Best Albums of 2015
selected by Erich E. Mendoza

10
Jean Loup <BR>“Valerio y La Última Vuelta al Palejonú” EP

Jean Loup
“Valerio y La Última Vuelta al Palejonú” EP

Based in Mexico D.C., Jean Loup blends long, thrilling, and very precise instrumental cuts, and soft and accurate lyrics that come up once in a while.

On their first EP, “Valerio y La Última Vuelta al Palejonú”, the group let us enjoy of their truly progressive math-rock which grows with every listen.

♪♫ Listen: “Valerio Benustelli” + album stream

Jean Loup on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp, Soundcloud.

9
De Osos <BR>“Instrucciones para dejar ir”

De Osos
“Instrucciones para dejar ir”

Arturo Luna is the mind behind this very young project, whose main goal is to create an atmospheres through instrumental post-rock sounds and ambient textures.

He’s truly one of the most talented music composers of our generation, but still in the process of becoming fully aware of his potential.

De Osos debuted just last March, but it’s already becoming a reference for the new wave of Mexican post-rock bands.

♪♫ Listen: “Algo siempre” + album stream

De Osos on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp.

8
Grenda <BR>“Living Right” EP

Grenda
“Living Right” EP

Eduardo Amezcua is only 16 years old, but he’s already made a breakthrough in the Méxican electronic music scene.

Son of Ramón Amezcua (a.k.a. Bostich) from Nortec Collective, this talented producer has still a long way to go until he finds his true sound. But in the process he’s managed to incorporate multiple genres like hip-hop, house and many more that have built up his short yet impressive career.

“Living Right” EP is only the beginning, and 2016 should bring Grenda’s full-length debut. But what we got to hear during 2015 was already an amazing experience.

♪♫ Listen: “Fall Down” + album stream

Grenda on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, www.

7
BCOTB <BR>“WNTD”

BCOTB
“WNTD”

Suriel de León & Javier Cisneros originally come from San Luis Potosí, a region long way from Mexico City whose music scene is not quite as broad as Monterrey’s or Guadalajara’s.

However, it has managed to give us some amazing artists and new talents such as BCOTB (Black Cats On The Bag). Their “WNTD” EP is a taste of an electronic concept they achieve by blending footwork with all kinds of other rhythms into their very own sound.

♪♫ Listen: “WNTD” + album stream

BCOTB on Facebook, Twitter.

6
Wet Baes <BR>“Youth Attraction” EP

Wet Baes
“Youth Attraction” EP

80’s sound, synthpop, new wave and a very fun vibe to dance to – that’s what Andrés Jaime – a 19-year-old music producer – achieved on his first EP.

“Youth Attraction” has got attention from international labels, such as Stratford Court, who eventually decided to release this material. With just 6 tracks, Andrés has become one of the most interesting musicians to watch in 2016 because of his incredible way of mixing old music with contemporary inspirations.

Definitely one of México’s finest.

♪♫ Listen: “Midnight Caller” + album stream

Wet Baes on Facebook, Twitter.

5
Pure Morning <BR>“The Broadcasting Department Of Philadelphia”

Pure Morning
“The Broadcasting Department Of Philadelphia”

They call it “tweegaze”, but at the end of the day what Pure Morning do is one of the finest, most melodic and simply best shoegaze we’ve ever heard from Culiacán, Sinaloa (yes, El Chapo’s Hometown, LOL).

On “The Broadcasting Department Of Philadelphia”, these six guys like to mix little arcade jingles with noise/pop, blending it all with tons of reverb and fast guitars.

From there, they pick up this amazing rhythm that turns everything a little bit darker, and throwing in the shoegaze glimpse we’ve been looking for in their debut album.

♪♫ Listen: “Louder” + album stream

Pure Morning on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp.

4
Hexagrams <BR>“Soft Drugs”

Hexagrams
“Soft Drugs”

As you can see from this Top 10, music in our country is not only happening in the capital, we have tons of amazing new projects coming up from all around Mexico.

Based in León, Guanajuato, the quartet Hexagrams has become one of the top shoegaze projects with their dark, sarcastic and very explosive sound.

With the release of “Soft Drugs”, it has not only impressed the local scene, but also reached some parts of Europe and deservedly so.

♪♫ Listen: “China Doll” + album stream

Hexagrams on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, Bandcamp.

3
Buried Under Stars <BR>“Soup Is Food”

Buried Under Stars
“Soup Is Food”

Take a ride back to the ’90s with this amazing full-length from México’s lo-fi pioneers, Buried Under Stars. Released in May, it’s a record full of distorted guitars, deep bass sounds and an unexpected rush.

The four-piece from Mexico’s capital can be as dark as they can be funny, but at the end they always carry this very grungy/improvised feel that reminds us of bands from the mid-nineties.

And just like those bands, “Soup Is Food” might as well become a “cult” release in the Mexican underground scene.

♪♫ Listen: “Kill The President” + album stream

Buried Under Stars on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, Bandcamp.

2
LAWALL <BR>“La Playa de los 90”

LAWALL
“La Playa de los 90”

Transport yourself to the beach and let the sun and water flow over your body. Lawall is one of the most exciting bands in México right now because of the way they add tropical sounds to their synth-pop-meets-alternative-rock sound.

On “La Playa de los 90”, you will find lots of contrasts and yet it feels like nothing is really changing between each track. It will offer you a very refreshing moment, especially if you spend this time with your headphones on.

♪♫ Listen: “Creativo” + album stream

LAWALL on Facebook, Twitter.

1
Vaya Futuro <BR>“Perro Verde y Triste”

Vaya Futuro
“Perro Verde y Triste”

Tijuana’s finest arrived in México City not long ago. During that time, they gave birth to their amazing new album, “Perro Verde y Triste”.

It takes us on a noise/pop trip with elements of ambient, alternative rock and a very well-placed synths on the back that just wrap up the whole record and make it one of the best things that happened during 2015.

Laugh, cry, scream or just let the little sad vibes of “Perro Verde y Triste’s” engulf you.

♪♫ Listen: “Libélula” + album stream (Spotify)

Vaya Futuro on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud.