5 años. Top50 albums 2000-2017

The year 2018 marks the 5-year jubilee of this tiny music-related blog. Now I'm finalizing the string of specials to celebrate this. This is the ultimate one - Top50 albums of the newer history of Spanish rock music as I see it. For good or bad this is what it's like. Initially I've tried to create this list with quite objective approach avoiding my personal affections and taking into account such things as impact on the scene instead - but quickly found it impossible. So that's what came out as a result.

50. Love Of Lesbian “Cuentos Chinos Para Niños Del Japon” (p)2007 Naive

49. Delafe Y Las Flores Azules "Trompetas De La Muerte" (p)2010 Warner

48. Sexy Sadie "Butterflies" (p)2000 Subterfuge

47. Pau Vallve "Abisme Cavall Hivern Primavera I Tornar" (p)2017 not on label

46. Disco Las Palmeras! "Nihil Obstrat" (p)2011 Matapadre

45. Second "Fracciones De Un Segundo" (p)2009 Warner

44. Ivan Ferreiro "Mentiroso Mentiroso" (p)2008 Warner

43. Joe La Reina "Bailamos Por Miedo" (p)2014 Subterfuge

42. Triangulo De Amor Bizarro "Triangulo De Amor Bizarro" (p)2007 Mushroom Pillow

41. Nadadora "Luz Oscuridad Luz" (p)2010 Ernie

40. Half Foot Outside "Heavenly" (p)2008 Limbo Starr

39. Mercromina "Bingo" (p)2003 Subterfuge

38. Izal "Magia Y Efectos Especiales" (p)2012 HOOK

37. McEnroe “Tu Nunca Moriras” (p)2008 Subterfuge

36. Carmen Boza "La Mansion De Los Espejos" (p)2014 self-released

35. Muy Fellini “Muy Fellini” (p)2007 BCore Disc/ Underhill

34. Russian Red "I Love Your Glasses" (p)2007 [PIAS] Spain

33. Pumuky "Justicia Poetica" (p)2015 Jabalina Musica

32. Dorian "El Futuro No Es De Nadie" (p)2006 [PIAS] Spain

31. Power Burkas "Llarga Vida Al Taranna" (p)2016 BCore Disc

30. Los Planetas "Encuentros Con Entidades" (p)2002 RCA-BMG

29. L.A. “Heavenly Hell” (p)2011 Warner

28. Berri Txarrak "Jaio.Musika.Hil" (p)2005 GOR Diskak

27. Christina Rosenvinge "Tu Labio Superior" (p)2008 Warner

26. Havalina “Las Hojas Secas” (p)2011 Origami

25. Unicornibot “Mambotron” (p)2011 Matapadre

24. Villanueva “Viajes De Ida” (p)2014 Esmerarte

23. Aina "Bipartite" (p)2001 BCore Disc

22. Sr. Chinarro "Perspectiva Caballera" (p)2014 VEEMMM

21. Igloo “02. Transicion De Fase” (p)2009 Ernie

20. La Habitacion Roja “Fue Electrico” (p)2012 Mushroom Pillow

19. Muy Poca Gente “En Flor” (p)2001 Grabaciones En El Mar

18. Delorean "Apar" (p)2013 Mushroom Pillow

17. Manta Ray “Estratexa” (p)2003 Acuarela

16. GAF & La Estrella De La Muerte “Sunriser” (p)2013 Foehn

15. Nudozurdo “Tara Motor Hembra” (p)2011 Everlasting

14. Madee "L'Antartica" 2007 (p)BCore Disc

13. Hazte Lapon “No Son Tu Marido” (p)2015 El Genio Equivocado

12. Celere “Al Dia Siguiente” (p)2012 not on label

11. Leon Benavente “Leon Benavente” (p)2013 Marxophone

10. Love Of Lesbian “1999” (p)2009 Music Bus

09. Linda Guilala “Psiconautica” (p)2016 Elefant

08. Rufus T. Firefly “Magnolia” (p)2017 Lago Naranja

07. Deluxe “Fin De Un Viaje Infinito” (p)2007 Mushroom Pillow

06. I Am Dive “Ghostwoods” (p)2012 Foehn

05. Vetusta Morla “Un Dia En El Mundo” (p)2008 Pequeno Salto Mortal

04. El Hombre Burbuja “Nadando A Crol” (p)2000 Everlasting

03. Pumuky “El Bosque En Llamas” (p)2009 Jabalina Musica

02. Los Piratas “Ultrasonica” (p)2001 Warner

01. Oso Leone “Mokragora” (p)2013 Foehn

Diola "Diola"

