Primavera Sound 2019: my draft schedule

As the tradition obliges, here comes one of our favourite Blog posts! Because the Primavera Sound Festival timetables' were disclosed yesterday, so the time of making our own 'path' trough the line-up has already arrived. At first sight, it doesn't look as promising as previous editions (at least for us, but that's something we knew already, sign of the times and "new normalities") but we know that one of the charms of this festival is to discover new bands... just seems that in this 2019 more than ever!

Wednesday,  May 29th, 
18:00 Melenas (Primavera)
19:10 Hatchie (Primavera)

Just two names we are really interested in for the opening day (sorry, not feeling Big Red Machine that much) but attractive enough to be there for the afternoon...

Thursday, May 30th, Parc del Fòrum
17:00 Julien Baker (Auditori Rockdelux)
18:10 Soccer Mommy (Ray-Ban)
19:00 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks (Primavera)
21:50 Courtney Barnett (Pull & Bear)
23:15 Interpol (Seat) 
Pretty complete and straightforward day... that could have been wonderful without the clashes, a couple of them being simply terrible: Mr. Malkmus overlaps with half of Big Thief's gig, and Interpol with Guided by Voices. So, though questions to be resolved ahead. Mac DeMarco before Courtney? Mr. Pollard or a band that has returned with a very solid record after a couple of letdowns? Or even considering watching Pylon Reenacment society (also clashing with the aforementioned two)?)

Friday, May 31st, Parc del Fòrum
16:45 Lucy Dacus (Ray-Ban)
17:35 Snail Mail (Primavera)
18:30 Birkins feat Ken Stringfellow play Ziggy Stardust (Your Heineken Stage)
19:35 Kurt Vile & The Violators (Pull & Bear)
22:30 Suede (Ray-Ban)
23:50 Low (Primavera)
00:55 Kate Tempest (Ray-Ban)
Another pretty full day (why is Lucy Dacus starting that early?) with only a gap between Kurt Vile and Suede (right now leaning towards Liz Phair). Not bad on paper...

Saturday, June 1rst, Parc del Fòrum
19:15 Built to Spill (Primavera)
20:15 Me and the Bees play The Breeders (Your Heineken Stage)
22:55 Jarvis Cocker (Ray-Ban)
01:30 Stereolab (Ray-Ban)
If Jarvis doesn't save it (any of you has an idea of what kind of performance will offer to us?) this is a frustrating day. Almost nothing to be excited for until Built to Spill, which overlaps (hope just slightly) with our dear Me and the Bees. There, more emptiness (Drab Majesty?) until the Jarvis' enigma and waiting for Stereolab's time (one of the few must-see of this PS19 for us) with Primal Scream.

Sunday, June 2nd, 
18:20 Filthy Friends (Primavera a la ciutat -Barcelona)
23.30 The Beths (Sala Apolo)
And more frustration to end the Festival. Two big, mandatory acts for us (Peter Buck & Corin Tucker? They should be headliners... ALWAYS), separated by many hours and locations, damn it what a terrible schedule!

Stay tuned for further developments!!

Best Songs of the Year 2018: 50-26

We are getting close to the end of the 'road', and with any further delay, here's comes the third round of our Best Songs of the Year, now with those comprised between 50 and 26! The 'difficulty level' is exponentially increasing, with thoughtful and hard decissions to be made in order to configure the rank of the last fifty positions, a direct result of a pretty stunning collection of tunes that have dropped during 2018. We hope you like the selected ones as much as we do, and don't forget to keep tuned, as we will unveil the final playlist tomorrow, with the arrival of 2019. Have a really nice New Year's Eve!

