Best of 2016. Albums 21-30

As you might see, I'm trying to assort quite diversified list without leaning to any particular genre. Sometimes I'm forced to calm down my own tastes to present really cool records from the genres I don't usually adore because from the point of view of a reader I'd consider it boring to look through this ranking and see only the same-sounding bands all through the Top50, or to see the names you could see in any other's lists. And, otherwise, it should be exciting to find new names and new music even from the lands you'd never dare to step on previously. So I try to cover as much territory as I can listening to every band and every album I get in touch throughout the year even if initially this band or this album doesn't seem interesting to my doused in 90's indie rock mud and soaked in post-hardcore bleach soul.

Previous entries:
Top50. Albums 31-40

Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

30. YO, Estratosferico "Potencialmente Infinitos" (p)self-released

BANDCAMP

With emotionally charged vocals and overall DIY aestetics, the second longplay of Yo, Estratosferico delivers more streamlined sound crossed with more courageous approach. The new album sounds simultaneously fresher and edgier than the predecessor, and the songs seem to be more focused.

29. Bigott "My Friends Are Dead" (p)Grabaciones En El Mar

BANDCAMP

For the most part of his career I somehow discarded Borja Laudo for whatever reason, but seeing him live at Sonorama'2015 changed my opinion completely. This new album is the most fragile and warm in his back catalogue showing the [rarely exposed previously] vulnerable side of the auteur's nature.

28. Esperit!/ Negro "Heraclito" (p)La Castanya/ Bankrobber

BANDCAMP

The split LP of totally unclassifiable musician Dalmau Boada who's hiding himself under Esperit! moniker and the abstarct/slowcore acoustic one-man project Negro (Fernando Junquera). The equally experimental tracks from quite different sound worlds that you may find contradictory exciting.

27. Las Sexpeares "Me Fui De Casa" (p)Gaser Discos

BANDCAMP

The loud, fast and effervescent melodic punk rock with female vocals and Argentine roots. All 10 tracks are equally cool and catchy to make "Me Fui De Casa" the bouncing fireball of energy and the fullness of life (I'm pretty sure it's an optimistic album).

26. Fasenuova "Aullidos Metallicos" (p)Humo

BANDCAMP

It's no surprise that after reconfiguration of Discos Humeantes the newborn imprint Humo Records continues to release the strange, uncomfortable and embarassing experimental music. Surely it's not the music for the masses, but for those who would embrace their convoluted vision Fasenuova could be the perfect choice for a life soundtrack.

25. La Habitacion Roja "Sagrado Corazon" (p)Mushroom Pillow

SPOTIFY

Another great pop album from one of the greatest Spanish rock bands. It's aparently more diverse than "La Moneda En El Aire" (which was entirely grown on the ashes of "Ayer") thanks to the presence of tracks ("La Vida es Muy Corta" and "Sombras En La Oscuridad") that are closer to "Fue Electrico" than to "La Moneda...".

24. Cala Vento "Cala Vento" (p)BCore Disc

BANDCAMP

With the debut eponimous work the duo Cala Vento adds their name to the string of cool bands (such as Wann, Nueva Vulcano, Pedro Parque, L'Hereu Escampa and others) that sustain the highest creative level of the Catalan post-hardcore scene.

23. Schwarz "Nacion Subterranea" (p)Goecia/ Verlag Sustem

BANDCAMP

The predictable escape of Cesar Verdu to stardom in the Leon Benavente's spaceship didn't change much in Schwarz modus operandi in creating the rhythmically impeccable instrumental kraut rock.

22. Resonance "Light Continuum" (p)El Hombre Bala

BANDCAMP

Canary Islands are the heaven for the wealthy European guiris, but not only for them. The local electronic/experimental scene seems to be one of the most engaging worldwide - yet underappreciated due to its remoteness from the main culture centers and the relatively small numbers of participants. Javier Perez Rodriguez is the one who tries to break the cage through creating the super-quality minimal/ambient/IDM soundscapes.

21. Retirada! "Victoria | Derrota" (p)self-released

BANDCAMP

Composed of 2 EPs "Victoria" and "Derrota", this album provides you with slow motion observational notations of the everyday life. At times it reminds me of Autolux's "Future Perfect" - and you hardly could find the better recommendation.

Best of 2016. Albums 31-40

Previous entries:

Top50. Albums 41-50
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

40. Keep Out "Spicy Mud Cake" (p)Polar

BANDCAMP

Electrified and contaminating, this album is like the bottle of Molotov cocktail ready to explode thrown into the trash container full of the construction debris and chemical production paraphernalia.

39. Shinova "Volver" (p)Warner

SPOTIFY

Switching from punching alt-rock to more folk-tinged song constructions doesn't change the main thing about this Basque band: they specialize on hymns, not songs. All these tracks are born to set flames to stadiums. Sometimes this approach leads to the great results.

38. Escuelas Pias "Nuevas Degenarciones" (p)El Genio Equivocado

BANDCAMP

The synth-driven branch of indie pop that's called 'indietronica' is something of a common place in Spanish music since the first successes of Elefant Records. But some true pearls are still appearing seemingly out of nowhere. This duo is one of these pearls.

