I’ll admit it. We fell into the same trap that every magazine and blog on the planet did. The self-indulgent, we-know-what-you-should-like-better-than-you-do Best Albums of 2010 list. Here at TDOA headquarters, we’d like to think that we’ve given you some names that weren’t familiar and provided you with some surprises. But at the end of the day, who better to assess the state of music than the musicians themselves? So, we reached out to every band that we interviewed in 2010 and asked them to give us their favorite albums of the year. Below is the lengthy list that we compiled, thanks to their overwhelming response. The verdict? 2010 was a tremendous year and a great way to start a new decade. We’ve already heard a number of new releases for 2011 and can tell you that next year may be even better.
We’ve been fortunate this year, to have our readership increase to put us in the same stratosphere as the cool kids. We’re thankful for the support of our readers, the bands and the publicity firms that work to promote great music that fight the tide of “dumbing” that pervades the music scene. So here is our little present to you: the ultimate “best of” list, as compiled by your favorite musicians. Have a Happy New Year and we’ll see you next year!

Stella Mozgawa- Warpaint
1. Flying Lotus – Cosmograma
2. Tame Impala – Innerspeaker
3. Ariel Pink – Before Today
4. Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM
5. Lagos Disco Inferno

Brandon- Crocodiles
Dum Dum Girls – I Will Be
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
No Age – Everything In Between
Procedure Club – Doomed Forever
Moon Duo – Escape
Reading Rainbow – Prism Eyes
Tamaryn – The Waves
Heavy Hawaii – HH
Fresh and Onlys – Play It Strange
Woven Bones – In And Out And Back Again
Twin Shadow- Forget

Bolywool
Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
Broken Bells – Broken Bells
For a Minor Reflection – Höldum í átt að óreiðu
Tamaryn – The Waves
Dreamend – So I ate myself, bite by bite
Mogwai – Special Moves
The National – High Violet
The Amazing – Wait for a Light to Come
Dungen – Skit i allt

Alana Stewart
5. Hurray for The Riff Raff- Young Blood Blues
4. Maria Peszek- Moje Miasto
3. Lykke Li- Youth Novels
2. Gonzalez- Solo Piano
1. Neko Case- Fox Confessor Brings the Floor

Anna-Karin- Twiggy Frostbite
Jonsi – Go Do
Robyn – Body Talk pt 1
Efterklang – Magic Chairs
The Tallest Man on Earth – The Wild Hunt
Florence and the Machine – Between Two Lungs

Rhydian Dafydd- The Joy Formidable
1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Perhaps more of a grower than Funeral or Neon Bible, but another beautiful , dynamic body of work by the Canadian virtuosos.
It’s a carefully thought out record, the sequence of tracks feels very considered, the structure taking on almost classical structure with themes repeating and haunting opener ‘The Suburbs’ (a hauntingly beautiful struggle with modernity) being reprised at the end of the album. Regine Chassagne’s voice ( something I consider their secret weapon) is magnificent on Sprawl II (Mountains beyond Mountains) and her vocal is one of many instrumental twists and nuances that make this album compelling, progressive and our stereo, played very repeatedly.
2. LCD Soundsystem – This Is Happening
Tough to top ‘Sound Of Silver’?! Well, James Murphy gave it a damn good shot here. This Is Happening is darker, occasionally paranoid and it reveals the voice of a leader and a lyricist capable of emotional breadth. We’ve got fond memories of listening to this on the tour bus when we were travelling through Canada. It seemed the perfect companion. But you can play it anywhere and it still sounds great.
3. The Black Keys – Brothers
Direct, re-energised; this is the ‘fuck yeah’ album of the year for us. I don’t know if working with Danger Mouse brought a new edge to their sound but we love the crunch on Dan Auerbach’s guitar, the no nonsense approach and the ever-present hooks. We smile and swing our hair around a lot to this record. Favourite highlight: ‘Next Girl’. Yum.
4. Plan B – The Defamation Of Strickland Banks
This record is a breath of fresh air in 2010. It’s fresh, soulful , lyrically and vocally moving and the vintage production sounds great. The genre feels reignited, it’s not too polished and the ambitious aim to make visuals for each track is right up our street.
5. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Once again, Kanye creates an audacious soundtrack that puts many of his peers to shame. Forget the bullshit, the rants, the drama; if we’re talking about the music this latest offering feels more confident, more experimental, more bombastic, even more frenetic. But it seems to work. It could easily have gone too far but, instead of disjointed, the collaborations are tantalising (Bon Iver, John Legend, Kid Cudi…….), the references are colourful and the ridiculously honest lyrics make for an entertaining ride. ‘Let’s have a toast for the douchebags’!