50. From One Another- Totally Mild
49. In Your Car- Free Cake For Every Creature
48. Sozialisiert In Der BRD- Botschaft

47. Slow Rise II- Sun June
46. Itchy Sweater- Young Scum
45. Sing To Me Candy- Papercuts
44. What’s Chasing You- Marlon Williams
43. One Rizla- Shame
41. Untold- Red Red Eyes
42. Knickerbocker Street- Clint Michigan
40. I Can´t Listen to Gene Clark Anymore- Marissa Nadler
39. Danny Nedelko- Idles
38. On Division St- Nation of Language

37. Avalanche- The Treasures of Mexico
36. Twentytwo- Sunflower Bean
35. Dylan & Caitlin- Manic Street Preachers
34. Hasta La Saciedad- Sr. Chinarro
33. Woman- Cat Power
32. Wittgenstein- The New Raemon
31. Elastic Days- J. Mascis
30. Punch Drunk- Martha Ffion
29. Todas las Fiestas - Hazte Lapón
28. We Can’t Win- The Goon Sax
27. The Rover- Interpol
26. Mainland- Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Primavera Sound 2019: first impressions

We're back! Fresh from our break... and surprised with the announcement, almost out of the blue (at least for us, but we are guessing the amount and caliber of certain headliners by certain Festivals within the country might have had something to do) of the Primavera Sound's line-up 2019. So let's dive in...

Labelled as the #NewNormal and heralded as the perfect encounter between the 'state of music', parity and the trademark eclecticism of the Festival, there's a bit to be annoyed for. First, why now? Getting involved in the parity debate looks kind of  'too little, too late'. But hey, better late than never. You are welcome. The worst part, if you ask us, is that there's a feeling of a worrying marketing product created (that video doesn't help) as an excuse to justify a roster that, at first glimpse, lacks some substance and exciting names, replaced by extremely lame (being very polite) and mainstream trends that (product placement alert, product placement alert) behind cool (music genre?) terms such as Urban are eager to sell sneakers, hats, glasses or tracksuits.   

But at the same time, and despite some huge misses that we thought almost granted, like Robert Forster (new album and European tour in Spring), The Chills (one of the records of 2018) and Sharon Van Etten (although I'm very scared of the new album judging by first tunes), there's quite a lot to be excited for, in particular the amazing return of Stereolab, the unexpected gig of Filthy Friends (Primavera, if you are having Peter Buck & Corin Tucker in Barcelona why don't you ask them for more, in any of their multiple incarnations) and the chance of seeing live some of the artists responsible for the best LPs of 2018, like Lucy Dacus or Soccer Mommy.

As always, this is just the Blog's first impression. We are happy it seems this Primavera's edition recovers the traditional vast offer in what regards to the 'middle and small class', so we are certain we are about to 'discover' several proposals to add to 'our' Festival routes. So, all in all, let's honour the Blog’s tradition: here’s our rough paint & colour' version of 2019 line-up with the bands we are willing to see. Suggestions are welcomed and as always, a lot to listen ahead!!

