5 años. 5 great albums never reviewed here before

The year 2018 marks the 5-year jubilee of this tiny music-related blog. So I'm going to make a string of kinda 'special issues' to celebrate this. The second of these is right here right now, and it's dedicated to the Top5 albums released within the last 5 years but never reviewed on the pages of this blog before.

5. The Right Ons "Volcan" (p)2013 Warner

Usually they say something like “Every track on this album could be a hit single” or “This album is brimming with hits” in case of albums like this one. And this is when they are completely right.

SPTF

4. Eladio Y Los Seres Queridos "Orden Invisible" (p)2014 Esmerarte

The Galician-born stylistic brother of this list's #2. The pack of great songs, the right mood, the touch of genius on the songs like "Los Dinosaurios".

SPTF

3. Villapellejos "Elogios Y Ampollas" (p)2015-16 Mama Vynila

Funny and charming album that reflects in equal proportions the Basque band’s interest in folk, punk, riot grrl and indie pop. Demolition Doll Rods on a slumber party with Camera Obscura.

BNDCMP

2. Senior I El Cor Brutal "El Poder del Voler" (p)2013 Malatesta

“El Poder Del Voler” is born in a juncture of the straightforward folk rock and introspective indie rock so this music is pretty simple in its core. But it works phenomenally well.

BNDCMP

1. Villanueva "Viajes De Ida" (p)2014 Esmerarte

Quite painfully overlooked on the national level, this album is a solid, bright, masterful record that redefines the boundaries of post punk-based indie rock.

BNDCMP

Tu Aura Brilla Mas: Let Go/ Nada Surf 15 Aniversario

Tu Aura Brilla Mas: Let Go/ Nada Surf 15 Aniversario (p)2018 Mardev/ Ernie

I’ve been the massive fan of Nada Surf since 2003 when I first observed video of “Inside Of Love” aired by the [best ever] German music channel onyx.tv. This video made me searching for the band’s records, and the first album I purchased the same year it was “Proximity Effect”. I quickly embraced their lyrical imagery and subdued bittersweet undertones that led them to stand tall amongst the short list of my all-time favorite bands. I consider “Lucky” their best effort to date as it includes the set of songs I can personally relate to both melody-wise and lyric-wise the best way possible. However, it was 2003’s “Let Go” that brought them out of the gloomy grunge-obsessed subterranean dungeons of the 90’s right into the bright light streak of the post-millennial indie rock. While their second album (the aforementioned "Proximity Effort") was declined by their label Electra it was released first in Europe. Following this the band was dropped by Electra. With two albums and one massive hit ("Popular") in the back catalogue Nada Surf were set to replicate the fate of zillion of the 90's bands that silently fell into obscurity. But the new album ("Let Go"), new hit ("Inside Of Love"), new label (the Seattle-based indie imprint Barsuk Records) and the new direction (less grunge more power pop) led them into the indie stardom in 2000's.

The band gained the substantial cult following in Europe (especially in non-English speaking countries) thanks to the lengthy tours through the Old World and both Matthew Caws’ and Daniel Lorca’s multilingual abilities. Moreover, they are really concerned of what’s going on with music in Europe. I deeply appreciate this last year's story about Nada Surf members appearing on Ebrovision festival a day before the schedule just to check out Rufus T. Firefly performing, of whom they were told it would be worth it to look at. Their European record-selling headquarters is based in Spain (the Galician finest Ernie Producciones) but anyway I was kinda surprised to know that Nada Surf were going to release the collection of cover versions made by a bunch of Spanish indie bands.

Digitally it was released over a month ago and recently it was released officially on CD. So what could I say… It is definitely one of the best cover albums I have ever listened to. What makes a great cover version great? For me, it’s when a certain band takes someone else’s song and rewrites it into their own the way you could place it into the band’s album and it wouldn’t be sounding as an alien. Thus, the final result takes the best from both summing up the original's best features and the cover maker’s own tricks. Regarding the most of the tracks here, this criterium is fulfilled completely.

For the better authenticity 8 of total 12 songs were translated into Spanish. Even for me as a person largely familiar with the original album sometimes it’s hard to separate what I know from what I hear because, for instance, “No Es Tan Rapido” sounds nothing like Nada Surf’s song – it sounds exactly like a song by Second, as well as “Nubes De Mosquitos” sound exactly like Lori Meyers’ own. The same thing I could repeat for almost every track and every band on the album be it Niños Mutantes with their newfound synth-laden sound on "Blizzard Of 77/ La Tormenta Del'77" or La Habitacion Roja with their classic post-"Ayer" warm pop-psychedelia on "Inside Of Love/ Dentro Del Amor". Be it the lush guitar-driven pop of Anni B Sweet ("La Pour Ca/ Estare Ahi") or slightly fuzzed out alternative rock of Shinova (the Basque band stepped back to the sound of their pre-"Volver" albums to make this version of "Treading Water"). Be it Villanueva's delicate rendition of "Hi-Speed Soul/ Hablemos De Soul" or the Noise Box's version of "Happy Kid" that turns the original power pop hit into the 6 minute long psychedelic pop masterpiece.

I think it’s really great achievement.

SPTF

ERNIE

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.
BNDCMP

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.
BNDCMP

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.
BNDCMP

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.
BNDCMP

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.
BNDCMP

21 - 30 >>>

Villanueva "Zoo Para Dos"

Villanueva "Zoo Para Dos" (p)2017 Villanueva, under Sony Music licence

Q: What is the best album I never wrote about for these 3.5 years here?

A: Villanueva's "Viajes De Ida".

Q: Did I expect much from Villanueva's new album?

A: Exactly.

Q: Did I get what I wanted?

A: It's complicated.

The core of the complication defined with this internal monologue lays in major change of the sound. "Viajes De Ida" was post-punk'y rocky edgy album with marching rhythms and chopping shout-outs like these from "Bombas Nucleares": "Y hay bom - bas nu - clea - res en la habitacion - sera - mejor - mejor para los dos..." Apparently a musician can't always stand on the same grounds for three years - and it was senseless to expect him to pick up right where he left off - but I didn't expect that for Josete Diaz, the mainman behind the Villanueva moniker, the grounds were to change so drastically.
Teamed up now with Marti Perarnau and Ramiro Nieto (man, these guys seem to be literally everywhere!) Josete delivers the album which is miles away from his previous effort. First, gone are the chopping shout-outs like these from "Bombas Nucleares". Second, say 'Hi!' to the synths. There are lots of synths here. They're not dominating, but they're omnipresent. They're literally everywhere. Third, Josete's velvet baritone, which is the considerable part of the band's attractiveness, is still here.
Summing up the above, this album is much more lightbodied and lighthearted than the predecessor, and if you liked "Viajes De Ida" much you may find it hard falling in love with "Zoo Para Dos" from the first listen. But it's fresh and charming, and definitely you should give the album a chance. Chances are you'll just surrender to this charm.

The best tracks: Ella, El Dia Que Tu No Estabas, El Jardin De Las Delicias, Hoy Es La Ultima