Josephine- Boat Beam
1. Autumn Comets “I cant solve your problems anymore”
2. Havalina “Las Hojas Secas”
3. El Guincho “Pop Negro”
4. Janelle Monae “The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)”
5. Richard in your Mind “My Volcano”

Si Rider – Einstellung
1. Monster Magnet – “Mastermind”. Strong, heavy riffs and big production make for a real return to form after the previous album “4-Way Diablo” and its attempt to branch out into territories that Dave Wyndorf simply can’t compete. God bless Monster Magnet.
2. Crocodiles – “Sleep Forever”. Yes, they sound like The Marychain. Yes, they show their influences on their sleeves. Who cares? Reverb drenched, bubblegum psychedelia will always have its place. Good on ‘em.
3. Black Mountain – “Wilderness Heart”. The only Black Mountain album I have but I’ll be after more. Psychedelic acid rock blues has always been dear to my heart and Black Mountain prove its continual importance.
4. Grinderman – “2″. This is just down right dirty. I missed the first album mainly cos I never really got Nick Cave even though I was a big Birthday Party fan. The guitar reminds me more of the Birthday Party then the Bad Seeds. I’ll be looking for the first album.
5. Soundgarden – “Telephantasm”. Essentially a ‘best of’ retrospective, you could be forgiven for wondering why this has been released. Okay they’ve got back together and maybe it’s the easiest thing to do? I don’t care, it flows really well, has a couple of unreleased live tracks, an unreleased studio track, a DVD full of possibly some of the cheesiest ‘rock-gods’ videos the cool side of Bon Jovi and a lovely fold-out digipak sleeve which I’m a sad old sucker for every time!

Steve Hough – Einstellung
1. Deftones – “Diamond Eyes”. Far and away my fave this year, an awesome ride.
2. Amusement Parks On Fire – “Road Eyes”. Epic shoegaze.
3. The Dillinger Escape Plan – “Option Paralysis”. Exhausting but satisfying.
4. Torche – “Songs For Singles”. Stripped down and direct pop rockers. (might be classed as a mini LP though).
5. Tweak Bird- Self Titled. Just because it makes me smile.

Mistina La Fave- The Prids
1. Wild Nothing ‘Gemini’
2. Crocodiles ‘Sleep Forever’
3. Monster Movie ‘Everyone is a Ghost’
4. Me You Us Them ‘Post-Data’
5. The National ‘High Violet’

Adam- Apteka
Tame Imapla- Innerspeaker
Radio Dept-Clinging To A Scheme
Disappears-Lux
Crocodiles-Sleep Forever
Deerhunter-Halcyon Digest