CONFIRMED ARTISTS FOR PRIMAVERA SOUND 2019

27 May - 2 June

070 Shake • Agoria live • Agost • Aïsha Devi • Albany • Aldous Harding • Aleesha • Alice Phoebe Lou • Alondra Bentley • Ama Lou • Amyl and The Sniffers • Anastasia Kristensen live • Anthony Naples live • Apparat live & dj • Avalon Emerson • Bakar • Batu • Bea Pelea • Beak> • The Beths • BFlecha • Big Red Machine • Big Thief • Bliss Signal • Boy Pablo • Brat Star • Bridget St. John • Built To Spill • Carcass • Cardi B • Cariño • Carly Rae Jepsen • Cate Le Bon • Caterina Barbieri • CHAI • Channel Tres • Charli XCX • Christina Rosenvinge • Christine and The Queens • Clairo • Clara! • Dj Coco • Coucou Chloe • Courtesy • Courtney Barnett • Cuco • CupcakKe • Cupido • Cybotron • Dâm-Funk • Danny Brown • Danny L Harle live • David August • Daymé Arocena • Deerhunter • Demdike Stare • Denis Sulta • Derby Motoreta's Burrito Cachimba • Dirty Projectors • Djrum • Dr. Rubinstein • Drab Majesty • Dream Wife • Ecran Total • Efrim Manuel Menuck • Elena Setién • Empress Of • Epsilove • Erykah Badu • Fantastic Man b2b Tornado Wallace • Filthy Friends • FKA twigs • Flaca • Flohio • Forest Drive West • Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes • Frinda Di Lanco • Fucked Up • Future • Gangsta Boo • Georgia Anne Muldrow • Goa • Goth Boi Clique • Guided By Voices • Haru Nemuri • Hatchie • Helena Hauff • Hieroglyphic Being • Homeshake • Hurricane G feat Tony Touch • Ian Isiah • Iglooghost • IM • Interpol • Isa·bel • Ivy Queen • Izabel • J Balvin • James Blake • Janelle Monáe • Japanese • Jarvis Cocker introducing JARV IS • JASSS • Jawbreaker • Jayda G • Job Jobse • Jon Hassell • Joy Orbison • JPEGMAFIA • Julia Holter • Julien Baker • June of 44 • Jungle • Kali Uchis • Kate Tempest • Kelly Kapøwsky • Kodie Shane • Krystal Klear • Kurt Vile & The Violators • La Goony Chonga • La Zowi • Las Odio • Laurel Halo dj set • Lidia Damunt • Lil Moss • Linn Da Quebrada • Lisabö • Liz Phair • Lizzo • Lndfk • Lolina • Low • Loyle Carner • Lucy Dacus • Mac DeMarco • Mad Miran • Mafalda • The Mani-las • Dj Marcelle • María José Llergo • Maribou State • Marie Davidson • Mark Luva • Melenas • The Messthetics • Midori Takada • Mina • Miya Folick • Modeselektor live • Mow • Mozhgan • Mumdance • Mura Masa • Museless • Mykki Blanco • Myrkur • The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices featuring Lisa Gerrard • Nas • Nathy Peluso • The Necks • Neneh Cherry • Nilüfer Yanya • Nina Kraviz • Nitzer Ebb • Nosedrip • Object Blue • Objekt live & dj • Octo Octa b2b Eris Drew • Odina • Overmono live & dj • Pavvla • Peach • Peggy Gou • Dj Playero • Pond • Primal Scream • Princess Nokia • Pusha T • Putochinomaricón • r.e.a.l. • Retirada! • Richie Hawtin Close • Rico Nasty • Robyn • Róisín Murphy • Rosa Pistola • Rosalía • Dj Rosario & Sama Yax • Roza Terenzi • Rrucculla • Shakti Alliance (Ivy Barkakati, Modet, Vir) • Shellac • Shonen Knife • Sigrid • slowthai • Snail Mail • Soccer Mommy • Solange • Somadamantina • Sons Of Kemet XL • SOPHIE • Steffi • Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks • Stereolab • Sticky M.A. • Stiff Little Fingers • Suede • Dj Supermarkt • Suzanne Ciani • Tame Impala • Tierra Whack • Tim Hecker & Konoyo Ensemble • Tirzah • Tomberlin • Tony Touch & Friends (Don Chezina + Soni WithanEYE) • upsammy • Uzielito Mix • Veronica Vasicka live • Vicky Groovy • Voiski live • Wednesday Campanella • Xols • Yaeji • Ylia • Yung Beef dj set • Yves Tumor full band

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"/nice option if there's no overlap

Best Songs of the Year 2018...so far

Without wasting any more time, and after the records & EPs list, here are our 40 best songs of the year to date! As usual, they are not ranked, just listed in alphabetical order, with the sole limitation of just allowing one tune per group. The result is, in our opinion, a terrific collection of music that needs to be vindicated and celebrated, so we encourage you to hurry up and enjoy the playlist below.

