Best Songs of the Year 2015: 50-26

As promised yesterday, here's the third round of our Best Songs of 2015, this time comprising songs between positions 50 to 26. As we approach the end of the lists, you''re going to see some artists/groups "repeating" their apparitions (just one tune per round) in both lists, something logical considering some of them have been the responsible of the EPs and Records of the year, in our opinion. Remember the playlist below is available at our Soundcloud. Stay tuned, the Top 25 arriving shortly!


50. Strange Hellos- Torres
49. Been in the wars- New Politicians 
48. Creep Me Out- Ghost Transmission
47. Stars- The Treasures of Mexico
46. Ahora que hace bueno- Reina Republicana
45. Waste the alphabet- Dick Diver
44. What went down- Foals
43. Swept Away- Star Tropics
42. Desencuentros- The New Raemon
41. Dream date- Salad Boys
40. Stranger – Twerps
39. Fourth of July - Sufjan Stevens
38.  Lake song- The Decemberists
37. Blo
37. Blood- Algiers
36. Blue swallow- Novella
35. Silhouettes- Viet Cong
34. Saw the light- Seapony
33. Burn masculinity- The Spook School
32. Again- Faith Healer
31. Out of metaphors- Line & Circle
30. Wasting time- Young Romance
29. O- Desperate Journalist
28. A 
28. A New Wave- Sleater-Kinney
27. Odiar
27. Odiar- Hazte Lapón
26. The Legend of Chavo Guerrero- The Mountain Goats

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 64

Back from our brief hiatus, that has included moving from our apartment and starting the serious search for another (without dying in the attempt), with a superb playlist! This week our new TOP TEN playlist is full of  gems like the latest song from Foals' forthcoming album, or the new music adventures of The Airplanes and Ought. Always without forgetting our dose of discoveries, with bands like Starrs and Soviet X-Ray Record Club. Enjoy the holidays and remember, it's also available at our Soundcloud blog page, 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

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 59

We keep the music wheel turning. Here's our next TOP TEN playlist with ten exciting more songs. Friends embarking in new adventures, The Birkins and Seapony, great bands returning to form, Ducktails and Mercury Rev (let's have hope) and, as usual, our new, always promising, finds. Remember, this is also available at our Soundcloud blog page, 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

The Bloodbuzzed Jukebox Week 57

After the Primavera Sound Festival's maelstrom we are back with our TOP TEN playlist, with the tunes we have been enjoying the most lately. Starting with one of our discoveries of the Festival, Núria Graham and continuing with another proof of Dunedin's great music, Astro Children, we have prepared a really diverse playlist. So, if you like indie-rock proposals you are in the right place, same as well if you are more a indie-pop listening type. As always, this is algo avaiblable at our Soundcloud blog page, 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 

Discoverer 98: new indie findings

First Sunday of August and many bands to introduce you to! Three special proposals you shouldn't miss!

Luluc. Zoë Randell and Steve Hassett's story is a slow-burnt one. Hailing from Melbourne but Brooklyn-based, they first met in Scotland. The music chemistry was undeniable but not the timing. Life got in their way. Back to Australia, got jobs & studies to follow and separately played in other bands. But the death of Randell's father impelled her to focus on music and, eventually, she reunited with Hassett, recording 'Dear Hamlyn' in 2008. Opening slots for Lucinda Williams, Fleet Foxes, and José Gonzàlez followed, as well as praise from Nick Drake's legendary producer Joe Boyd and No Depression co-founder Peter Blackstock. The latest put Luluc in contact with Sub Pop co-founder Jonathan Poneman, who signed them. After a 2010 failed attempt to make second record in Australia, they met The National's Aaron Dessner, who became not just the LP producer in his Brooklyn studio, but a de facto third, unofficial band member. The result of their collaboration is 'Passerby', out since July. A gorgeous, delicate, subtly arranged affair. Dreamy and melancholic indie-folk. Haunting.

Space Daze. This is the new, flamboyant and ethereal indiepop solo project of Danny Rowland, the lead guitarist & songwriter of our beloved Seattle band Seapony. Few months ago, in March 2014, he challenged himself to a songwriting experiment: to write & record a new song every day for an entire month. The process only lasted twelve days, enough to came out with a complete album, entitled 'Follow My Light Back Home' and released in June on always reliable label Beautiful Strange Records as a limited cassette edition. Quite immediate but genuinely warm, full of twangy guitars & spacious instrumentals, its jangle-pop meeting surf-rock. 'You're in love with the sun', sings our dear Jeremy Jensen's in one of his perfect tunes. That's the exact feeling Space Daze music evokes into the listener. A delicious, sunny pop collection of songs.