Nic Endo- Atari Teenage Riot
1. Rat Eyes – Dickheads Guide to Assholeland
I look at a decade full of personal top ten lists and wonder if things are really getting worse every year? Stopped reading those lists in magazines a long time ago. When I heard this seven inch it felt like watching a beach full of springbreak zombies and someone drops a bomb with icewater on them. Wake up, world. Rat Eyes defines the new era of hardcore.
2. Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
Didn’t catch one of their shows as I was on tour pretty much the whole year. Great to have them back.
3. Salem – Asia
Nothing that new but it’s awesome music after all. Good name, that’s half the rent right there I guess. I wish they were staying more underground and the hipsters would have NOT discovered them. But who cares…
4. Merzbow & Balazs Pandi – live 12″
Balazs gave me this vinyl. Fucking amazing stuff. Balazs is a drummer who played with Venetian Snares and many others. Merzbow is god anyway. So bring both together and you have a rare piece of brutal energy on black wax.
5. Gatekeeper – Giza EP
I am really into synths music – who would have guessed… This is very good because these guys (I assume these are guys) know their machines. If you do 80ties synth stuff, do it well.
6. Steve Aoki – Brrrat (Polydor Remix)
Saw the guy DJ in Tokyo the first time, great energy… This is refreshing when you are based in Berlin like me and have to listen to that minimal Hawtin rubbish all the time.
7. IAMX – Terrified (Alec Empire remix)
I liked the original, so I was surprised when Alec played me the remix he did of the song. I like remixes that change the song completely.
8. The Knife – Tomorrow, in a Year
This is as mainstream as I get.
9. CX Kidtronik – Let’s Go Crazy (Stones Throw)
The new guy in Atari Teenage Riot. What an insane trip this whole year has been for us. A year ago Alec and him wrote this track, CX wanted me to lay some vocals on here, like riot grrl style. It took some time to come out, as it was one of the first tracks from his album he was recording. There are two sides to hip hop these days, the commercial horrible stuff that gets played at Glastonbury festival or something, then the very very underground stuff which is more imaginary than anything else out there. Watch out…
10. Sleigh Bells – Infinity Guitars
I kind of like this band. I hope they’re still around after the 2011 backlash. Sometimes I imagine I found a 7 inch vinyl of this in some small indie record store in Newcastle or something…

Lisa Elle- Dark Horses
L.P’s:
Bo Ningen- Bo Ningen
Black Keys- Brothers
BRMC- Beat the Devils Tattoo
Caribou- Swim
Arial Pinks Haunted Graffiti- Before Today
Stellar Om Source- Trilogy Select
E.P’s:
Gazelle Twin- Changelings
Factory Floor- Lying/A Wooden Box
Junip-Rope and Summit

Amanda- Pug Records
Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
Big Troubles – Worry
Surf City – Kudos
Wavves – King Of The Beach
Ty Segall – Melted
Las Robertas – Cry Out Loud
Of Montreal – False Priest
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today
The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter
Sandy City – Nice Hat (EP)

Me You Us Them
Hooray For Earth-Momo
Refused-The Shape of Punk to Come (vinyl re-issue)
Appomattox-Appmttx
Retribution Gospel Choir-2
The Prids-Chronosynclastic
Stereolab-Not Music
Les Savy Fav-Root for Ruin
Soundpool-Mirrors in Your Eyes
Autolux-Transit Transit
Grandfather-Why I’d Try

Captain Polaroid
1. Los Campesinos! – Romance is Boring ‘Romance Is Boring’ is, for me, the clear winner of 2010. Packed with beautiful lyrical imagery, exceptionally produced and so brilliantly constructed that it can easily be listened to on repeat.
2. She & Him – Volume 2
3. The Megaphonic Thrift – Decay Decoy
4. Horowitz – Popkids of the World Unite!
5. Superchunk – Majesty Shredding
6. Male Bonding – Nothing Hurts
7. Shrag – Life! Death! Prizes!
8. Best Coast – Crazy for You
9. Manic Street Preachers – Postcards From a Young Man
10. Everybody Was In The French Resistance… Now! – Fixin’ the Charts Volume One

Ryan & Rebecca- Stripmall Architecture
1. Mountain Man – Made The Harbor
2. Efterklang – Magic Chairs
3. The National – High Violet
4. John Grant – Queen Of Denmark
5. Apparatjik – We Are Here
6. Crocodiles – Sleep Forever
7. Gayngs – Relayted
8. Hot Chip – One Life Stand
9. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
10. Glasser – Ring

Shark?
5. Eternal Summers – Silver Husband/wife duo make beautiful Vaselines-esque tunes.
4. Male Bonding – Nothing Hurts British proto-punk done right.
3. No Age – Everything In Between Great things come in threes and No Age’s third LP may be their best.
2. Ty Segall – Melted I want to melt with this album forever.
1. Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Beyond Today Should be dipped in bronze and left on the mantel as a testament to the lost art of album-making.
Favorite hip hop album:
Big Boi – Sir Lucious Left Foot
Favorite world music album:
Konono no. 1 – Assume Crash Position