All the Mains Are Down- Math and Physics Club
Barcelona- Burrito Panza
Boys in the Better Land- Fontaines D.C.
Bug- Renata Zeiguer
Cruel Wind- Night Flowers
Dawning- DMA’s
Dirty Cigarettes- Quiet Slang
Dylan & Caitlin- Manic Street Preachers
Erasure- Superchunk
Espionage- Preoccupations
Future Me Hates Me- The Beths
I Was a Fool- Sunflower Bean
Isn't It Obvious?- D.A.Stern
Knickerbocker Street- Clint Michigan
Look Out from Your Window- The Innocence Mission
Me and McAlevey- Walter Martin
Middle America- Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks
More Than This- Amaya Laucirica
Need a little time- Courtney Barnett
Night Shift- Lucy Dacus
Omm Sha Lala- Haley Heynderickx
On Division St- Nation of Language
Once In My Life- The Decemberists
Player- Juliana Daugherty
Pristine- Snail Mail
Punch Drunk- Martha Ffion
Rodeo- QTY
Sabes la noche- Hazte Lapón
Sure- Hatchie
Take Today- Totally Mild
The Rover- Interpol
These 3 Things- Ought
Una Mujer Venezolana- Blacanova
Untold- Red Red Eyes
Vital Sign- Olden Yolk
Waiting For You- Hurry
Warrior - Air Waves
Wasting Time- Young Scum
What’s Chasing You- Marlon Williams
(You’re Better) than Ever- Illuminati Hotties

And if you want to check the previous years, click on 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 selections!

The Indie Anthology 81: essential songs

New year, new attempt to recover the pace of the Blog posts and revitalize some of its dearest sections, like the Indie Anthology. And to do so, here's one of my favourite post-punk tunes from a short-lived but pretty amazing band. Oh, their rapture, one of these nights!!

Song: Brother 
Artist: The Organ 
Year: 2004

Agreed, the post-punk revival was, mostly, a bunch of crap. But there were amazing exceptions to the rule, like Interpol's first albums, Editors' debut and the majestic 'Grab that gun', from Vancouver's quintet The Organ. Still sounding like an album resulting from the marriage of Morrissey (the meaningful one) and Joy Division and The Cure, with hints of Siouxsie, Patti Smith and Kristin Hersh on the arresting voice of Katie Sketch. Sadly, it was just a very short ride, with the band disbanding shortly after, but a striking one. I could choose among half of the record tunes, but I'm sticking with 'Brother', its bouncy immediacy coming out of nowhere, propelled to stratosphere thanks to the simple-yet-mind blowing melody-bearing bass before Jenny's Hammond organ embraces you while guitar lines and concise drumming bring you back to the late 80s now in sepia. I hear bands like beloved Desperate Journalist or even Savages here, and I wonder where The Organ could have achieved. Well, at least their testament was a hell of a record. It was exciting then. It is still exciting now...

Primavera Sound 2015 in brief, days 4 & 5

And we arrive to the final chapter of our Primavera Sound chronicles, with the last day of concerts at Fòrum, plus the addition (and what an addition!) of a final gig seen yesterday at sala Barts.

The Good

Patti Smith: Not really a concert, but a celebration. The music legend was relaxed, friendly and willing to have fun with an audience eager to show their love, respect and appreciation. Even when the songs were so-so (the ones devoted to Amy Winehouse and her grandson) or when the covered tune (Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day') became a lovely piece of nonsense Patti's charisma and mythical presence did it all. And then came the brutal renditions of 'Because the Night' and 'Pissing in a River', one of the moments of the Festival for me. So when 'People Have the Power' (video below) appeared, with the audience leaving their seats to stay closer to the icon it all made sense. Patti has the power.

DIIV: I love 'Oshin', and got really frustrated when the band cancelled their participation at last year's Primavera. But the group leaded by Zachary Cole Smith came to Barcelona with a sole purpose: enlightening Pitchfork stage. Terrific performance, with new tunes sounding as exciting as the glorious dreampop gems of 'Oshin'. Wow.