Teen Canteen. Indietracks' live discovery, where they opened the Festival and won me over. Split between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Carla Easton, Sita Pieracinni, Amanda Williams and Deborah Smith formed in 2012 and released their debut single 'Honey', mixed by Bill Ryder-Jones, via Edinburgh Arts Collective Neu! Reekie! at the end of 2013. The buzz began, fostered with their engaging shows at festivals and supporting established names like The Pastels, Evan Dando & Juliana Hatfield and Stealing Sheep. Now, after the June release of their irresistible second 7" single 'You're Still Mine / Vagabond' it's about time you'll add Teen Canteen to your "bands to fall in love with" list. Glimmering, bright indiepop tunes, high on sugar but not short of sharpness, and with huge breathtaking harmonies to stop the Planet's rotation for a while.   

Amoeba, music lover's paradise

Amoeba's logo. Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Now that I've been able to post the pictures of our trip to Southern California it's also time to unveil our several visits to another must-see on L.A.: the Amoeba store. What an incredible place!Who cares about walk of fame's, Hollywood stars, chaotic cities and traffic jams where there's such a paradise awaiting for you?

Heaven, I'm in heaven...
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

So, it's time for a question I always wanted to solve.
What's in my bag?

My bag, "deconstructed"
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

To begin with:
Sleater-Kinney- Dig Me Out & One Beat
Seapony- Falling
Adam Green- Friends of Mine
Dum Dum Girls- End of Daze EP

On happy collector's mode
Photo: Bloodbuzzed

Ex Cops- True Hallucinations
Rose Melberg- Portola
Fanfarlo- Rooms Filled with Light

Plus three collector's gems from personal favourites:
R.E.M. - Up and New Adventures In Hi-Fi special editions
The Divine Comedy- A Secret Story special edition

"Just a Pup", The Very Most's little indiepop workshop

Just a Pup EP

This a review of a very special release, on a very special day (American time zone) for his main creator. Of course, I'm referring to Jeremy Jensen from The Very Most and his latest EP, "Just a Pup", that this blog had the honour to premiere. So, first goes first. Happy birthday dear Jeremy!

So, dear readers, this time I'm going to ask you to allow me to be a bit romantic, even naive, ok? In this fifth EP from the Boise band you're going to find everything what makes The Very Most's songs so adorable. In that sense, the band seems to be at top of their game. I know that in the digital era the following image is almost absurd, but to hell with that. Do you remember the tales your parents told you about Santa Claus? The ones that fascinated me were about the magic workshop where, with the help of the elves, he created the toys to deliver on Christmas Eve. I want to imagine Jeremy at the studio as an indiepop Santa Claus in his workshop, crafting the tunes surrounded by his cast of allies, hearing melodies in his head that he is capable to capture and translate into songs after picking the right instrument among thousands and setting tone, rhythm, voices, sounds evolving into perfect works as if they were there, waiting for him to be caught, suspended on air. The Very Most's little indiepop workshop. A haunting place where even the artwork and EP design stands out on its own (a blue wonder this time illustrated by ridiculously gifted Marta Tortajada), that now offers us another gift in the form of three new tunes, with an extra.

Because it is just a matter of seconds you recognise the always sweet and lush indiepop from Jeremy Jensen and Co. The trademark swirling melodies that in opener "Just a Pup" got a refreshing turning twist thanks to Seapony's Danny Rowland's guitar line halfway of the tune and Gia Trotter's vocals. I wrote it once and I'm going to do it again: it's a classic on its own. Another gem to add to an already stunning collection of indiepop gems.

But being charming and sweet in the sounds doesn't mean you can't get serious. And I'm happy as well as excited to see The Very Most is not afraid of getting political. "Idaho, America in 2049" and "We Don't Have Any Cuts to Waste" shows a different side of the band lyrically without losing its quintessential sound. As a matter of fact, "Idaho" deserves a mention on its own, as TVM blends two songs in one with blatant confidence. It all sounds mellow and relaxed, then it all stops to turn frantic and hallucinogenic before ending in its previous incarnation. Brian Wilson anyone? In the other hand, "We Don't Have..." is the more upbeat and shiny of the lot. Keyboards soaring, and that sense an epic pop stampede on the verge of exploding anytime... until you hear the lyrics, that is.

And we arrive to the end. I know, I said three songs when the EP has four, but the cover of Tom Jones' "It's Not Unusual" doesn't really work as a TVM tune. Nothing to blame the band for. On the contrary, it's understandable: if you are lucky to have Liz Hunt's from the irresistible The School singing, the result it's obvious: she's going to "steal" the show. 

I know it seems weird to mention Santa Claus when we just started summer and with the tremendous heatwave we are suffering in half of the States right now. But music lovers believe me, The Very Most is just offering us another indiepop gift. Go get it!

SCORE: 7,25/10

Best Records of the Year 2012

As promised yesterday, after the EPs' list, here's the review of the year in what regards to the best records of 2012. In my humble opinion of course. Compared with 2011 I have reduced the number of albums because I wanted to be completely honest. Just records that I have listened and enjoyed fully.

The digital age is a blessing for music lovers, as the amount of music you can discover is virtually  unlimited. But it has a negative side: there's a compulsion, a dramatic acceleration on the way we listen to it. How many spins you give a record before moving to another artist? How many records you have stored in your computer of which you could only name 2-3 songs?

