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?

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 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?

Best Records of the Year 2015

No time to rest. After EPs and Concerts, now it's the turn for the Best Records of 2015! As done on previous years, we have listed the 30 LPs most enjoyed this year. During 2015 we have had the chance to see some of them live, others have been exceptional discoveries (you'll find many at our 'Discoverer Section') or listed at our 'Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Series'. Even a few of them have been interviewed at the 'These Go to 11' series (zillions thanks!). Best Songs following shortly! Thanks to all of bands listed, you gave us a wonderful soundtrack this 2015!

30. Goon- Tobias Jesso Jr.
29. No One's Coming to for Us - Trust Fund
28. Souvenirs- The Birkins
27. MCIII- Mikal Cronin
26. Songs to Play- Robert Forster
25. Silver Bullets- The Chills
24. Jekyll Island- Surf City
23. Oh, Rompehielos- The New Raemon
22. In my flat- The Hermit Crabs
21. Time to go home- Chastity Belt
20. El Despertar- Reina Republicana
19. Of love & other affections- Postal Blue
18. A vision- Seapony
17. Holding Pattern- The Treasures of Mexico
16. Apparitions- Ghost Transmission
15. All odds ends- The Mantles
14. Algiers- Algiers
13. Wasting away and wondering- The School
12. Sometimes I sit and think, and sometimes I sit- Courtney Barnett
11. I love you, honeybear- Father John Misty
10. Melbourne, Florida- Dick Diver
9. The agent intellect- Protomartyr
8. Range Anxiety- Twerps
7. No son tu marido- Hazte Lapón
6. Land- Novella
5. No cities to love- Sleater-Kinney
4. Beat the champ- The Mountain Goats
3. Desperate Journalist- Desperate Journalist
2. Split Figure- Line & Circle
1. Carrie and Lowell- Sufjan Stevens


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

Best Records of the Year 2014

After EPs and Books, now it's time for the Best Records of 2014. As previous years, we have listed our favourite 30 LPs, the releases that we have enjoyed the most. Many of these bands have already appeared at our "Discoverer Section", others have been played at our "Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Series" and a bunch of them have done our "These Go to 11" questionnaire (thank you, thank you, thank you). Many tough decissions have been made, excluding many bands & records that we love, but finally, here it is. So many amazing music gathered here!

30. Our Years in the Wilderness - The Hi-Life Companion
29. Let You Go- Tape Waves
28. Mundo Fatal- Me and the Bees
27. Do What You Want To, It’s What You Should Do- Flowers
26. The Sea- Beach Beach
25. Une Longue Si Attente- Watoo Watoo
24. Seeds- TV on the Radio
23. Floristry- Trick Mammoth
22. Feel Not Bad- Sw/mm/ng
21. Too True- Dum Dum Girls
20. Fumes- Lily and Madeleine
19. Burn Your Fire For No Witness- Angel Olsen
18. Courting Strong- Martha
17. Before There Were Pictures- Pale Lights
16. Go Guitars- She Sir
15. Nobody Wants to Be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave- The Twilight Sad
14. Fruits del Teu Bosc- Renaldo y Clara
13. Paperback Ghosts- Comet Gain
12. La Foto Fantasma- Cosmen Adelaida
11. Sealed with a Kiss- Alpaca Sports
10. Siesta- The Zebras
9. The Best Hunter- Boutade
8. Up at Lagrange- The Hobbes Fanclub
7. The Luxembourg Signal- The Luxembourg Signal
6. Are We There Yet?- Sharon Van Etten
5. Always- Alvvays
4. Honeyblood- Honeyblood
3. Atlas- Real Estate
2. Loom- Fear of Men
1. Rips- Ex Hex


Want to check last year's list? Then check here
And 2012's? Click here
And 2011's? Just click here

Best Records and EPs of the year 2014... so far

Hard to believe, but half of 2014 is already gone. So, as we do every June since this Blog was born, time to take a look to what year has offered in terms of music so far. As started in 2013, before the list of best songs that will arrive late in the forthcoming week, here's another with our favourite 25 records & EPs of the year to date (all 2014 releases already available). Listed in alphabetical order (the "proper" best-of list comes at the end of the year). Just a way to recognize a bunch of great works!

