013

Following the EPs list now it's time for the best records of 2013. Contrary to last year, I have increased the number of albums, but all 30 LPs are records I have listened and enjoyed fully. Meaning that records which I'm enjoying right now but have "arrived late" to my ears, or I haven't listened that much yet, didn't make the list (to name three I'm pretty sure would be among the names below with some more time ahead: Math and Physics Club's "Our Hearts Beat Out Loud", Gente Joven's "I, II, III, IV" and Doble Pletina's "De lo Concreto a lo General"). I believe they deserve to be listened properly and not be included just for the sake of mentioning more albums. Having said that, here we go, hope you like it!

30. Dress Up- The Spook School
29. Mug Museum- Cate Le Bon
28. Calendar Days- Dick Diver
27. How Many Times Have You Let Me Die- The Blanche Hudson Weekend
26. Run Fast- The Julie Ruin
25. Hummingbird- Local Natives
24. True Hallucinations- Ex Cops
23. Break It Up- Break It Up
22. Hard Times for Dreamers- Brothers in Law
21. Pick Your Century- Dub Noir
20. Girls Like Us- Pins
19. A Farewell to Youth- When Nalda Became Punk
18. Say It- Just Handshakes
17. Everything Is Going to Be OK- Big Summer
16. Waiting for Something to Happen- Veronica Falls
15. San Fermin- San Fermin
14. The Majestic 12 Years: 1994-1998- Majestic 12
13. If You Leave- Daughter
12. Everlasting Light- The Proctors
11. Lost Album- Coach Station Reunion
10. Ride Your Heart- Bleached
9. El Mundo Se Va a Acabar- Pauline en la Playa
8. Torres- Torres
7. Desire Lines- Camera Obscura
6. Choose Your Own Adventure- Arts & Leisure
5. Early Fragments- Fear of Men
4. Tall Tall Shadow- Basia Bulat
3. Personal Record- Eleanor Friedberger
2. Silence Yourself- Savages
1. Trouble Will Find Me- The National

Want to check last year's list? Then check here
And 2011's? Just click here

The Indie Anthology 31: essential songs

Back to the Indie Anthology, this time... let's get a bit "politically charged". Yeah, after watching "The Punk Singer" it was bound to happen (review of the documentary coming soon).

Song: Hot Topic
Artist: Le Tigre
Year: 1999

I have always had an issue with Kathleen Hanna. I admire her so much and tried so many times to get into her music, but in all honesty, I have never been able to be engaged by her albums fully. I guess straightforward punk (Bikini Kill) and electronic pop (Le Tigre) are just not my genres. With some explosive exceptions, "TKO", "Deceptacon", "Keep On Living", and in a very special way, "Hot Topic". A ridiculously catchy bubblegum pop tune that is also a celebration of mostly female/feminist icons. Gertrude Stein, Billie Jean King, Nina Simone, Sleater-Kinney, The Slits, Joan Jett, and a long, never-ending etc., plus the (I love them) following lines:

So many roads and so much opinion
So much shit to give in, give in to
So many rules and so much opinion
So much bullshit but we won't give in

Stop, we won't stop
Don't you stop
I can't live if you stop 

Can pop be meaningful and joyful? Here's one of the best examples I know, an indie mantra of real heroes. Now tell me: do you think there's any space for all the Lady Gagas, Miley Cyrus, Rihannas and all the utter crap we have today pestering music industry here? NO WAY. From a music level, that's why I was so eager to recommend his latest project, The Julie Ruin, finally an album I really enjoy as a whole. And from another, more vindicating perspective, that's why I'm so willing to celebrate Kathlenn Hanna is back, hopefully to (please do it) kick some asses and shake some minds.