Kjartan Holm- For A Minor Reflection
1. The National – High Violet
2. Sleigh Bells – Treats
3. Agent Fresco – A Long Time Listening
4. Wavves – King Of The Beach
5. Skúli Sverrisson – Sería II
6. No Age – Everything In Between
7. Broken Social Scene – Forgiveness Rock Record
8. Twin Shadow – Forget
9. Fang Island – Fang Island
10. Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest

Andrew- Our Anatomy
Australian.
1. A Dead Forest Index – Antique EP
2. Otouto – Pip
3. My Disco – Little Joy
4. Heirs – Fowl
5. Mystery Twin – S/T
International.
1. Emeralds – Does It Look Like I’m Here?
2. Gold Panda – Lucky Shiner
3. Blonde Redhead – Penny Sparkle
4. Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz
5. Lower Dens – Twin Hand Movement

Steven Ansell- Blood Red Shoes
1. Pulled Apart By Horses- Pulled Apart By Horses
We toured with this band a lot early in the year when our album came out and we had to wait a few months for them to get signed and finally get the album out. They’re my favourite live band in England right now without a doubt.
2. Women – Public Strain
My bandmate Laura got me into these guys – we got back from tour and she went to see them in London and immediately called me shouting, “You HAVE to go to the Brighton show”. I’m glad I did. Amazing.
3. Autolux – Transit Transit
These guys have only just released their 2nd album after the first one came out in 2004. They have a real west-coast dreamy acid-y vibe to the noise they make but this album has a bit more use of electronic sounds as well as huge waves of guitar.
4. Rolo Tomassi- Cosmology
This is pretty dense stuff but they found a new really spacey element to their sound compared to the first album. Another great, live band who’ve really pushed themselves on the 2nd album to explore something more. Although to be honest they cover more ground musically in one song than most bands cover in 3 albums.
5. Liars – Sisterworld
You never really know quite what this band are going to come back with from one album to the next. I wasn’t that taken with their previous one, but I love “Drums Not Dead” and I really like this one too. Thematically it seems quite inspired by their return from living in Berlin back to LA and I quite like the aggression that seems to have brought out in them.

Ed- Tears Run Rings
1. Caribou – Swim (Merge)
2. The Radio Dept. – Clinging To A Scheme (Labrador)
3. Ceremony – Rocket Fire (Killer Pimp)
4. The European – In A Very Real Sense Now (Stolen)
5. The Chemical Brothers – Further (Astralwerks)
6. Blue Sky Black Death – Third Party (Fake Four)
7. Wild Nothing – Gemini (Captured Tracks)
8. Secret Shine – The Beginning and the End (self-released)
9. School of Seven Bells – Disconnect From Desire (Vagrant)
10. Bubblegum Leomonade – Sophomore Release (Matineé)
runners up:
The Cavalcade – Many Moons (Pebble)
The Depreciation Guild – Spirit Youth (Kanine)
A Sunny Day in Glasgow – Autumn, again (self-released)
Robyn – Body Talk (Cherrytree)
Germany Germany – Radiowave (THaF)
Phil Wilson – God Bless Jim Kennedy (Slumberland)
Allo Darlin’ – Allo Darlin’ (Fortuna Pop)
Benoît Piolard – Lasted (Kranky)

The Lucid Dream
Beach House-Teen Dream
BRMC- Beat The Devils Tattoo
Caribou-Swim
Caribou Vibration Ensemble featuring Marshall Allen
Crocodiles- Sleep Forever
Wooden Shjips- Vol 2

Matt Finney- Heinali and Matt Finney
1. The National- High Violet
2. The Gaslight Anthem- American Slang
3. Whirl- Distressor
4. Yawning- Noah
5. Murmuure- Murmuure

Home Video
Caribou – Swim
Hot Chip – One Life Stand
Twin Shadow – Forget
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Washed Out – Life of Leisure
Robyn – Body Talk
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
Bot’Ox – Blue Steel
UNKLE – Where Did The Night Fall
ceo – White Magic