Diola "Diola" (p)2017 BCore Disc

Built upon the ashes of experimental rock combo Unicornibot (whose last effort "Mambotron" (p)2013 Matapadre) is commonly regarded as a masterpiece), the Pontevedra-based trio diola explores more distinct sounds and more streamlined structures. And if you listen to the album on the run, in the car, or in any other situation where you ain’t fully concentrated on what you’ve been listening to you may think it’s a punk rock record. And, you know, in a certain measure it’s true. But it’s only a part of the truth. In fact it’s a kind of ‘punk plus’ record – it’s a punk rock record the same way the Clockwork Orange’s ‘milk plus’ was the milk. Yeah, of course - but not only the milk. So calling “Diola” punk is the intentional narrowing of the spectrum that cuts most of the sense of it. They are broader than one simple label you may stick to them: they are punk plus the sense of nuance, they are primordial hardcore plus the sense of melody, they are experimental rock plus the sense of humour. Their songs - though quite convoluted with all these quirky changes in dynamics and time signatures - never seem to run out of control.
If you're not familiar with Unicornibot (though it's clearly your fault), you can find the best reference points for diola in the fellow BCore Disc residents Betunizer, Cuello and Power Burkas. So if you like any of them (most probably if you like any of them - you like them all), diola is the new entry for your 'frequently played' tracklist.

The best tracks: Nivel Experto, Charo, Match, La Gozadera

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Havalina "Muerdesombra"

Havalina "Muerdesombra" (p)2016 Ernie Producciones

This is the first Havalina album where, whilst listening, you may go to the kitchen to make yourself some tea and then start brushing your panels after noticing some spots on them, and then to be like: ‘Gosh, I've been listening to Havalina! How many songs I've missed?’ “Muerdesombra” has everything you may want from the band - the great melodies, the intricate guitar work, the sound that can take you far far away, the rhythm section that could beat the shit out, the crisp production – it’s got all you need except nerve. It’s got little emotional lows – and in reverse it’s got little emotional highs. For everyone else it could be the favorite album of Havalina, but for me at the time it’s just too plain being compared to any other release in their perfect back catalogue. Maybe it will grow on me a bit later.

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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

Viva Suecia "Otros Principios Fundamentales"

Viva Suecia "Otros Principios Fundamentales" (p)2017 Subterfuge

Within the last 1.5 years they rose from relative nonames to one of the country’s best live acts jumping by the way from local indie imprint Clifford to the much more renowned label Subterfuge. The last year’s perfect “La Fuerza Mayor” was the demonstration of abilities. The new album should become the confirmation of the high-level stability. Is it so? Definitely yes. But could there be something more to it? 

Sure. As a listener, I can’t say I’m satisfied the same way I was satisfied by “La Fuerza Mayor”. Even trying to eliminate the impact of novelty effect which was present a year ago, I can’t deny the fact that there are some questionable moments on the album. For example, the track "El Nudo Y La Esperanza" sounds like it’s penned and recorded by Second. I mean, exactly like Second, you can almost hear the voice of Sean Frutos as your mind automatically replaces the voice of Rafa Val with Sean's. The next track “Nunca Estamos Solos” sounds like it’s a Pumuky’s “Plus Ultra” companion. The track #5, in its turn, has the roots somewhere in "Una Semana En El Motor De Un Autobus" area. And that's exactly where I see the problem.

One of the strengths of “La Fuerza Mayor” was its unity. Well, it’s obvious that you can make 6 songs within some tight stylistic frames – but you can’t put 11 tracks inside the same frames without making the listener bored. This threat the band happily avoids – there’s nothing to be bored on here. But the side A tracks being set together are somehow blurring the first impression because they differ. They really differ. And I can’t escape the feeling something could have been done better just by simple change of the song sequence as the side B is pretty close to perfection. 

Anyway, it’s not a subject of ‘sophomore slump’, or any overestimated expectations. This is the competent work of the well-trained band with the big choruses, walls (and waves) of sound and palpable emotions.