Dreamy diving pop. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Interpol: Didn't have many expectations, as their last albums are far from their best moments... but that's exactly what they gave us at Heineken stage. A gig heavy on 'Turn on the Bright Lights' with seven tunes, all the hits from 'Antics', performed with energy and passion. And when electric system of the stage went down, the band yelled "if there's sound, we'll play" to finish their set in a splendid, unique way, with the audience providing the light with their mobile phones. Fantastic, powerful gig.

Paul Banks on screen. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

The Bad

The Strokes: From Interpol to Strokes, from pleasant surprise to utter disappointment. While one can say the musicians tried despite, as it happened with the Black Keys on Thursday, the sound was mediocre, Julian Casablancas simply wasn't there. Apathetic, disinterested, with the head miles away from Primavera stage (maybe still at Camp Nou?). Sad, very sad a headliner behaves that way.

The Queen

Torres: We reserved Mackenzie Scott's gig for Sunday at BARTS (she also played at Fòrum on Saturday but it clashed with some other options), and what great choice turned to be. Only six tunes, but we are 110% sure no one at the venue felt the gig was anything than mesmerizing. Wounded folk that mutes into unstoppable indie-rock, damaged lyrics and distorted, threatening guitar lines, a voice that breaks, whispers and screams, frightening and letting the audience speechless. What a superb concert to end our Primavera Sound Festival 2015.

Torres haunting BARTS. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Here are the links of the previous chapters!
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

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

Spanish Indie 11: suggesting the best national acts

Very happy to have "revamped" this section of the blog, many interesting bands coming!

Las Ruinas. Not the first time I wrote about this trio as I saw them live at Primavera Club 2011, but they deserved a proper mention. Born in 2008 in Barcelona, after a homemade demo and two self-released albums, "Butano", in 2010, and "Disco de Autoayuda para Mutantes", in 2011, gained the appreciation of local underground scene and national press. The wise people from El Genio Equivocado signed them that year, re-releasing both LPs on a double CD and, past October, their latest work, "Groarrr!". They define their music style as heavy-pop, but I propose you a simple but exciting equation: punk-pop + humour & surrealism + liveness + fun= Las Ruinas. Roar with them!

October People. Young quartet coming from Madrid, they started in 2010 and quickly established their sound as well as themselves as band, crystalising past October (of course) with their self-titled debut album. 8 songs that brings us back to the dark-pop of the 80s. October People play post-punk with punch, immediately recalling zillions of bands (from Joy Division to Interpol, from The Sound to Editors, from The Chameleons to Echo and the Bunnymen), but being able to sound as urgent as passionate, as bleak as danceable, and as credible as addictive.
The Trees. Discovered them last week, at the Minifestival de Música Independent. A very young  band from Barcelona, created last year and with just a first self-titled EP, recorded on April 2012, out now. Even despite their logically short repertoire, here's a group to follow closely. As they proved live, their songs, a delicate and highly emotional folk-pop that recalls bands like Great Like Swimmers, are evocative, intense and heartfelt. Here's a group that really puts everything they have, that immerse themselves in their songs. A group that deserve to be listened.

Discoverer 47: new indie findings

Elections day this Sunday, but there's always time for great new bands to discover!

Guards. DNA matters. This trio formed in NY City in 2010 by Richie James Follin, brother of our beloved Madeline Follin of Cults. Initially wrote some tunes for her, but ended keeping them for himself, with the help of friends like Chairlift's Caroline Polachek, MGMT's James Richardson and Madeline, of course. Then came a series of 7" to keep the buzz going until the release of "In Guards We Trust", debut album expected for February 2013. Sure comparisons and expectations will be recurrent, because they certainly sound like Cults and that joyful bunch of retro-pop bands. But hey, while they deliver perfect indiepop pills like "Coming True" or "Silver Lining" who cares? Fated for big things, believe me.    
Guards - Coming True by Guards
Guards - Silver Lining by Guards