Brian Hancheck- The Arctic Flow
1. Belle & Sebastian-Write About Love
2. The Cure-Disintegration (3cd remastered edition)
3. The Drums-The Drums
4. Soda Shop-Farewell 7″
5. The Cavalcade-Many Moons
6. Starflyer 59-Changing Of The Guard
7. Foxtail Somersault-Reflection
8. Two Wounded Birds-My Lonesome (single)
9. Northern Portrait-Criminal Art Lovers
10. Wild Nothing-Gemini

Manuel- Havalina
Grinderman – Grinderman 2
The Black Keys – Brothers
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Beat the Devil’s Tatoo
Massive Attack – Heligoland
Maga – A la Hora del Sol
Maika Makovski – Maika Makovski

Monserrat- Las Robertas
1. Teen Dream-Beach House
2. Brothers-Black Keys
3. Interpol-Interpol
4. Hell to Play-The Whines
5. The Big Black and The Blue- First Aid Kit
6. Astro Coast-Surfer Blood
7. Halcyon Digest-Deerhunter
8. Congratulations-MGMT
9. The Fool-Warpaint
10. Sex With an X-The Vaselines
11. Tiny Monsters-TGW
12. ZO-Zopilot
13. Harlem-Hippies

Mercedes- Las Robertas
1. Wild Nothing-Gemini
2. Harlem-Hippies
3. The Whines- Hell To Play
4. Beach Fossils-Beach Fossils
5. Beach House-Teen Dream
6. Girls-Broken Dreams Club
7. Heavy Hawaii- HH
8. Weekend-Sports
9. Eternal Summers-Silver
10. Detectives Salvajes- Cairos Papasquiaro

Franco aka Ana María- Las Robertas
1. Total Life Forever – Foals.
2. Halycon Digest – Deerhunter.
3. Brothers – The Black Keys.
4. King of the Beach – Wavves.
5. Los Acetatos – Los Acetatos.
6. Everything in Between – No Age.
7. Congratulations – MGMT
8. Play it Strange – The Fresh & Onlys.
9. Forgivness Rock Record – Broken Social Scene.
10. Tiny Monsters – TGW.

Eric- Object
1. Arcade Fire – The Suburbs
2. Deftones – Diamond Eyes
3. Alain Johannes – Spark
4. Retribution Gospel Choir – 2
5. Fake Hooker – La Tragedia

Sam- The Ganjas
Helmet – Seeing Eye Dog
Adam Franklin – I Could Sleep for a Thousand Years
Big Star – Keep An Eye On The Sky
The Black Crowes “Crowelogy”
The Versions- Resurrection Hotel
Ronnie Wood – I Feel Like Playing
Alice in Chains – Black Gives Way to Blue
Earhride – Something Wicked
Tom Petty – Mojo
Jimi Hendrix – Valleys of Neptune

And so it begins. Every year, we listen to mp3′s of every band scheduled to appear at SXSW. We then present you with an A to Z preview of the bands that we think should earn your attention. Whether you’re coming down to SXSW (recommended!) or just looking for new music, there’s no better time of year. There’s a variety of music here, so buckle up for some different sounds. We’ll be previewing two letters per day, which’ll take us right up to SXSW Music Week. Then we’ll give you our picks for the “Ten bands you must see at SXSW!”. In the meantime, let’s dig right in with a healthy helping of delicious music.

The band: A Sunny Day In Glasgow
Where are they from: Philadelphia/Sydney
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/sunnydayinglasgow

The band: Abe Vigoda
Where are they from: Los Angeles
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/abevigoda

The band: Adam Franklin
Where are they from: New York/London
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/toshackhighway
TDOA Interview here

The band: An Horse
Where are they from: Australia
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/anhorse
TDOA Interview here

The band: And So I Watch You From Afar
Where are they from: Ireland
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/andsoiwatchyoufromafar

The band: Apteka
Where are they from: Chicago, IL
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/apteka

The band: Arborea
Where are they from: Maine
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/arborea2

The band: Avi Buffalo
Where are they from: Long Beach, CA
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/avibuffalo

The band: Band of Horses
Where are they from: North and South Carolina
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/bandofhorses

The band: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Where are they from: California
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/blackrebelmotorcycleclub

The band: Black Sheep
Where are they from: Queens/NYC
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/blacksheep

