The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 132

End of January arrives, and despite the year has begun in a pretty disappointing way (again, I'm not talking about politics, if so, the words used would be terrifying or utterly depressing) so this is one of the occasions our regular, working week Jukebox closer is more than needed to cheer up our mood. Even more so when it's so full of exciting new discoveries, like Imaginary People and No Thank You, plus the surprising return? (please!) of our beloved Let's Buy Happiness and another terrific tune from Nadia Reid. And remember, all songs are available at our Soundcloud page (Join Us!).

Direct links to 2017 Jukebox playlists

Week 126 Week 127 Week 128 Week 129 Week 130  Week 131

Music to Look Forward in 2014

Another blog tradition: our new year's music wishes! A small summary of the releases/events we're looking forward to. And yours?

1. To begin with, our traditional & most beloved sure-fire: Jeremy Jensen, aka The Very Most, will be back quite soon with new lush and charming songs. But the challenge in 2014 is greater. Seeing each other again. UK on the horizon! 
2. Another sure-fire is going to be my first gig of the year: Basia Bulat at the end of January presenting "Tall Tall Shadow". Plus, few weeks later it will be the turn for Savages. Oh My, Oh My. 
3. The Hi-Life Companion keeps me waiting way more than is reasonable! "Our Years in the Wilderness" has to arrive very soon, we need it! 
   
4. There's an indiepop genius up north (Sweden) called Andreas Jonsson who has been releasing stunning tune after stunning tune in adorable singles for almost two years. Now Alpaca Sports is going to offer a full album, entitled "Sealed with a Kiss", scheduled for February. What if it is so perfect we don't want to hear anything else? Show some mercy for the rest of musicians out there Andreas! 
5. Young bands conquering the world.This is REALLY the year Planet Earth (at least the part that's not deaf) should fall forever in love with Fear of Men and Let's Buy Happiness. And 2014 should be also the year where the young indiepop army from the Dunedin scene (courtesy of the lovely people at Fishrider Records) conquers the world. It would be a much better place anyway. 
6. Two favourite voices of mine are expected to offer new music this year. Rose Elinor Dougall will offer a follow-up to her fantastic "Future Vanishes" Ep. Can't wait. But the COMEBACK in big capital letters for me is the reunion of Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott. Record on the works. To hear them together again...to hear her again....it's been so long. Goosebumps already. 
   
7. Indietracks, Indietracks, Indietracks, Indietracks... repeat 'til become truth!
8. Fourth Primavera Sound Festival. I already posted my wish list recently. Check it here.
9. Even more & records expected: Northern Spies, Hospitality, Belle and Sebastian, Me and the Bees, Grushenka, Cosmen Adelaida, The Swapsies, Young Romance, Sharon Van Etten, Be Forest... And what do infallible labels like Shelflife, EardrumsPop, Slumberland, Matinée, Test Pattern, Fortuna Pop!, Dufflecoat, WWNBB, February Records, El Genio Equivocado or Discos de Kirlian have prepared for us? And yes (let's go mainstream for a second), it's true this time. It's a U2 year. Maybe too late? We'll see...
10. And finally, the most personal one: you're going to see (better said read) me writing quite a lot out there. Here's hoping for the very best...

Of course, there are many more out there, eager to be discovered. The year in music could be spectacular!

Music to Look Forward to in 2013

New year ahead, new musical wishes! Like we did on 2011 here's our small summary of the releases/events we're looking forward to. A brief shortlist of the "music gifts" asked for 2013. 

1. To begin with, our particular Three Kings, three especially beloved bands of this blog that will have new releases in 2013. Tomorrow arrives "Pretty Decent Swimmers" new EP from the mighty indiepop force Northern Portrait. The Very Most announced few days ago on facebook that a new EP will follow this spring/summer (Jeremy Jensen has told me it will be even better than the great "Ununiversalizable Us", what a statement!). And finally, The Hi-Life Companion assures me 2013 will see their comeback after the wonderful "Say Yes!"
2. Two young bands that have me completely haunted and should offer their debut albums this year. Fear of Men and Let's Buy Happiness. Can't wait to hear the voices of Jessica Weiss and Sarah Hall in their new songs. Expectations couldn't be higher. 
3. More heavenly voices: Rose Elinor Dougall promised me she will have another record ready this year. Please make a Spanish tour too! And it's time for my dear Basia Bulat to come back too. 
4. Amor de Días and The Pastels on the same year? Yes! Pretty sure I'll see both bands live...  
5. Planning to attend March's Madrid Popfest. Dreaming to be part of Indietracks on July.
6. Third Primavera Sound Festival, of course. The chance of seeing Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Eels and Blur live for the first time there? What about The Shins? Well, the PS13's line-up deserves a post on its own... (coming very soon)
7. Three "big names" to end this list. First one, Phoenix have confirmed their return!
8. Second. Camera Obscura also has announced they are recording a new album. Too long without you Tracyanne...Can't wait for it...
9. And one to be confirmed, but evidence suggests (at least in my head) that 2013 should be the year of The National's follow-up to "High Violet". Need to say I'm dying for it?
10. And finally, the most personal and toughest wish: really hoping for a 2013 where this passion of mine (music, writing about music) becomes (or starts to) a profession...

