пятница, 21 декабря 2018 г.

Best Of 2018. Top50 Albums. 01 - 10

The truth is the most part of the year I spent under the influence of writer’s block, the most severe in my life. In my normal condition I’ve been always writing something: the songs, the short stories, the reviews. This year I wrote 8 songs, something like 10 reviews, 2 articles and only a couple of sardonic stories – by my average annual measures it’s almost nothing. Moreover, this blog now is my only practice in English. I used to speak English on the everyday basis a few years ago but on my current day job it’s not necessary so I don’t speak it now. Thus I feel like my abilities are diminishing over time and the writer’s block only expands the inconsistency. The writer’s block ain’t the only problem. The other issue is that I have much to tell you about these albums, or, frankly speaking, way too much to tell. Every album presented in this section deserves large in-depth review because every one is the special one. And I’ve got so much feelings that it’s almost impossible for me to cut them down to the proper words. 
I do ‘the best of year’ list for the sixth time, and this is the first time when I should admit that I’m not capable of doing my work in time. So I should leave the final – and the most important – part of the list wordless. Anyway, I may speak less but my passion is still growing on (who needs the blogger that doesn’t speak anything – it’s an open question though).

10-11. SÜMA "Noble Nature
(p) Mont Ventoux
San Jeronimo "El Sur
(p)WeAreWolves

09. Chicharron "Cancions Clinicas
(p)Prenom

08. Vol Menor "Tota Una Vida Perduda En Un Clic
(p)self-released

07. Kindata "We The Transmitter
(p)WeAreWolves

06.  La Estrella De David "Consagracion
(p)Hi Jauh USB?/ Sonido Muchacho

05. Captains "Pure Pleasure
(p)Set Theory

04. The Lazy Lies "Less Talk More Action
(p)U98 Music

03. Burrito Panza "El Nuevo Frente Frio
(p)El Genio Equivocado

02. Hazte Lapon "Tu Siempre Ganas pts1&2
(p)El Genio Equivocado

01. Detergente Liquido "Con Miedo Al Amor Por Las Personas Sin Tiempo
(p)self-released

четверг, 20 декабря 2018 г.

Best Of 2018. Top50 Albums. 12 - 20

Yes, this time it's only nine records in the section. It's because the Top10 will contain 11 albums this year.

20. Tom Boyle "Vuelve A Empezar" (p)self-released
Indie pop + noise pop + dreampop = the best post punk record of the year.

19. El Petit De Cal Eril "El Disc Triangular" (p)Bankrobber
It may sound like pretty simple music but it's hard to split these complex songs onto the components and influences. I liked the previous Joan Pons' effort ("La Força") alot but "Triangle" is even more elegant and beautiful.

18. Loudly "Elfactorgrotesco" (p)Clifford

17. The Magic Mor "Move The Lines To Make Circles" (p)self-released
The highly melodic psychedelic rock - not that kind of 'psychedelic' where psychedelia impacts the structure of songs bringing in all these 7/8 or 11/13 time signatures. It's rather that kind of 'slightly psychedelic' that creates the athmosphere and brings additional width to the sound.

16. Maryland "Resplandor" (p)Ernie Producciones

15. Aldrin Y Collins "Odisea En El Espacio Del Confort" (p)BCore Disc/ Musarañas
As simple as it gets, the best post hardcore album of 2018.

14. Rufus T. Firefly "Loto" (p)LagoNaranja
While being a bit calmer than "Magnolia", the new record doesn't contain such the armor-crashing hit as "Rio Wolf" - but the album works great anyway cementing Rufus T. Firefly's position as one of the most fascinating bands of the scene.

13. Usted "Odoro" (p)Keroxen
I've never heard of Usted before I purchased "Odoro" at Jumping Man record store in La Laguna (TF) just because it was released by Keroxen - a label co-headed by my friend Mladen Kurajica. Anyway it appeared to be the great cross-genre record, as versatile as totally unpredictable.

12. The Crab Apples "A Drastic Mistake" (p)Hidden Track
During the last Primavera Sound I missed the chance to see them live (there were some 'free entrance' showcases and this was one of them). I stayed inside the MACBA building while they were performing outside. Now I feel guilty about that. I should've learned of them earlier.






воскресенье, 16 декабря 2018 г.

Best Of 2018. Top50 Albums. 21 - 30

We're slowly getting close to the very top...

30. Un Planeta "Arboles"
(p)El Hombre Bala
The sophisticated acoustic folk from the Canarian singer/songwriter Alberto Alonso. The album was produced by like-minded singer/songwriter Diego Hdez.

29. Cuzin "Segunda Toma"
(p)Gran Tigre
The sophomore release by my favourite Spanish post-hardcore band.

27-28. Pasavento "La Trayectoria Ideal"
(p)self-released



Bestlife (Under Your Seat) "Changes"
(p)self-released
BNDCMP
These two albums of perfect pre-Britpop jangle pop are tied back not only to Echo & the Bunnymen but also to The Go-Betweens (you may keep in mind the solo efforts of Ian McCullogh of the former and Grant McLennan of the latter as the good reference points as well). Brit/Aussie/Kiwi-guitar-pop.

26. Jupiter Lion "We Will Lose Gracefully"
(p)BCore Disc
Sc-fi soundtrack for the 22nd century.

25. Lisabö "Eta Edertasunaren Lorratzetan Biluztu Ginen"
(p)BideHuts
The undeclared rerurn of the legendary Basque post-hardcore septet. Ground-shaking, totalitarian, anti-utopian.
RCKDLX 

24. Subterraneos "Take A Ride"
(p)Caballito
The noisy gloomy vibrant music by the band from Extremadura. JAMC as the most evident influence.
PS. Every Caballito Records release is in the list. 

23. Jordi Lanuza "Com A Casa"
(p)Bankrobber
I feel jealous looking at (as well as listening to) the Catalan singer/songwriter scene...

22. Disco Las Palmeras "Calida"
(p)Sonido Muchacho
The most stripped-down Disco Las Palmeras! album contains their most memorable songs.

21. GAF Y La Estrella De La Muerte "Gamma Bay"
(p)Foehn

суббота, 15 декабря 2018 г.

Best Of 2018. Top50 Albums. 31 - 40

<writer's block>

40. Da Souza "Futbol D'Avantguarda
(p)Famelic
Much-lauded indie pop album is as incompromisingly quirky as hauntingly melodic. Sounds great live.

39. Monte Del Oso "Cosas Que Salvar De Una Casa En Peligro
(p)Farmway/ Underhill

38. We Were Heading North "Lightness
(p)El Hombre Bala
The tender instrumental music that suddenly explodes with the bursts of guitars to shift the focus from the soft pastel cinematic soundscapes to the grandiose God Is An Astronaut-like post rock.

37. Les Atxes "Decora Paneres
(p)El Mamut Traçut
The album shows how to raise a bunch of good songs out of the crooked off-key guitar strumming and the fractured rhythm section.

36. Belako "Render Me Numb, Trivial Violence
(p)El Segell
Four folks from Pais Vasco found their niche in the very beginnig of their career as a band, and they continue to tread the same path since - but every time the result sounds fresh and exciting.

35. Invisible Harvey "No Es Justo Que Llegues Ahora
(p)El Genio Equivocado
Undeniably the best record of the prolific Catalan singer/songwriter Dimas Rodriguez.

34. Cycle "Electrik
(p)Subterfuge
The renowned electro band moves into the guitar-driven rock territories with David Tabueña (ex-Mi Pequeña Radio) now onboard.

33. Tuxedo "Tuxedo III
(p)Musaranas
The Valladolid-born slowcore, really beautiful and never boring.

32. Ornamento Y Delito "El Glamour De Las Provincias
(p)Fikasound
Ornamento y Delito released the new album at the very end of December'17. While finalizing my '2018 Top50' preparations I've put it on to listen briefly to a couple of tracks to taste it and in a half an hour found myself with the mouth wide open.

31. The Prussians "Karma
(p)3 Notes
The ultimate 'contemporary indie rock' album. A million of influences, the great sound, the pulsating rhythms, the good vibrations.

четверг, 13 декабря 2018 г.

Best Of 2018. Top50 Albums. 41 - 50

Sometimes I felt it like my second dayjob. With over 330 releases passed through my ears this year it was really hard to make choice - but somehow I finalized this quest. So...
This is where we start!

50. Ofrenda Floral "Las Flores No Me Odian"
(p)self-released
BNDCMP
The tiny, quiet and naïve indietronica from Gente Joven's mastermind Fernando de la Flor.
49. Aliment "Brother"
(p)La Castanya
BNDCMP
The hard-punching punk/hardcore that sonically lies between Flipper and Juventud Juche.
48. Los Jaguares De La Bahia "Canciones Para El Discman"
(p)Gran Sol
BNDCMP
Paco Loco-led outfit crosses, bends and rubs out the genre borders under the 'rock music' umbrella brand.

47. Baiuca "Solpor"
(p)raso.
BNDCMP
Techno producer Alex Casanova melds the Galician folklore with the beat-driven trance music.

46. Juarez "Boreal"
(p)Caballito
BNDCMP
Much more accessible record (as compared to the previous ones) by the band from Navarra.

45. Trituradora "Carneperro"
(p)self-released
BNDCMP
Recorded live in studio, this experimental rock album is the successor of the likes of Unicornibot's "Mambotron" and Betunizer's "Gran Veta".

44. Escuelas Pias "Musica Ligera Para Un Funeral"
(p)El Genio Equivocado
BNDCMP
This is where the dream pop and indietronica have clashed to produce the beautiful, memorable and touching music.

43. Opatov "Botanica Oculta"
(p)BCore Disc/ Famelic
BNDCMP
Another stylistically undefinable album from the totally uncategorizable band.

42. Caboverde "La Peor Version De Nosotros Mismos"
(p)The Braves Records
BNDCMP
The contemporary alternative rock with thick sound, strong melodies and heart-on-a-sleeve emotion.

41. Autoescuela "Quattro"
(p)Slap! Clap! Club/ Caballito/ Fikasound
BNDCMP
Indie pop on speed. 20+ short tracks that demonstrate the unmistakably sharp melodic sense of Pamplona-based duo.





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Honorable Mention
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