The band: Blessure Grave
Where are they from: San Diego
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/blessuregravesd

The band: Boat Beam
Where are they from: Spain
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/boatbeam

TDOA Interview: Here

The band: The Boxer Rebellion
Where are they from: London
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/theboxerrebellion
TDOA Interview: Here

The band: Breakestra
Where are they from: Los Angeles, CA
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/breakestra

The band: Broadcast 2000
Where are they from: London
MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/broadcast2000

The band: The Bronx
Where are they from: Los Angeles
Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/thebronx

Here’s some insight into the wonderful world that we live. While perusing the internet, we came across some great music by a band called Boatlina. While we would have been content to find that this band was a solitary entity, we discovered that it was a collaboration between two bands. Last year, we interviewed the wonderful Boat Beam, who selflessly told us that we need to know more about their partners on the Boatlina project. They told us to expect Havalina to have a huge following in Spain and an amazing sound to their music. Little did we realize the epic sound that Havalina was crafting. America, we’re behind the curve on this one. Our newest writer Ravin did his homework, so that you could learn to share the love with…. Havalina.

Havalina | Incursiones

Havalina | MySpace Music Videos

TDOA: Generally, when Americans think of Spain, it’s things like siesta, flamenco dancing, bull-fighting, tomato throwing and Ibiza that come to mind–  Essentially, scenes of celebration. With the exception of perhaps “Sueños de Esquimal” [Dreams of Eskimos], your new album feels decidedly non-celebratory. It’s gritty, it’s angst-y, it’s edgy, but most of all, it feels introspective and personal. Is there a darker side to life in Spain that elicits these types of emotions?

H: Yes, completely. All those things you mention don’t happen so usually in the common Spaniards’s life, and as you say, it is more what Americans (and not only Americans) see from the outside than what actually happens inside the borders of Spain. Besides, most of our lyrics talk about personal issues and in some way, everyone in every country and culture has personal issues to talk about.

TDOA: Can you talk a bit about your collaboration with Boat Beam?

H: Aurora Aroca (the only Spanish member in Boat Beam) and I have a strong and very deep, personal relationship. We met some years ago and since then, I think both of us have been a very important and unique person in the life of each other. I met Josephine Ayling in the summer of 08, because she was looking for someone to do the mastering of her yet unfinished album. I offered to not only doing the mastering, but also redoing the mixes and doing some extra recordings and production on some tracks, in order to get the best out of those marvelous songs and sounds. Literally, I fell in love with Boat Beam, and since then we have worked together on several projects: I do (when my agenda allows me to) the live sound of their live performances, recording some more new stuff and also this collaboration between my band; Havalina, and Boat Beam.

TDOA: You guys sing in Spanish, which we love. But have you ever felt pressure, either from yourselves or others, to sing in English?

H: It’s funny, because it actually has always been the opposite thing. Havalina started making music in 2001, but at that time, our name was Havalina Blu and we made music in English. After 5 years and 3 LPs, we decided to take a step forward and sing in our own language. Spanish is not as easy as English when we talk about, let’s say, alt-rock, but we had the feeling that doing this music in Spanish would give an extra feeling to our songs. Spanish people would feel them closer and we would manage a more personal sound.
As opposed to what happens in other countries, when we talk about Spain, singing in English and having success with it is much more difficult than singing in Spanish. I guess the main reason is that most Spanish people don’t use and don’t understand English.

TDOA: The level of musicianship in a lot of the Spanish bands we’ve been covering is remarkable. Not in terms of speed or theatrics, necessarily, but in terms of craft and sophistication. Does Spanish culture foster this? And do Spanish audiences expect their musicians to have a certain level of skill?

H: Except for some cases, we’ve been always somehow behind other countries in terms of quality in productions, live performances and so on. However, this is changing: year after year the quality of both mainstream and underground spanish bands is increasing. We’re slowly reaching out a certain level of skill and I’m glad you noticed this out.
I believe the increasing in quality is coming from musicians first, which day after day look inside and outside the borders of our countries and look for something new to implement in their sound. After that, audiences will expect more and more bands and artists to offer quality in their productions and live performances; so far, I feel this hasn’t happened yet, but it will, sooner or later.