Sure, there are many more out there, and many more that will be discovered. That's the amazing thing with music. What a year this can be!

Discoverer 42: new indie findings

New recommended bands for your listening pleasure, enjoy!

Fear of Men. Most immediate, biggest "crush" of the last months. This very young quartet, split between London and Brighton, released a couple of demo tapes, "Hanna Schygulla" in March 2011 and "Alice Munro" in November, and the debut 7" "Ritual Confession", in August 2011. Their dreamy and cinematic indiepop, with the killer voice of Jessica Weiss on top, placing them alongside our much beloved Let's Buy Happiness, has achieved a new realm of greatness this 2012 with their second 7", "Green Sea", and the forthcoming "Mosaic / Your Side". Can't wait for more! Check them out!

Cape Canaveral. Rejoice fans of charming indiepop! EardrumsPop is here again to save our longing ears!. Their new free EP introduces us to this Danish band, formed in the summer of 2010, and with a ridiculous talent to nail the perfect melody, as gorgeous "Crazy Love" and "Moles" prove. Folk-pop gems with an upbeat and joyful vibe, plus a WONDERFUL (big capital letters) cover of Galaxie 500's "Oblivious". Satisfaction granted. Let's begin the campaign to make EardrumsPop win a Nobel Prize for their contribution to the well-being of (good-tasted) mankind!
Single - Crazy Love, Moles, Oblivious
South of France. Back to Los Angeles with the project of Jeff Cormack (initially it was his solo idea, then a duo, a trio and finally the pair again) and Kelly Lueke. Active since 2010, their first release came in late 2011 with the EP "Kings", garnering buzz and nice reviews from the blogosphere. And now the time has arrived for "Another Boring Sunrise", their debut album, out now, in which their trademark retro guitar pop, in the vein of bands like Cults, Dominant Legs or Tennis, is  catchy and warm enough to keep you singing and smiling for weeks.

Music to look forward to in 2012

Now that holidays are officially over, it's time to look ahead into 2012. This is a small summary of the music releases/events I'm looking forward to for this year. A brief shortlist of the gifts I ordered for the Three Kings Day. 

1. The year is starting with a very special, highly anticipated album. Of course I'm referring to "I'm Across, I'm Ashore", our beloved Nat Johnson and the Figureheads arrive in few weeks! Don't you think the artwork is lovely! Counting down the days!
2. There's one release I'm really excited after hearing its first available tune,"Serpents" (click on the title to hear/download). Sharon Van Etten will release "Tramp", her third album, in February, with stunning collaborations like the Dessner brothers' from The National or Matt Barrick from The Walkmen. Great expectations with this.
3. "Young and Old" Tennis sophomore album, also for February.
4. The Shins are finally back!. James Mercer has "Port of Morrow" scheduled for March. Yes!! What about coming to Barcelona (Primavera Sound maybe)?
5. Two sure-fire for spring-summer: Beach House and The Walkmen.
6. My second Primavera Sound Festival, of course
7. The long-play debut that confirms the greatness of this young band: Let's buy Happiness.
8. Phoenix, Basia Bulat and Cat Power should be releasing new works this year.
9. Indie-pop heavens: Baffin Island, The Hi-Life Companion, The Hermit Crabs, The School will be back ... and Camera Obscura?
10. And finally, 2012 has to be, finally, the year of Beth Orton's comeback. Please, please, please.

Sure, there are many more out there. Will The National complete a new album before the year ends (the couple of songs premiered a few weeks ago sound great, so there's hope) And U2? And a personal favourite,  The Mynabirds? 2012 is going to be an excellent year for music.

Best Songs of the Year 2011: 100-76

Inevitably, with the arrival of every December, the best-of-the-year lists start to spread. So, after making a compilation of our favourites tunes so far in middle June, here's the first Bloodbuzzed Best Songs of the Year for 2011, a total of 100 songs without any other criteria that the tunes being released during this year. 

