The Beatles - a day in the life, 1967

"‘A Day In The Life’ – that was something. I dug it. It was a good piece of work between Paul and me. I had the ‘I read the news today’ bit, and it turned Paul on. Now and then we really turn each other on with a bit of song, and he just said ‘yeah’ – bang, bang, like that. It just sort of happened beautifully."

Rosie Thomas - say hello, 2006

"These Friends of Mine is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2006. Jeremy Enigk, Sufjan Stevens (who also co-produced), David Bazan, Damien Jurado, and Denison Witmer also appear on this album. The album was initially only available for purchase at online music stores."

Headlights - your old street, 2006

"Headlights are able to keep up their fun, summertime power pop without too many problems, until, a little more than halfway through the record, they decide to explore those indie electronica influences they had been hinting at. "Words Make You Tired" is a startling, and utterly forgettable, Killers-esque dance-pop track, "I Love, You Laugh" is sparse and sad and machine-driven, and while "Hi-Ya" is actually pretty fun, it comes as such a contrast to the rest of the album that it's almost hard to enjoy it. The Headlights had done such a good job with setting themselves up as perhaps the preeminent indie pop band of 2006 that their departure into the "dance" realm is puzzling at best. Maybe by the time their next album rolls around they will be able to tame their influences into a more coherent-sounding body of work that will more fully represent their abilities."

Bonnie Prince Billy - in good faith, 2020

"Oldham first performed and recorded under various permutations of the Palace name, including Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, Palace Music, and simply Palace. Regarding the name changes during this period (1993–1997), Oldham said: 'I guess the idea is that when you have a name of a group or an artist, then you expect that the next record, if it has the same name, should be the same group of people playing on it. And I just thought we were making a different kind of record each time, with different people, and different themes, and different sounds. So I thought it was important to call it something different so that people would be aware of the differences.' Will stated in a 1995 interview with KCRW that the name Palace Flophouse was inspired by reading John Steinbeck's Cannery Row."

Sufjan Stevens - the greatest gift, 2017

"The highlight of the collection is easily the remixes, which tease out the compact stems of the original songs and let them flourish in open, flowing space. Helado Negro helms two remixes, of “Death With Dignity” and “All of Me Wants All of You,” and the way he unwinds previously buried vocal harmonies is enough to make you want a full-blown, album-length collaboration between the two artists. Stevens’ own remix of “Drawn to the Blood” hews close enough to the version on Carrie & Lowell Live, but with crisper vocals, while Doveman’s gentle take on the 2015 tour single “Exploding Whale” lends as much gravitas as possible to a song that contains the words “epic fail.” Though too scattered to stand alone, The Greatest Gift adds new dimension to Carrie & Lowell. It’s easy enough to read albums, especially those as moving as Stevens’, as ironclad cultural objects, produced once and then immutable. The Greatest Gift contextualizes the work more as a living document. It exposes shadows of the album’s past and future, and for that, it’s exquisitely generous."

Beirut - scenic world live, 2015

"When Beirut released Gulag Orkestar in 2006, its swaying horns and eclectic percussion treated music lovers to a sound that was relatively foreign to American music made west of the Atlantic Ocean. The record’s inventive use of Balkan melodies and triumphant brass garnered near-immediate critical praise. The feat was especially impressive, considering that—for the most part—one man is behind Beirut: Zach Condon. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Condon's debut at just 19 years old was a shock to anyone who thought they were listening to Brandenburg’s preeminent elder sing to the neighborhood as the children skipped stones in the street. But Condon never lived that life. He was a teenager so obsessed with rare instruments, world history, and Middle Eastern architecture that he could fabricate deep nostalgia in his music for a beautiful, European paradise that never existed."

The Digital Age - symphony of grace, 2013

"The album opens on a more-or-less unexpected note with the lead single "Captured." Unlike any of the Rehearsals songs, this song is poppier than pretty much anything the DC*B made. But as poppy as it is, it is so bright, deliciously joyful and irresistibly catchy (not dissimilar to Rend Collective Experiment) that I have no doubt it will win over even the biggest skeptics. "Symphony of Grace" follows the same vein as its predecessor, just as bright, joyful and poppy."