37. Modelo De Respuesta Polar "Dos Amigos" (p)self-released

SPOTIFY

As introverted as gorgeous and as subdued as sublime, the new album of Modelo de Respuesta Polar (initially released via the crowdfunding campaign) presents Borja Mompo's band on a peak of the creating form.

36. Hola A Todo El Mundo "Away" (p)Mushroom Pillow

SPOTIFY

These are the pop songs. These are the tight guitar-driven pop songs. I'm unaware about the intention but for me this 'away' is somewhere where the R.E.M's "Shiny Happy People" were born.

35. Sidonie "El Peor Grupo Del Mundo" (p)Warner

SPOTIFY

Call it irony, call it self-indulgence but for Marc Ros and his pals it's a kind of a cheap trick to name their best album "The Worst Band In The World". The bleak Beatlesque melodies themselves can't make me love it as I'm not the fan of The Beatles, but the irresistible lighthearted elegance this album was created with - surely can.

34. Biscuit "Biscuit" (p)La Castanya

BANDCAMP

"Biscuit" reminds me of Nerf Herder, Against Me! (before gender reclassification of their front[wo]man) and The Hold Steady. But mostly it reminds me of Bullitt's "Sparks". And it's really nice cos I like "Sparks" alot.

33. El Lado Oscuro De La Broca "Poderosa" (p)El Genio Equivocado

BANDCAMP

The most inflammable band in El Genio Equivocado roster fires on all cylinders in the sophomore release. Just like on the previous album, "Poderosa"'s sound is the sound of a crashing aircraft backed with the most brutal form of post-punk.

32. Les Cruet "Pomes Agres" (p)Bankrobber

BANDCAMP

I ain't learned about the themes Les Cruet are exploring in their songs cos the lyrics are 100% Catalan. Anyway, this harsh angry shrieky primordial punk album with sratching gnashy vocals is a good soundtrack to the modern society demise despite the things they are singing about really.

31. Doble Pletina "Asi Es Como Escapo" (p)Jabalina Musica

BANDCAMP

The best ever pop music for those who don't like pop music.

Best of 2016. Albums 41-50

After all the preliminary moves and preparations it's time to present to you the 1st load of Top50 albums. So, here we go!

Previous entries:
Top10 - EPs and mini albums
Honorable mention #1
Honorable mention #2

50. Noise Box "Every Picture Of You Is When You Were Younger" (p)Son Buenos

BANDCAMP

Dreamy, foggy, blurred photographs of what was your past. The moments you're not sure if they were for real, or they are just some strange faults of your imagination. This is what these songs definitely are.

49. San Jeronimo "Salinas, 20:15" (p)WeAreWolves

BANDCAMP

The quiet semi-acoustic slowcore album that's made of beautiful sounds and distinct melodies. A good album to dive into the atmosphere of the thin air and fragile visions ahead.

48. Belako "Hamen" (p)Mushroom Pillow

OFFICIAL SITE

One of the best Pais Vasco bands creates majesty through post-punk marching rhythms, synth-generated noises, guitar bursts and occasional no-wave shrieks. The tools they use are pretty the same as earlier, but "Hamen" delivers their best melodies ever.

47. Señores "La Luz" (p)Cuatro Barbas

BANDCAMP

Less post-hardcore syncopes, more indie rock kicks? No, I'm not going to say Señores go pop. Their new album is hardly accessible for those who doesn't come to terms with Jawbox or Braid back catalogues but for me it's a nice pool to sink in.

46. Briotica "La Maldicion De Los Galacticos" (p)Warner

DEEZER

The grunge'ed, noise'ed and extremely sped-up form of shoegaze. I'd consider it a successor of JAMC's painfully underrated "Munki" LP. Full throttle from the fisrt beat to the last one.

45. It's Not Not "Fool The Wise" (p)BCore Disc

BANDCAMP

This is how to make melodic punk record without making pop punk record. The residents of emblematic BCore Disc label know how to make it perfectly.

44. Jorganes "Brokn" (p)El Hombre Bala

BANDCAMP

Less abstract hip-hop more pure electronica. Less beats more elegy. The Dilated Peoples' gloomy MC'ing allusions are [almost completely] gone and what we've got instead is the pure beauty.

43. Yes I M "#Borabora" (p)Foehn

BANDCAMP

Oceania in my head. The new record by Mario Gutierrez Brun by all means outdoes his previous work "Vietnam". It's captivating majesty can transfer you to the places where the words 'atoll' and 'haven' describe the reality much better then 'the pressures of urban lifestyle'.

42. Guerrera "Guerrera" (p)Matapadre

BANDCAMP

The hard-boiled psychedelia meets the suffocating sludge. ¡TchKung! meets the nuclear meltdown. The Santiago-based all-star team have done it again on their double-LP album.

41. Galaxina "Evasion Y Victoria" (p)Clifford

BANDCAMP

Before I ever listened to this album I assumed it's a dreampop album taking into account the bandname and the album cover. At that moment I 've already got the most part of the Top50 prepared, and I didn't want another dreampop album in my list cos it was already too many dreampop albums in there. But Galaxina's "Evasion Y Victoria" really made me to love it from the first listen cos the songs are great, and some songs are really great. Just listen to "Lejos De Ninguna Parte", for example.

Best of 2016. Honorable Mention #2

This could be the good Top20, but it's only 'honorable mention' because music-wise this was hugely successful year.

Previous entries:
Honorable mention #1
Top10 EPs and mini albums

A Por Ella Ray "Turista" (p)self-released
BANDCAMP
A Por Ella Ray is the new name for me (as well as for the most of us). They play music that has a lot of influences: Egon Soda, Los Piratas, Vetusta Morla - but the band definitely has its own face.

Brian Hunt "Love/Unlove" (p)self-released
LOVE UNLOVE
Two sides of this rare format (double EP) are divided by the mood. The 1st side ("Love") is sweet and sunny power pop/americana, while the other ("Unlove") is gloomy and painful experimental rock.

Familea Miranda "Radiopharm" (p)BCore Disc
BANDCAMP
Wordless psychotic hard-punching psychedelia born in the ovens of Bcore.

Holograma "Gemini" (p)Foehn
BANDCAMP
This album was released by Foehn Records. Listening to the Foehn's releases always adds +2 to your intellectual skills.

Joana Serrat "Cross The Verge" (p)Loose Music
SPOTIFY
The part of Joana's soul definitely lives somewhere in the Nashville suburbs and befriends the likes of Amy Stroup and Katie Herzig.

Julieta 21 "Alerta" (p)self-released
SPOTIFY
Another Sonorama'2016-inspired discovery for me. Good songs, rich sound - but I believe it could perform much better if it was a bit less polished.

Keiko "Within" (p)El Hombre Bala
BANDCAMP
Massively diversified double album (2nd half is instrumental) incorporates many genres of guitar music - from blues to abstract experimental guitar noodling. An adventurous listening.

Lazaro "Soles Y Pinguinos" (p)self-released
SPOTIFY
One more cool band to follow. I know nothing about them, and it's definitely my fault cos this album is almost entirely great.

Love Of Lesbian "El Poeta Halley" (p)Warner
SPOTIFY
Now I like this album much more than at first listen, when I liked just a couple of tracks. But I still consider some songs ("Cuando No Me Ves", for example) sent in the wrong direction. That's why LoL are not in Top50.

Marcos Cao "Oceano Caos" (p)Marcos Cao/Sony Music
SPOTIFY

The debut solo release of the former La Sonrisa De Julia frontman. Sweet and beautiful semi-acoustic songs.

Moriran Todos! "Saltar" (p)The Borderline Music
BANDCAMP
This album of the melodic danceable indie rock in the vein of The Right Ons is full of potential hits.

Nocturnos "Hemos Visto Lobos" (p)INUIT Produciones
BANDCAMP
The 2nd LP by Nocturnos cant't decide what to choose: to be the guitar-driven indie pop record ("Fantasia Liberal") or to be the fashionable indie electro album ("Rey Absolutista"). Despite this dychotomy the songs are great.

Postman "Life Can Change In A Moment" (p)Keroxen
BANDCAMP
It's the release #2 by the newly born Keroxen label. Postman (aka Abstract Groove) is one of the most prolific electronic producers of Tenerife. He explores mostly drum&bass/abstract techno/broken beats territories. Reminds me of my techno-infused university years. Funki Porcini, Plastikman, something like that.

Siloe "La Verdad" (p)Mushroom Pillow
SPOTIFY
This is the great album with great songs that stuck in the head for weeks, and there's only one problem: 75% of it sounds like Vetusta Morla. You know, EXACTLY like Vetusta.

Speaker Cabinets "Requiem For Atlas City" (p)Formula Free
SOUNDCLOUD
Loud, fast and furious dance rock from Barcelona. They say it's like the 60's psychedelia mixed with electronica beats, but you can easily recognize the influence of the multiple dance-related English bands from Jesus Jones to Klaxons as well.

Stay "The Mean Solar Times" (p)Rock Indiana/Picture In My Ear
BANDCAMP
With the help of Owen Morris and Andy Bell the Catalan psychedelic britpopers have recorded an album that is much better than the most of the contemporary British britpop.

Temas Incomodos "Alicia En Ningun Lugar" (p)RockCD
OFFICIAL SITE
This album of good-to-great songs lacks cohesion, as some tracks sound like if they were done by different bands.

The Lazy Lies "The Lazy Lies" (p)Right Here Right Now
BANDCAMP
Read this

The New Raemon & McEnroe "Lluvia Y Truenos" (p)Subterfuge
SPOTIFY
This record of double authorship wears the Ramon Rodriguez and Roberto Luzon identities on its sleeves and is able to add new colours to their well-known pallettes. But 'the slowest Raemon record and the fastest McEnroe record', as told by some reviewer in Spain, at times falls in between. 

We Were Heading North "We Were Heading North" (p)El Hombre Bala
BANDCAMP
The intelligent Canarian post rock's tiny healing protuberances will slightly touch the wounds of your soul.