Today I post the first of the fourth series in which I have divided the song-list, comprising from number 100 to 76, so the playlists of each one of the sections have 25 songs. For the songs that weren't available on grooveshark I included alternative direct links below its title. Expect second part of the list on Monday.
Have your say and enjoy the music! 

100. La Casa Cuartel- Disco Las Palmeras!
99. Your Love- Youngteam
98. Sad Girls- Big Troubles
97. Dreaming- Seapony
96. I Just Cleaned the Floor- Turn Off Your Television
95. I Dream of Chicago- Parlours
94. Better Days- Fonda
93. Winter Beats- I Break Horses
92. King and Lionheart- Of Monsters and Men
91. Swollen Hearts, Bitter Tongues- Young Romance
90. Safe for All Seasons- Favourite Sons
89. Spirit of Adventure- Be Like Pablo

88. Coffee & Wine- The Bright
87. Saturn Return- She Keeps Bees
86. Luv Goon- Puro Instinct
85. Still Life- The Horrors
84. She Fell Into My Arms- Wake the President

83. White Elephant- Ladytron
82. Record Shop- Help Stamp Out Loneliness
81. Dancing With a Hole in Your Heart- Art Museums
80. Lotus Flower- Radiohead
79. Pumped Up Kids- Foster the People
78. Come Closer- Miles Kane
77. Dirty Lakes- Let's Buy Happiness

76. We All Go Back to Where We Belong- R.E.M.

Primavera Sound Festival 2012: the indie sweepstake

Got the tickets for Primavera Sound Festival 2012 a couple of weeks ago, and rumours about bands that would be the first names for the line-up should start spreading the blogosphere soon. On the PS forum there's a classic tradition that has already begun. The line-up sweepstake: 20 groups, in alphabetical order, wins who gets more bands confirmed for the Festival. These are mine, not really with the will of winning, but with the hope the majority of them (and many more) will really be in Barcelona next year!

Ambience Affair, The
Army Navy
Be Forest
Beirut
Brown Recluse
Dum Dum Girls
Fanfarlo
Feist
I Break Horses
Jeff Mangum
Let's Buy Happiness
Mazzy Star 
Moth & The Mirror, The
Radiohead
Shins, The
Stone Roses, The
Summer Camp
Veronica Falls
Very Most, The (pleaseeeeeee)
Wake the President

Let's Buy Happiness, Lisa Hannigan and Veronica Falls amazing new songs!

Going back to music after a couple of political posts, because this week has been one to remember in that sense. Great new songs from Feist, The Rapture, Atlas Sound, Florence & The Machine, St. Vincent, some new amazing discoveries, and above all, three new gems from soft spots of mine, favourites of this blog.

Let's Buy Happiness- "Dirty Lakes"

It is not the first time, and I'm 100% sure won't be the last, I write about this Newcastle band. If "No Hot Ashes" EP was a wonderful start, "Six Wolves", an excellent follow-up, and "Fast Fast" one of the best songs of the year so far, now we have "Dirty Lakes", their next single, out on September 26th. I'm starting to believe that if Sarah Hall sings it, even the phonebook will sound hauntingly beautiful. Because the track is, again, hypnotic indie-pop, a superb blend between the sweetness of her voice and the peculiar, almost ethereal guitar line, exploding into a winning chorus. Knock-out, again.
Let's Buy Happiness - Dirty Lakes

Lisa Hannigan- "A Sail"
We already reported that "Passengers", her new album, slowly approaches (has been pushed back to an October 10th release), but I can say the first tastes of the record are impressive. I'm officially in love with  “A Sail” (that you can get for free right after joining her mailing list), a quintessential Lisa Hannigan's tune: an unforgettable melody propelled with her warm, mesmerizing vocals. Need more? Then try the faster and equally loveable "Knots" or the bluesy “Flowers”. Eagerly waiting for October!

Veronica Falls- "Bad Feeling"
Followed since "Found Love In A Graveyard" and "Beachy Head" conquered the blogosphere, this summer, after being completely won by "Come On Over", I was lucky to see them at the FIB Festival. Their terrific performance showed that their album, out September, is going to be one the highlights of 2011. First single "Bad Feeling" mixes an edgier sound at the start, driven by pounding drums, with their trademark male/female vocals. Is another outstanding example of their indie-pop style, catchy as hell, but with a mysterious and dark halo. Irresistible  combination.
Veronica Falls - Bad Feeling 

Best songs of the year 2011... so far

It's middle June, and a good moment for taking a look to what has the year 2011 offered so far in terms of music. Here's a playlist with the best 25 songs (in my opinion, of course) of the year. Some songs have been dropped, because the selection followed two criteria: songs released during 2011, and just 1 song per group/artist, so I could include 25 different proposals. They are not in order of preference, just trying to combine them in a good playlist. Hope you enjoy!