TDOA: Let’s talk about your new album, Imperfección. Why the title and what’s up with the cats on the album cover?

H: Apart from being the name of one of our favourite songs from the album, Imperfección means the general concept of Human Imperfection: our passion, our will (or lazyness) to do things, our desire for validation from others, our desire for what we shouldn’t, etc. Basically, all those imperfect things that make us what we are.
The two cats in the album cover are Aurora Aroca’s cats. Besides the fact that I love cats and everything related to them (I also have two cats of my own) most of the songs in this album are related to a time in my life where Aurora was quite important, and thus most of the songs talk about her.

TDOA: Something I love about Imperfección is that it’s so damn EPIC. Here in America, there’s been a severe lack of fist-in-the-air rock ‘n’ roll in recent years, in favor of more low-key (and often contrived) “indie” music, get-rich-quick rap and cheesy electro-pop. Can the same be said of the Spanish music scene? Would you say your music a reaction to or an extension of popular taste?

H: Yes, that same thing you mention is what is happens here in Spain, and the main reason why Havalina isn’t so popular, but more loved among listeners like you, who appreciate rage and “epicness” in our music. And yes, our current style is an absolute reaction to that cheesy feeling all around: I kinda despise that, I admit that for a moment I’ve been sick of frivolity in the Spanish musical scene. That’s the reason we came up with this sound and all this epicness.

TDOA: President Obama is visiting Spain and the Spanish government asks you to play one of your new songs for him at a dinner held in his honor. Assuming there are no consequences, what song would you play?

H: This question is very interesting. Indeed, I have asked my bandmates about this and we all agreed to play Desinspiración, which is the largest, heaviest and most epic track in the album. I would like Obama to think that we Spaniards do great things, you know

TDOA: What are your impressions of Obama thusfar and how do you think people feel about him versus George Bush?

H: Honestly, I have no idea what to say or to think. I have no TV at home, I don’t watch the news and I don’t read any newspaper. My style of life is really centered around my music, my good and friends, my family and my cats. However, I do have an impression about what do people think about Obama and I would say he has created very good expectations, mainly due to the fact that George Bush has always had a very bad reputation. Now I guess it is his turn to satisfy such expectations.

TDOA: Has the band visited the U.S. before, either to play or as tourists? Do you plan on touring the U.S. in the near future?

H: If I recally correctly, Ignacio (bassist) has been touring the U.S. several times and he bought some of his gear in stores in N.Y. Besides that, Havalina hasn’t been there and unfortunately there are no plans or expectations of any tour in the U.S. Hopefully that should change anytime soon.

TDOA: Could you recommend some other bands in the local scene that our readers should check out immediately? We’ve covered Boat Beam already, so they’re disqualified.

H: Yes, of course! I will tell you about two Spanish bands of our scene that really rock: Nudozurdo, which is more rock-oriented, with very obscure lyrics and sounds, and Tulsa, which has released their new album (you can listen to them at their myspace site), which feels more introspective, but somehow obscure too and also has an “American” feeling in some of their arrangements. They both do very intense Spanish lyrics. I really appreciate them.

There is also a Spanish band named Standstill, which is one of my favs as well and it is well recognized as one of the greatest things in the national scene. They used to sing in English but some years ago they turned to Spanish and the result was brilliant. There are a huge number of interesting bands around, but I guess that is enough for now.

To purchase the music of Havalina via iTunes, click below!

As referenced previously, Havalina collaborated with Boat Beam to create some memorable music. Here’s one video from that session.

1. Alberta Cross- Broken Side of Time

2. The Boxer Rebellion- Union

3. Heat-Ray- Love All Over

4. Lovvers- OCD Go Go Go Girls

5. Fruit Bats- The Ruminant Band

6. Royal Treatment Plant- Hope Is Not Enough

7. Boat Beam- Puzzle Shapes

8. The Mountain Goats- The Life of the World to Come

9. The XX- S/T

10. The Big Pink- A Brief History of Love

11. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- S/T

12. Julian Plenti- …Is Skyscraper

13. Jason Lytle- Yours Truly, The Commander

14. The Joy Formidable- A Ballon Called Morning

15. Gliss- Devotion/Implosion

16. Grand Analog- Metropolis Is Burning

17. The Black Box Revelation- Set Your Head On Fire

18. Ten City Nation- At The Still Point

19. Jaydiohead- S/T

Jaydiohead – 99 Anthems from Max Tannone on Vimeo.