Don't know if the LP idea as we know is fated to disappear, but personally it makes me sad. Anyway, this sort of thoughts should go on a different post. But it serves my purpose to tell you why the records from Lightships, BMX Bandits, This Many Boyfriends, Corin Tucker or Motorama didn't make the list. They sound terrific on a first listen, or from what I have heard by now, and that's exactly why they deserve to be listened properly and not to be included on a list just for the sake of mentioning more albums. Having said that, here's the list!

25. Arts & Leisure- Baby Grand
24. Leaving All Behind- Partido
23. Falling- Seapony
22. Nocturne- Wild Nothing
21. Reading Too Much Into Things Like Everything- The School 
20. Sun- Cat Power
19. Rooms Filled With Light- Fanfarlo
18. Mr. E- Lambchop
17. Wild Peace- Echo Lake
16. Hits In The Car- Strawberry Whiplash
15. All Blackshirts To Me- Cats On Fire
14. Una Montaña Es Una Montaña- Los Punsetes
13. Over the Bluffs- The Holiday Crowd
12. Moth- ExLovers
11. Toy- Toy
10. Bloom- Beach House
9. Canines- Shrag
8. Sweet Heart, Sweet Light- Spiritualized
7. Sugaring Season- Beth Orton
6. Evans the Death- Evans the Death
5. Heaven- The Walkmen
4. Between the Times and the Tides- Lee Ranaldo
3. Europe- Allo Darlin'
2. Hospitality- Hospitality
1. Tramp- Sharon Van Etten

Want to check last year's albums list? Just click here

Quick round of new & unmissable music!

A quick post on some of the most exciting comebacks/ music news happening right now. Hope you enjoy!

Swedish craftsmanships Turn Off Your Television are back with "Blanket of Shame", first single in anticipation of their forthcoming album, "Humble Waves", out in October 8th, and again available for download freely. They seem to openly embrace indiepop territory in the song, which fits the band extremely well. They have been gifted with a talent for melody and warmth, amplified to masterly levels here. What a terrific advance of the album, can't wait for it!

Without moving from the gorgeous Sweden we meet again Kristian Matsson, famously known as The Tallest Man on Earth. "There's No Leaving Now" is his new record, out since June, on which you can find folk gems like this "Revelation Blues", here on a quite special performance (courtesy of City of Music).


Another ace tune from my beloved Paolo and Claire, aka Young Romance. "Lines" tries a bit to take off, resembling too much to a Tennis song (which is not bad per se, but not very original). But the spark, that fire the couple have injected to all their songs to date, arrives, and when it does, its unstoppable. Their music enlightens any room, shimmers. Oops, they did it again!
Lines by Young Romance

And finally, the great Amelia Fletcher has returned. The new Tender Trap album, "Ten Songs About Girls", out on Fortuna Pop! " is full of amazing tunes (as expected). Just hear the upbeat, lush and effervescent opener "King's Cross Station" and tell me you don't like it (if so, sorry, but you are probably deaf then).
Tender Trap-Train from King's Cross station

Many more (a Baffin Island EP, Beth Orton, Seapony, Parlours) coming very soon!

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.

Discoverer 19: new indie findings

Back with Sunday's music proposals!

Seapony. This trio from Seattle could be added to the ubiquitous sun-bathed lo-fi music trend. Yes, the surf pop's West Coast feeling, the fuzzed-out guitar and simple drum paths are there. But luckily, "Go With Me", their debut LP (they released an EP on 2010) out since May, has plenty to offer. There's tension in the album, between rockier tunes, Best Coast's style, and the poppier ones, getting closer to C86 spirit and showing a really attractive dreamy side, where Jen Weidl’s vocals shine in a particular, narcoleptic way. Seapony provides immediate fun, but also repeated listens to go deeper.

TV Girl. Sampling is not my thing, but this was a forced exception. Trung Ngo and Brad Petering come from San Diego and in October 2010 they released a praised self-titled EP, thanks to the addictive "If You Want It", that also gave them serious problems with Warner, as they sampled Todd Rundgren. After a split single with Dirty Gold in March, they are back with this "Benny and the Jetts" EP. Four stunning songs, full of references (dream-pop, lo-fi, 70s, soul), with a sweet melancholy transcending all debate about sampling. Just great music you can grab freely in their bandcamp or facebook!


Help Stamp Out Loneliness. Preparing a playlist, I recalled the indispensable "Songs About You" by The Language of Flowers. Searching to know what happened to the band, I found that Bentley Cooke and Colm McCrory formed a new band, and you know what? It's ace. HSOL are a sextet from Manchester with an eponymous first album, out since spring, that every indiepop lover should listen. Why? Because of D. Lucille Campbell vocals, the killer melodies, the keyboard parts, the dark lyrics, the jangly guitars... Could keep writing 'cause the only fault is an awful cover. Forgiveable when on the inside you have such a gem.