The Best Of 2019. TOP50. 41-50

Let's start with the main list.

50. Les Cruet «Cervols, Astres»

(p)Bankrobber

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The new album of the Catalan band treads the same path as its predecessor: the noisy hardcore/punk rock spiced with the sandpaper voice of Laura Crehuet.

49. Break the Senses «Future, Love & Chaos»

(p)Made In Universe

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A pack of loud alt-rock songs in the vein of Biffy Clyro (my favorite is "Magical Things").

48. Trial «El Nou Estirabot»

(p)Microscopi

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The genre-bending art-punk with [as long as I can see] dadaist approach in lyrics. 

47. El Lado Oscuro De La Broca «Salvaje Oeste»

(p)El Genio Equivocado

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Musically the band from Zamora doesn't cheat on itself providing us with a bunch of strong melodies covered with the constant buzz of guitars.

46. Kaskezur «Ihesi Doaz Animalak»

(p)Mukuru

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The music of the post punk quartet from Navarra resembles the middle-era Sonic Youth ("Experimental Jet Set, Trash & No Star", in particular).

45. Cruz Perro Maldito self-titled

(p)Discos Delejos

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This kind of music usually is not my piece of pie but this particular release from the newborn Canarian indie label convinced me into being a fan.

44. Ultim Cavall «Alaska»

(p)Discos de Kirlian

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"Alaska", as the logical progression of the perfect "Records De Kyoto", still obtains this foggy atmosphere and fragile melodies.

43. Basurita «Primer Juramento»

(p)Subterfuge

SPTF

The band I know absolutely nothing about. I just pressed play to check it out and then all of a sudden found myself captured.

42. Mazoni «Decig Imbecil»

(p)Bankrobber

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Mazoni's new album is loud, harsh and edgy - thus, it's the complete opposite to his 2017's "Carn, Os I Tots Inclos".

41. Julieta 21 «Contacto»

(p)El Planeta Sonoro

SPTF

You may call it 'commercialized indie' but I'm not so highbrow, and I like it. These songs are perfectly composed, perfectly performed and perfectly recorded.

TOP10 EPs

HONORABLE MENTION

Best of 2017. Albums 31-40

<<< 41 - 50

If you do yourself a favor and listen to all these albums mentioned below the only question to get stuck in your head would be "Who the fuck are in the Top30?'

40. Eladio y Los Seres Queridos "Historias De Caza" (p)Seres Queridos
"Cantares", the gallego-speaking set of cover versions that Eladio Santos and his team put out an year ago, was rather the step aside than the natural successor of his previous (brilliant) effort "Orden Invisible". Now we've got this natural successor, and it's brilliant as well with its beautiful songs and mellow chamber/folk arrangements.
SPTF

39. Villanueva "Zoo Para Dos" (p)Sony
Read full review

38. Futuro Terror "Precipicio" (p)BCore Disc
After the conventionally sounding "Su Nombre Real Es Otro" Futuro Terror return to the more complicated structures of their eponimous debut. I consider it the right step undoubtedly as, you know, who needs one more album of conventional punk rock when you can provide them with the punk rock with a twist instead.
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37. Xavier Calvet "Firebird" (p)BCore Disc
More of Joey Cape, or more of Greg Graffin? That was my only question when I learned about the Bullitt's frontman Xavier Calvet was going to release a solo effort. The truth is, none of them - it's like the third vertex of triangle. The songs are mostly acoustic and mostly upbeat, and regarding Xavier's songwriting abilities apparent via Bullitt's discs "Firebird" is absolutely no-lose choise.
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36. Blusa "K" (p)Nooirax/ 
"Toca Breakbeat, Perro!", the previous album of sevillanos Blusa, was a cinematic post rock masterpiece. Now a trio, Blusa absorbs programming and electronics (the entities completly absent on "TBP!") and cooks the record that is more intricate and more psychedlic than the predecessor. The tracks have no names, only numbers placed in no consecutive order. It's up to listener to capture the messages, meanings and images this music produces in his mind without the prerequisites given.
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35. Agoraphobia "Incoming Noise" (p)Dotbeat
'I want it to sound like a bulldozer, like Armageddon', Veruca Salt's Nina Gordon talked to producer Bob Rock during the recording sessions for "Eight Arms To Hold You" trying to square down her intentions on the guitar sound - this trivia came first to my mind when I pushed the play button. On "Incoming Noise" the guitars are realy sounding like bulldozers and/or Armageddon so the album fits perfectly for the role of the aforementioned "Eight Arms To Hold You" and L7's "Hungry For Stink" stepchild.
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34. Ultim Cavall "Records Del Kyoto" (p)Discos de Kirlian/ Emma's House
Read full review