The best tracks: A Donde Ir, Nos Ponemos Con Esto?, Hemos Ganado Tiempo, Aprendemos A Nadar

The Lazy Lies "The Lazy Lies"

The Lazy Lies "The Lazy Lies" (p)2016 Right Here Right Now

First of all I should praise Facebook for its positive impact on my life. The huge  part of the best moments in my life that occurred within the last 5 years period are strictly connected to the services Facebook provides to the people. But sometimes it really sucks. For example, the filtration of incoming messages really sucks. The reason why some messages appear in your messenger and some not, being stored in some non-apparent submenu is not clear. In the middle of this year I accidentally discovered some messages dated back prior to year 2015! From that moment on I made a habit of checking the storage of the filtered-off messages at least weekly. And this Thursday I found out that Roger Gascon from the band The Lazy Lies has contacted me in the beginning of this week. The 4 days lag was not so crucial as 1.5 years ‘filtered/found’ lag for the message of Guillermo from Wilhelm (formerly Wilhelm and the Dancing Animals) whom I never replied because felt the momentum lost, so I quickly contacted him back and promised to listen to his band’s eponymous album that was released in January’2016.
Later that evening I came to the band’s bandcamp page and pressed the 'play' button. In seconds it became apparent that The Lazy Lies are harvesting the meadows of the indie pop – more precisely the branch of indie pop that pays homage to the 60’s legacy. Though I’m hardly the massive fan of the 60’s music but I truly like a lot of bands from the 90’s that had been treading the same path - such as mid-era Lilys or The Ladybug Transistor or the multiple bands from the spinART label’s roster. So I just let it flow over and in the middle of the second track ("Who's That Sally?") I started to feel embraced by the sound and by the warm atmosphere of the album. While listening to the very pleasant 'boy/girl' paired vocals of Roger and Montse Bernad this feeling progressed further, and when the last song came to the end I pressed the 'play' button again to listen to the album the second time in a row.

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Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo"

Monte Del Oso "Existen Moscas Que Se Relajan Durante El Vuelo" (p)2016 Farmway

With the influences on their sleeves - early Superchunk, Sugar (for the advanced-level listeners I've got some more names: Edsel, Tsunami, Lotion) - Navarra's finest Monte Del Oso released the second album via the Farmway Records imprint. The first album was the pure delight, and the successor follows its way. I don't have much words in fact, as it's the kind of music where my heart really is, and when I listen to this music now I'm recalling alot of things like hanging out with my old music-oriented pals in university campus with tons of booze and completely no chicks, or collecting the compact cassettes with the handwritten credits and lyrics, or sticking the Henry Rollins and Dinosaur Jr. posters to the wall in my rented room (and you can't even imagine what it took to get Dinosaur Jr. poster in the deep suburbs of the 90's Russia)... We all know this emotion called nostalgia, and for me it turns into the bittersweet feeling when my youth is long lost and gone, but right now I've got something that relates Today's Me to these [not always] good old times.
Yet another brilliant album by Monte Del Oso. It's all you've got to know.

The best tracks: Las Personas Son Maravillosas Pero Yo No, Lo Nuestro Es Otra Cosa, Viva El Espiritu Deportivo

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Sorry Kate "Haven Hood"

Sorry Kate "Haven Hood" (p)2016 Foehn

A mix of all with everything where nothing is what it seems. The fractured, the shattered, the strangely attractive and absolutely mindblowing release of Madrid-based experimental rock combo. Freak folk, dubstep, glitch, abstract hip hop, dreampop, psychedelic rock, kraut rock, etc. - all amalgamated into one strange brew which causes the hypnotic effect to the listener. An adventurous listening indeed. During the first couple of tracks you have to adjust your mind and auditory nerve fibers to embrace the sound, and then sound embraces you, and you feel like it's the greatest kind of music you've ever heard.

The best tracks: Slave Mistake, Playing Dead VHS, Lo Bueno se Termina

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Nocturnos "Hemos Visto Lobos"

Nocturnos "Homes Visto Lobos" (p)2016 INUIT Prod.

If the previous album of Nocturnos ("Pequenas Esperanzas") was more or less straightforward indie pop/rock, then the new effort is sin duda more diversified both rhythmically and sonically. The digitally-generated effects and dance beats have won over the familiar guitar sound on the most of the tracks. While "Fantasia Liberal" (track #2) and "Exclusiva Universal" (tracks #11) sound like they're recorded during the "Pequenas Esperanzas" sessions, eight tracks in between them are decorated in the different sub-genres of modern electronica-based indie pop with the wide range of influences: from such compatriot colleagues as Miss Caffeina, Love Of Lesbian (in their latest incarnation), Nino Burbuja, El Ultimo Vecino to the international charttoppers Balthasar. As on previous Nocturnos' efforts all the songs here are undeniably melodic and beautiful. But something in me starts crying when one more cool guitar-oriented band abandons guitars in favor of synthesizers.

The best tracks: Fantasia Liberal, Lo Sabes Bien, Navaja Y Filo, Exclusiva Universal

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