Low - always trying to work it out, 2018

"The band’s latest record on Sub Pop, Double Negative, only confuses the narrative more. Double Negative is Low’s noisiest and harshest album yet, but also one of their most undeniably beautiful works. For a group that’s always experimented with their sound, it’s still astonishing to see how far they’ve been able to push their dynamics a quarter century into their career."

Sparks - when do i get to sing my way, 1994

"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" is a song by American rock band Sparks, released in October 1994 by Logic Records as the first single from their 16th album, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins (1994). Both written and produced by the Mael-brothers, the song makes reference to the Frank Sinatra signature-tune "My Way" and was a top-40 hit in the United Kingdom, while peaking at number seven in Germany. In the US, it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. In 1995, the song was re-released, this time peaking at number 32 in the UK."

Jon Fosse

“God is so far away that no one can say anything about him and that’s why all ideas about God are wrong, and at the same time he is so close that we almost can’t notice him, because he is the foundation in a person, or the abyss, you can call it whatever you want.”

Jon Fosse, "A New Name: Septology VI-VII"

Electronic - feel every beat, 1991

"Feel Every Beat" was the third single by the English band Electronic. (...). The A-side is a combination of rock and house music, and is a favourite of both the two members Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner. Marr began an early version of "Feel Every Beat" with the intention of releasing it on a solo album. Sumner's lyrics are about the criminalisation of rave culture in Britain."

The Smashing Pumpkins - the tale of dusty and pistol pete, 1998

"The Smashing Pumpkins have been regarded as a cultural touchstone of Generation X and contributed greatly to the rise of the generation's prevalence in Western popular culture."

Mark Knopfler - the ceilidh louis favourite billys tune, 1983

"Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1988, and from 1990 to 1995."

Thom Yorke - unmade, 2018

"Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation."

The Goon Sax - make time four love, 2018

"Forster is the son of Robert Forster, co-founder of indie rock band the Go-Betweens. The band released their debut studio album, Up to Anything, in 2016 on the Chapter Music label. This was followed by We're Not Talking in 2018, and Mirror II in 2021. They have performed with Twerps, Blank Realm, U.S. Girls, and Crayon Fields, among other artists."

The Beatles - getting better, 1967

"One of the recording sessions for "Getting Better" is infamous for an incident involving Lennon. During the 21 March 1967 session in which producer George Martin added a piano solo to "Lovely Rita", Lennon complained that he did not feel well and could not focus. He had accidentally taken LSD when he meant to take an upper. Unaware of the mistake, Martin took him up to the roof of EMI Studios for some fresh air, and returned to Studio Two where McCartney and Harrison were waiting. They knew why Lennon was not well, and upon hearing where Lennon was, rushed to the roof to retrieve him and prevent a possible accident."

Easterhouse - whistling in the dark, 1986

"Ruminations on the contradictions inherent in a revolutionary communist band’s affiliation with a multinational entertainment megalith were put on hold when Easterhouse’s initial lineup fell apart not long after Contender‘s US release. Ivor Perry and drummer Gary Rostock briefly (one single on UK Rough Trade) reemerged in a new band called the Cradle, with ex-Aztec Camera/Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon."

The Digital Age - glow, 2013

"With such an atmosphere that brings together lovers of music from all sides of the musical genre spectrum, there is something for everyone, from songs with reflective worship, to others melodies that include sections of screamo and others that offer up great and powerful ballads."

The Innocence Mission - god is love, 2010

"Sufjan Stevens calls The Innocence Mission "moving and profound", adding, “What makes Karen Peris’ lyrics so remarkable is the economy of words, sensory language, concrete nouns – everyday objects take on tremendous meaning.”

U2 - you’re the best thing about me, 2017

"Lead vocalist Bono referred to the song as "defiant joy", something that he and the Edge said was more important than ever in the "difficult times" in which they were living."