Cameras. Down to Sidney to meet this quartet (previously trio). Formed in 2008 by Eleanor Dunlop and Fraser Harvey due to their “mutual love for layering darker dirtier sounds with warmer delicate melodies”, on 2011 they released "In Your Room", very successful debut that now arrives the rest of the world. A bipolar band, when Dunlop sings they sound like the missed Broadcast or Chan Marshall on an M83 tune, while when Harvey leads its like discovering forgotten tunes from Interpol's "Turn On the Bright Lights". Atmospheric or aggressive, the album shares a haunting mood, a bleak vibe that gives it a unusual coherence. Fascinating music.
Bored Nothing. Still in Australia, we move to Melbourne to meet Fergus Miller, who under this pseudonym has just packed some of his best tunes, added a bunch of new ones and have released three weeks ago on a self-titled debut album that has to be seriously highlighted. Stylistically diverse, Fergus can make you think on Daniel Johnston, Sebadoh, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart or Real Estate from one song to another. You can say this is DIY lo-fi indierock very much devoted to the 90's. But to hell with labelling music. This is the sort of magic you can create with an electric guitar, good taste and tones of talent.
Bored Nothing

Best Three Song Streak on an Album

A very curious list was proposed yesterday by NME: to name the best three song streak on an album. Needless to say I was in. After all, to find "triplets" of songs is a funny way and a nice excuse to listen some favourite records, so here it is!

20. Camera Obscura- Biggest Blue Hi-Fi
Happy New Year/ Eighties Fan/ Houseboat
19. The National- Cherry Tree EP
All Dolled-Up In Straps/ Cherry Tree/ About Today
18. Fanfarlo- Reservoir
Comets/ Fire Escape/ The Walls Are Coming Down
17. Monkey Swallows the Universe- The Bright Carvings
Sheffield Shanty/ Martin/ Jimmy Down the Well
16. Interpol- Antics
Next Exit/ Evil/ Narc
15. Saint Jude's Infirmary- Happy Healthy Lucky Month
The Church of John Coltrane/ Remember Dresden/ Saint Jean (it could continue with Good-bye Jack Vettriano and Saint Jude's Infirmary, this record is so great)  
14. The National- Boxer
Slow Show/ Apartment Story/ Start A War
13. Teenage Fanclub- Grand Prix
About You/ Sparky’s Dream/ Mellow Doubt
12. Belle and Sebastian- If You're Feeling Sinister
Seeing Other People/ Me And the Major/ Like Dylan in the Movies
11. Doves- The Last Broadcast
Pounding/ Last Broadcast/ The Sulphur Man/ Caught By the River (couldn't decide the triplet, so here's a great quartet)
10. R.E.M.- Life's Reach Pageant
Begin the Begin/ These Days/ Fall On Me
9. PJ Harvey- Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
Big Exit/ Good Fortune/ A Place Called Home
8. The National- Alligator
The Geese of Beverly Road/ City Middle/ Mr. November
7. U2- Achtung Baby
Ultraviolet/ Acrobat/ Love is Blindness
6. Beth Orton- Central Reservation
Stolen Car/ Sweetest Decline/ Couldn’t Cause Me Harm
5. Belle and Sebastian- Tigermilk
The State I Am In/ Expectations/ She’s Losing It
4. Bob Dylan- Blood On the Tracks
Tangled Up In Blue/ Simple Twist of Fate/ You’re A Big Girl Now/ Idiot Wind (I know that makes four again, so go think how amazing the record is)
3. The National- High Violet
Conversation 16/ England/ Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks
2. U2- The Joshua Tree
Where the Streets Have No Name/ I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For/ With or Without You
1. R.E.M.- Automatic for the People
Man On the Moon/ Nightswimming/ Find the River (which could easily be the most beautiful music ever made, if you ask me)

Fountains, amazing new band to follow

Double review of the so far fantastic releases from Fountains, one of the most celebrated discoveries of 2012 on Bloodbuzzed!

No Sleep EP

Discovered them on March, and their debut EP has been on repeat mode since then at home and on my Mp3, being also featured on the playlist of best songs of the year so far. All this praise is well deserved, as the London group is capable of doing something really remarkable, and quite unusual nowadays: they really blow you out.

The EP opens with the slow-burner title track "No Sleep", that from the very first second carries you away to a very special place. It's a cold & grey place, but there are still glimpses of hope (careful listen to the wonderful backing vocals from Bex). The music soars, guitars and drums find their way to scatter the clouds and Jonathan voice rises like a mantra. Epic five minutes. I remember writing that it sounded to me like The Wild Swans meeting Joy Division. What an opener.

"Insecure" offers a different side: an uptempo melody, in which guitars take more prominence, delivering raw lines that share the anger and desperation of Jonathan's tone and lyrics. And explodes, and leaves the listener longing for more.

And it does come. "You're Not Welcome" begins like "No Sleep", the guitar intro suggesting a rumbling number that turns into an abrasive mist of sound. Jonathan spokes among celestial guitar and drum melodies. The tempo accelerates, the lyrics hurt. But Fountains decide to hide their final ace with a radical change in the melody, before the concluding, relentless assault to your ears. And you don't want the song to end. 

You can download the EP right now for FREE via bandcamp. RUN and do it!!!! Amazing debut.
SCORE: 8,25/10

Easy Led
If that isn't enough, since the end of July Fountains have a new single for you to enjoy. And what a single (you can order it here)! "Easily Led" is mesmerizing. It sounds like a proper companion of the "No Sleep EP": cascades of guitars, a majestic wall of sound, gloom and light. But the combination of Jonathan and Bex singing propels the tune to another dimension. I have to hear this song live, in particular it's last minute.

Second song of the single is "Repetition". Quite a slow intro that radically drifts into a song that recalls vividly to Interpol (from the good times) or another beloved band of this blog, Motorama. Atmospheric, opressive... Another impressive tune.
Fountains - Easily Led by Beautiful Strange

SCORE: 8,5/10

5 songs so far, 5 masterpieces. Needles to say, Fountains are a band to follow closely.

My People's List: Best Albums 1996-2011

Pitchfork is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a participative proposal: a top albums' list, from 1996 to 2011, but made by us. It has been a really really hard & challenging (therefore interesting) thing to do, so here's Bloodbuzzed's contribution. See you all next week (off for holidays until Sunday!!).

1

TOP PICK

High Violet

The National

• 
  

  2

  Boxer

  The National
• 
  

  3

  If You're Feeling Sinister

  Belle And Sebastian

4. Trailer Park- Beth Orton
5. The Bright Carvings- Monkey Swallows the Universe
6. The Back Room- Editors
7. Alligator- The National
8. Let England Shake- PJ Harvey
9. You Are Free- Cat Power
10. OK Computer- Radiohead

11. This Has Been the Death Of Us- Saint Judes Infirmary 

12. Stories From the City, Stories From the Sea- PJ Harvey
13. The Last Broadcast- Doves
14. Central Reservation- Beth Orton
15. Antics- Interpol
16. Teen Dream- Beach House
17. All That You Can't Leave Behind- U2
18. Reservoir- Fanfarlo
19. While You Were Sleeping- Angelou
20. In Colour- The Concretes
21. What We Lose in the Fire We Gain in the Flood- The Mynabirds
22. Turn On the Bright Lights- Interpol
23. Underachievers Please Try Harder- Camera Obscura
24. Hopeless Unbeliever- The School
25. It's Never Been Like That- Phoenix
26. The Suburbs- Arcade Fire
27. Happy Healthy Lucky Month- Saint Judes Infirmary
28. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
29. A Rush of Blood to the Head- Coldplay
30. Lost Souls- Doves
31. An End Has a Start- Editors
32. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix- Phoenix