20. It Hugs Back- Inside Your Guitar

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Canadian hip hop and Spanish indie rock, all in one week?! Yes, we’re asking you to open your minds, but we’re rewarding you with exquisite treats. Spain’s Boat Beam first came to our attention due to a collaboration they did with another great Spanish band called Havalina. The real treat came when we listened to their debut record, Puzzle Shapes. Beautiful female vocals wrapped around a deluge of sounds and instruments that come together to create brilliant quirky, pop songs. This is how pop should sound in our world. Josephine from Boat Beam took some time to gently explain that there is more to the music world than your narrow little NME/Spin field of vision.

TDOA: How is the music scene in Madrid? You’re the first band we’ve come across from there. We’re wondering if you’re an anomaly or if we’re just scratching the surface of a great music scene.

BB: The music scene here is thriving. There is so much talent and it seems that people are much more interested in going to see live music than in other countries. Maybe it’s got something to do with the Spanish culture – they’re generally less addicted to their TVs and more motivated to get out of the house.

TDOA: It seems that American bands are able to become popular in Europe and Asia despite the language barrier. Is it frustrating that Americans aren’t as open-minded in listening to music from other parts of the world?

BB: The US has always had a bit of cultural dominance in the rest of the world, and people in non-English speaking countries listen to music in English even if they don’t understand it. But the US has also fostered music from all parts of the world and its rich musical heritage has inspired and entertained us for decades.

TDOA: What led you to record Puzzle Shapes in English?

BB: As I am an Australian who came to live here two years ago, English is my native language and I usually compose lyrics in English. Lately I’ve started penning a few in Spanish and we sometimes play them at concerts. I’d like to compose more and more in Spanish so that the audiences understand what I’m singing about. But the good thing about English is that people from all over the world – be it the US, Germany, France or Japan – can get into the music.

TDOA: Vocal melodies play such a huge part in your music. When writing songs, do you usually start with the vocals?

BB: No, I usually start with a chord progression or a riff on the guitar. I then bring the lyrics to the music and try to weld them together and that’s when the vocal melodies arise.

TDOA: We’re quite fond of the production on the record. Who produced the record for you and to what extent did they influence the “sound” of the album?

BB: The album was started in Australia and finished in Spain, and during that time there were various people involved in the recording side of things. But the most important touches were in the final stages, by myself and by a Spanish producer by the name of Manuel Cabezali.

TDOA: How did the collaboration with Havalina come to pass? Listening to the songs you did together led us to hunt both of you down. Perhaps you can also tell us a little bit about Havalina

BB: Havalina is the band of Manuel Cabezali. He’s a good friend and an absolute genius when it comes to sound. Havalina has released a number of records and are one of the most respected rock bands in Spain (and they also sing in Spanish, which we like.)

TDOA: There seems to be a great deal of thought put into the artwork for the band. Who does this for you?

BB: A young artist by the name of Sandra G Tenorio, who is still studying her degree at university but who really is quite ready to rock the art world (in our opinion.)

TDOA: Your website lists upcoming shows in Hanoi and Ho Chi Men. Really?! How did that come to be?

BB: Someone from the Spanish embassy in Vietnam saw us play here in Madrid, in a tiny show in someone´s flat. She recommended us to the people in Vietnam who are organizing a festival there, and they contacted us and naturally we said “yes yes yes” so we’re going. It’ll be Aurora’s first time out of Europe.

TDOA: Any chances we’ll see you in the U.S. in 2010?

BB: Hopefully!! It’d be awesome…but we have to wait until a US label licenses our record. As soon as they do, we’ll come over.

Follow them on MySpace here

Purchase the latest album here:

Boat Beam – Session Cats /// Exclusiva Bandalismo.net from Bandalismo.net on Vimeo.