33. Joe La Reina "Esas Nuevas Modas" (p)Subterfuge
It's a way more complicated record than "Bailamos Por Miedo" (quite complicated itself), and it needs more time to grow on you. As I had little time since its release date to fall for it, it climbed only to the 33nd place now. Being released, say, in August it could surely climb much higher than that.
SPTF

32. Vetusta Morla "Mismo Sitio, Distinto Lugar" (p)Pequeno Salto Mortal
I can't make my wrapped-up opinion on "MSDL". It somehow falls to pieces. Every given song is great - and some songs are really THAT great, you know. This is the step forward for the band for sure (some new tricks, some new directions) but as a whole it doesn't sound quite cohesive for my ear.
SPTF

31. Decurs "Incendio" (p)Subpost/ Krimskramz/ Dead Stallion/ Ojala Este Mi Bisi
The level of the Catalan hardcore/post hardcore scene is unbelievable. Decurs initially appeared as absolute nonames for me but it didn't surprise me at all that the album's great cos you may choose any album amongst the pool of Catalan post hardcore albums - and it would be equally great.
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21 - 30 >>>

Top30 albums of 2017 so far. Semi-annual poll

(in alphabetical order)

Aldrin Y Collins "Escuchas" (p)BCore Disc - bandcamp

Arista Fiera "Simetria Par" (p)self-released - bandcamp

Anchord "As A Real Return" (p)Saltamarges/BCore Disc - bandcamp

Black Mirrors "No Colours For Concern" (p)El Hombre Bala - bandcamp
Cala Vento "Fruto Panorama" (p)BCore Disc - bandcamp

Captains "Captains" (p)Jabalina Musica - bandcamp

Clara Plath "Yes, I'm Special" (p)Flor Y Nata - bandcamp

Cosmen Adelaida "Dos Caballos" (p)El Genio Equivocado - bandcamp

Diola "Diola" (p)BCore Disc - bandcamp

Disciplina Atlantico "Gran Oriente" (p)Limbo Starr - spotify

Exquirla "Para Quienes Aun Viven" (p)Superball Music - spotify

Havoc "Amado Lider" (p)Subterfuge - spotify

I Am Dive "Music For The Silent Running" (p)WeAreWolves - bandcamp

Jay "Fuimos Nosotros" (p)Matapadre - bandcamp

Karen Koltrane "Album" (p)Foehn - bandcamp

Les Sueques "Moviment" (p)El Genio Equivocado - bandcamp

Maresme "Golden Coast" (p)Foehn - bandcamp

Me And The Bees "Menos Mal" (p)La Castanya - bandcamp

Niños Mutantes "Diez" (p)Ernie Producciones - official site

Os Bru "Hvala" (p)Indian Runners - bandcamp

Oso Miel Oso "Debut" (p)Discos De Menta - bandcamp
Pau Vallve "Abisme Cavall Hivern Primavera I Tornar" (p)self-released - bandcamp

Ran Ran Ran "L'Hereu" (p)Bankrobber - bandcamp

Rufus T. Firefly "Magnolia" (p)LagoNaranja - bandcamp

Saïm "Accidents" (p)Bubota Discos - bandcamp

Shepherd "Mystic Wave" (p)self-released - bandcamp

Tuya "A War Is Coming" (p)El Rayo Verde - bandcamp

Ultim Cavall "Records De Kyoto" (p)Discos De Kirlian - bandcamp

Vol Menor "Contracorrent A L'Instint" (p)self-released - bandcamp

When Nalda Became Punk "Those Words Broke Our Heart" (p)Discos De Kirlian - bandcamp

Ultim Cavall "Records De Kyoto"

Ultim Cavall "Records De Kyoto" (p)2017 Discos De Kirlian

You cannot judge the book by its cover, says the canon. However, sometimes the cover says it all, and, frankly, in the past I’ve purchased a lot of records having never listened to a single song by a certain band, making my decision only by the first glance at the album’s cover. The truth is if I accidentally run into a physical copy of Ultim Cavall’s “Records De Kyoto” I’d buy it without much thinking. And it would be cool cos the album is a delight. It is unpolished record, it is the record that can’t manage to stay within the firm frames. What is it really? Indie pop? Noise pop? Psychedelic folk? The tiny folk song gets clouded by the fuzz fog and drifts into the psych-pop field under the nugaze pennant - it’s something like that. It’s not a calculated record, you can almost physically feel like it moves along only by the instincts - and that’s what makes it truly perfect.

The best tracks: Recors De Kyoto, Tempestes De Sorra, Soc El Monstre

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