33. This Is Hardcore - Pulp
34. The Seldom Seen Kid- Elbow
35. Transatlanticism- Death Cab for Cutie
36. Deserter's Songs- Mercury Rev
37. No Shouts, No Calls- Electrelane
38. Suck It and See- Arctic Monkeys
39. Show Your Bones- Yeah Yeah Yeahs

40. Coming Up- Suede
41. Days- Real Estate
42. Collapse Into Now- R.E.M.
43. Heart of My Own- Basia Bulat
44. Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi- Camera Obscura
45. 1972- Josh Rouse
46. To Be Still- Alela Diane
47. Grab That Gun- The Organ
48. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not- Arctic Monkeys
49. Befriended- The Innocence Mission
50. Submarine OST- Alex Turner
51. Funeral- Arcade Fire
52. Nashville- Josh Rouse
53. Motherland- Natalie Merchant
54. Cast of Thousands- Elbow
55. Up- R.E.M.
56. Seven Swans- Sufjan Stevens
57. Lisbon- The Walkmen
58. Holiday in Rhode Island- The Softies
59. Veronica Falls- Veronica Falls
60. Volume Two- She & Him
61. Reveal- R.E.M.
62. Daybreaker- Beth Orton
63. Songs About You- Language of Flowers
64. Loss- Mull Historical Society
65. The King Is Dead- The Decemberists
66. Scottish Fiction: The Best of Idlewild, 1997-2007- Idlewild
67. Blue Is the Colour- The Beautiful South
68. Dear Catastrophe Waitress- Belle and Sebastian
69. A Year With The Very Most- The Very Most
70. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
71. Say Yes!- The Hi-Life Companion
72. Different Stars- Trespassers William
73. Some Cities- Doves
74. It's Blitz!- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
75. Bang Goes the Knighthood- The Divine Comedy
76. Would You Let Me Play This EP 10 Times A Day?- Hello Saferide
77. Dirty Birds- Kat Flint
78. Broken Record Prayers- Comet Gain
79. The Casket Letters- Monkey Swallows the Universe
80. In and Out of Control- The Raveonettes
81. Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. I- Eels
82. Gulag Orkestar- Beirut
83. I Will Be- Dum Dum Girls
84. Wild Flag- Wild Flag
85. A Temporary Dive- Ane Brun
86. Saltbreakers- Laura Veirs
87. Volume One- She & Him
88. Our Earthly Pleasures- Maximo Park
89. Night On My Side- Gemma Hayes
90. Pretty in Black- The Raveonettes
91. Ongiara- Great Lake Swimmers
92. Neptune- The Duke Spirit
93. Challengers- The New Pornographers
94. The Crane Wife- The Decemberists
95. Oh, My Darling- Basia Bulat
96. The Fool- Warpaint
97. I Am Kloot- I Am Kloot
98. Absent Friends- The Divine Comedy
99. OH (ohio)- Lambchop
100. Criminal Art Lovers- Northern Portrait

Check the full list, with all the Pitchfork's visuals/format at http://peopleslist.pitchfork.com/list/372a3a41/

And have your say!!

The Sexiest Men of Indie

After two depressing, politically charged posts (I'm afraid won't be the last ones), here's a drastic change of topic. As promised on the previous post "The Sexiest Women of Indie", here's the male's list, compiled by my girlfriend, with the same criteria and her unique opinion/taste...

10. Thomas Mars
(Phoenix)

9. Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys)

8. Hamilton Leithauser
(The Walkmen)

7. Nick Valensi (The Strokes)

6. Daniel Kessler (Interpol)

5. Anthony "Caleb" Followill

(Kings of Leon)

4.  Joshua Tillman
(Father John Misty)

3.  Kristian Matsson
(The Tallest Man on Earth)

2. Tom Smith (Editors)

1. Ryan Gosling
(Death Man's Bones)