Are We There Yet?- Sharon Van Etten

Atlas- Real Estate

Before There Were Pictures- Pale Lights

Burn Your Fire to No Witness- Angel Olsen

Courting Strong- Martha

Dalliance- Gold-Bears

Detour- Soft Science

Floristry- Trick Mammoth

Flyying Colours- Flyying Colours

Fruits del teu Bosc- Renaldo & Clara

Gingerlys- Gingerlys

Go Guitars- She Sir

Indiepop or Whatever!- When Nalda Became Punk

In Dreams- Fireflies

La Foto Fantasma- Cosmen Adelaida

Loom- Fear of Men

Mundo Fatal- Me and the Bees

New Gods- Withered Hand

Our Year in the Wilderness- The Hi-Life Companion

Sealed with a Kiss- Alpaca Sports

The Best Hunter- Boutade

The Double EP: A Sea Of Split Peas- Courtney Barnett

Things Too Obvious to Sing- The Very Most
Une Si Longue Attente- Watoo Watoo
Xeristar- Linda Guilala

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

"Hospitality", indie-pop debut of the year

Hospitality- Hospitality

Yeah, I know, a big statement on the title, but Hospitality's fun, hyper-addictive, catchy as hell and quite peculiar, quirky indie-pop, deserves that sort of title for a post. If there's a better debut album this year, then 2012 should be one to be musically remembered.

The start of "Hospitality", the album, is unbeatable, terrific. "Eight Avenue", "Friends of Friends" and "Betty Wang". Upbeat, intricate indie-pop that makes you smile and "charge batteries". Full of melodies that stuck in your head, this is the sort of music that fits perfectly to walk/wander around the city on a sunny day. It will be a matter of time you'll find yourself humming along one of its irresistible choruses ("But I've got friends that are new friends"), or some of the one-liners where Amber Papini's shines. "If you leave New York/ I don't care, I don't care!" 

Because Papini's voice is one of the "miracles" of Hospitality. Kind of funny and strange (on Merge Records website, their label, they explain she learnt to sing with the English accent of Bernard Butler while listening to Psychedelic Fur's "Talk Talk Talk"), but also sweet, she will amuse you first, and then, once you have been disarmed, it will haunt you. Her peculiar vocal range and tone quickly becomes a trademark of the band, allowing to distance them from indie-pop standards. And Papini is a fine lyricist too, explaining stories in the songs that are not that unfamiliar for a whole generation of of twentysomething's-thirties trying to figure out what's next in their life, always with a refreshing wit and humour, not taking things too seriously.

There's a particular groove going on during the whole album, giving it a cohesion. Despite finding more languid numbers in its "middle section" like "Julie" (maybe the less impressive of the lot), the delicate "Sleepover", or "Argonauts" and "Liberal Arts" with its wonderful harmonies, towards the end, there's also space for some more fast-paced tunes, where guitars keep shimmering, intertwined with trotting drums and keyboards on "The Right Profession", "The Birthday" or the closer "All Day Today". Songs are wisely combined throughout the record, helping to make it a joyous, very fluent one. Like the good albums, "Hospitality" gives the listener the impression it ends too soon. So there's no other option that going for another "spin". Da-da-da-da-da-da/da-da-da-da.....

SCORE: 8,25

Best Records of the Year 2011

Songs, movies, books, gigs, and finally, the Best Records (EPs included) of the Year. Obviously, a very personal list.

30. Native Speaker- Braids
29. Los Últimos Bañistas- Los Últimos Bañistas
28. Share the Joy- Vivian Girls
27. Strange Mercy- St. Vincent
26. Nihil Obstat- Disco Las Palmeras!
25. Passenger- Lisa Hannigan
24. Hearts- I Break Horses
23. Odio París- Odio París
22. What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?- The Vaccines
21. Cold- Be Forest
20. Clang of the Concrete Swans- Comet Gain
19. Dig On- She Keeps Bees
18. Escapar con el Anticiclón- Manos de Topo
17. Evening Tapestry- Brown Recluse
16. Alela Diane & Wild Divine- Alela Diane & Wild Divine
15. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
14. Build A Rocket Boys!- Elbow
13. Raven in the Grave- The Raveonettes
12. Creatures of an Hour- Still Corners
11.Cape Dory- Tennis
10. Submarine- Alex Turner
9. The Rip Tide- Beirut
8. Cults- Cults
7. Fuerteventura- Russian Red
6. Belong- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
5. The King is Dead- The Decemberists
4. Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys
3. Collapse Into Now- R.E.M.
2. Veronica Falls- Veronica Falls
1. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey