That's why these albums didn't make it into my 2019's Top50 list.
Viva Suecia "El Milagro"
(p)Subterfuge Records
SPTF
In terms of songwriting “El Milagro” is a perfect album. Apparently there is no filler, every song is a stunner - and that’s coincidentally the main problem with it: it’s TOO perfect. It is so good you can enclose it into a capsule and send it through the space as a proof of human intelligence and fondness for beauty. But whether it was said once by Lao Tzu or by Noel Gallagher, the true perfection has to be imperfect. There should be a twist, there should be a sharp angle, there should be an accidental curveball to make a record artistically viable. But it’s so polished instead… So many people like it. All my friends like it. I’m not that guy who’s always opposed to the majority but, you know, reviews are always subjective as the reviewers are subjective. Look, I just can see the progress: the self-titled EP and “La Fuerza Mayor” were the sparks to start a fire, “Otros Principios Fundamentales” was about broadening the vocabulary, and “El Milagro” is the full-fledged demonstration of the abilities. From my point of view, only the first one was completely successful.
Leon Benavente "Vamos A Volvernos Locos"
(p)Warner Music Spain
SPTF
(p)Subterfuge Records
SPTF
In terms of songwriting “El Milagro” is a perfect album. Apparently there is no filler, every song is a stunner - and that’s coincidentally the main problem with it: it’s TOO perfect. It is so good you can enclose it into a capsule and send it through the space as a proof of human intelligence and fondness for beauty. But whether it was said once by Lao Tzu or by Noel Gallagher, the true perfection has to be imperfect. There should be a twist, there should be a sharp angle, there should be an accidental curveball to make a record artistically viable. But it’s so polished instead… So many people like it. All my friends like it. I’m not that guy who’s always opposed to the majority but, you know, reviews are always subjective as the reviewers are subjective. Look, I just can see the progress: the self-titled EP and “La Fuerza Mayor” were the sparks to start a fire, “Otros Principios Fundamentales” was about broadening the vocabulary, and “El Milagro” is the full-fledged demonstration of the abilities. From my point of view, only the first one was completely successful.
(p)Warner Music Spain
SPTF
Another commonplace belief: the bands should evolve – and that’s true. There’s no point in constant reproduction of what you’ve already done greatly. “Vamos A Volvernos Locos” is the result of evolution. The first two Leon Benavente’s longplays worked perfectly on the unity of such opposites as the band’s melodic side (“Estado Provisional”, “La Ribera”) and their penchant for the cold-hearted electro-punk slashers (“La Palabra”, “Gloria”). Trying to find the ways of avoiding the artistic stagnation the renowned four-piece decided to abandon their hard-hitting side completely and this [considered logical by many] step has destroyed that push-and-pull effects that moved the band ahead so greatly. As a result we’ve got a beautiful and 100% accessible album that sounds kind of mono-dimensional as compared to their previous works. I only speak of music - the lyrics are still top-tier quality.
Noise Box "Here's That Bliss You Left Behind"
(p)Son Buenos
SPTF
(p)Son Buenos
SPTF
One more album I would like to mention here is Noise Box’s “Here’s That Bliss You Left Behind”. Definitely this is a great album whose only flaw is its attempt to cover the territory too vast to be covered by the single piece of art. “Every Picture Of You Is When You Were Younger” was that good because the band didn’t try to embrace too many shoulders at once. Cohesion was its considerable advantage. The new one sounds like the neighbours of the aforementioned Viva Suecia try to pack 3 albums load of ideas into a single album. Every given song is a masterpiece but being glued together they produce rather overwhelming effect. They’re too much. They feel cramped within ‘one LP, ten songs, 5 minutes per song’ context. The last time I felt so was when I listened to “IX” by …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead so it’s no surprise that the band mentions the Texans as one of their major influences. I suppose it could be better if Jesus Cobarro & Co added a spoonful of Failure into the mix – given they took (intentionally or not) the LA-based space/grunge rockers’ method of releasing a string of separate EPs before combining them (and their names) into the whole album.