1. Heart in Your Heartbreak- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
2. Calamity Song- The Decemberists
3. Helplessness Blues- Fleet Foxes
4. It Happened Today- R.E.M.
5. The Words that Maketh Murder- PJ Harvey
6. Black Night- The Dodos
7. Fast Fast- Let's Buy Happiness
8. Lose It- Austra
9. I Hate You But I Love You- Russian Red
10. Alien Girl- The Very Most
11. World Around You- Rubik
12. Impressions from a City Morning- Brown Recluse
13. Take Me Somewhere- Tennis
14. Jesus Came to My Birthday Party- The Middle East
15. Will Do- TV On the Radio
16. Funeral Song- Minks
17. Forget that You're Young- The Raveonettes
18. One Moment- Motorama
19. Even Though I'm a Woman- Seeker Lover Keeper
20. For Jacob with Malaria- Boca Chica
21. Reckless Serenade- Arctic Monkeys
22. Royal Blue- Cold War Kids
23. Exile Vilify- The National
24. Lippy Kids- Elbow
25. Go Outside- Cults

A song that I would definitely include is "Margot", by the great Nat Johnson, but I couldn't find it. And some songs that would have been on the list without the "just one song per artist criteria" are "Bitter Branches", "In the Dark Places" by PJ Harvey, "Überlin", "Oh My Heart" by R.E.M., "Think You Can Wait" by The National and "Down by the Water" by The Decemberists.

Discoverer 7: new indie findings

Back to Sunday's new proposals!

Cults. Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin met in 2010 in San Diego, and after moving to NYC for film school, they started to make music, releasing a free EP (available on their bandcamp space). The reception in the blogosphere was impressive, signing with Columbia for their forthcoming debut album (next month) and firing up the expectations for every movement they have done since then. And with a reason. Initially included into the  lo-fi pop movement (if that's a movement), after hearing "Abducted", "You Know What I Mean", the sublime "Go Outside" (oh glockenspiels!) or the single "Oh My God", one just wonder how long it will take for them to conquer the indiepop throne.

Abducted by cultscultscults
Cults - You Know What I Mean by cultscultscults



Grandfather Birds. Discovered thanks to my beloved Let's Buy Happiness (who I fervently praised on the first "Discoverer" I wrote) this band from Newcastle are a mixture between epic and pop, between atmospherics and rockier sounds, full of subtleties and rich sounding. But the best recommendation I can give to you is to check the following 4 tunes (especially "Higher Bridges" and "Grandfather's Bones") and judge by yourself. You won't regret it.

Boca Chica. More pop, this time from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and discovered thanks to the initiative of the amazing EardrumsPop, who periodically releases free digital singles of the artists under their catalogue, each single including 2 original songs and a cover from an underrated artist. Led by songwriter and singer Hallie Pritts, Boca Chica songs are mellow and catchy, at times closer to americana sound, but mostly in the realm of pure pop gems, like in the great " For Jacob with Malaria".

Boca Chica - For Jacob with Malaria by EardrumsPop
Boca Chica - Afternoon Tea by EardrumsPop

Discoverer 1: new indie findings

Weekends are the perfect time to discover new music, don't you think? Starting today, each weekend a post will be devoted to suggest "new" (meaning relatively unknown groups, or at least unknown to me, that recently started their careers) indie bands that are worth a look.

Minks. Shaun Kilfoyle and Amalie Bruun come from Brooklyn, NY, and their debut album, "By the Hedge", published on January, confirms the expectations of their previous 7", like this stunning "Funeral Song". Echoes of New Wave (the Cure anyone?), boy/girl harmonies, ethereal synths and guitars, and the ability to create unforgettable melodies.


The Narcoleptic Dancers. Charming indie pop, catchy and breezy, from this Franco-Dutch duo, Anton Louis Jr. and Melody Van Kappers, with an irresistible debut EP, "Not Evident", out now. You'll find yourself smiling.


Let's Buy Happiness. The best kept secret of British indie comes from Newcastle. With a couple of EPs ("No Hot Ashes" is among the best things released on 2009) and a slowly arising career supporting Idlewild, Vivian Girls and playing Glastonbury, one cannot expect anything else but greatness. Fronted by the gorgeous voice of Sarah Hall, the hypnotic, icy, blasting, and unique sound of the band is mesmerizing.