The Smiths - panic, 1987

"The song begins with Morrissey mentioning chaos unravelling throughout Britain and Ireland (specifically mentioning London, Birmingham, Leeds, Grasmere, Carlisle, Dublin, Dundee, and Humberside). In the second part of the song, he reveals that the source of this chaos is pop music, which "says nothing to [him] about [his] life".

Dido - see the sun live, 2015

"Life for Rent is the second studio album by English singer Dido, released by Arista Records on 29 September 2003. The album was produced by her brother Rollo Armstrong and American songwriter Rick Nowels. Work on the album began in mid-2002. It was certified 9× Platinum by the BPI, and sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling album worldwide of 2003. The album became the seventh best-selling album of the 2000s in the United Kingdom, making Dido the only singer to have two albums in the top 10 list."

Guillemots - we're here, 2006

"We're Here' is special, majestic even, but also oddly provisional on first listens. As if, in an effort to push for the biggest possible dose yet of their customary last-day-on-earth mood, they somehow forgot to finish writing the song."

Fleet Foxes - he doesn't know why, 2008

"He Doesn’t Know Why is a beautiful single from Fleet Foxes’ self-titled album. On this track, lead singer Robin Pecknold delivers very intimate, poetic lyrics about feeling confused and hopeless when seeing the sad state of a family member’s life (most likely his brother). The song is not confirmed to be based in truth, but nonetheless Robin’s passionate singing sure makes it feel deeply personal. The song has a powerful, catchy melody backed by a great folky instrumental. I saw Fleet Foxes live last week and was blown away by the whole set. Admittedly, before that point I was much more familiar with Helplessness Blues and Crack-Up than their previous projects. However, the instant I heard this song I fell in love and I’ve constantly had the self-titled album on repeat since then."

Beirut - no no no, 2015

"Despite rhythmic vitality and the addition of optimistic trumpet and trombone, Condon's lyrics reveal a man still suffering from loss and longing. Although none of the nine songs exceed the four-minute mark, the lyrics for each are even shorter by comparison, and are often repeated for emphasis. Repetition as a rhetorical device is perhaps most evident on "Fener," on which Condon sings, "I had to know, I had to know, where you had gone," or the title track, when Condon repeats the same stanza twice over. Condon is at the heart of each song, so while a hopeful tone is central to both the music and lyrics, No No No is a portrait of a man putting on a brave face while piecing his life back together, and it's all the more engaging for it."

Johnny Cash - you'll never walk alone cover, 2003

"The now invisible Billy, who has been granted the chance to return to Earth for one day in order to redeem himself, watches the ceremony and is able to silently motivate Louise and Julie to join in with the song."

The Digital Age - break every chain cover, 2013

"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist Tasha Cobbs from her major-label debut studio album Grace (2013). The song was composed by Will Reagan, produced by VaShawn Mitchell and released as the album's lead single. The songs features guest vocals performed by Timiney Figueroa from Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. The song was originally written and performed by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit Band in 2009. The song was later covered by Jesus Culture in 2011. However, Cobbs' interpretation of the song is the first commercially successful and accepted within the gospel community, of the trio. The song topped the Billboard Gospel Songs chart in 2012, as well as the corresponding digital and airplay gospel charts. The song also managed to peak at number thirty-five on the Billboard Holiday Songs chart and twenty-nine on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. At the 56th Grammy Awards, the song won a Grammy for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance". Cobbs performed the song at the 44th GMA Dove Awards in October 2013. The Digital Age recorded a version of this song in 2013 off their debut album Evening:Morning."

Belle And Sebastian - i want the world to stop live, 2010

"Two tracks from the album were played by the band during their 2010 tour: "I Didn't See It Coming", a duet featuring Sarah Martin and Stuart Murdoch on vocals, and "I'm Not Living in the Real World", which features Stevie Jackson on lead vocals. On 16 August 2010, another track was announced, titled "I Want the World to Stop". Norah Jones is featured on the track "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John", which was also included on Jones' compilation album ...Featuring Norah Jones, released one month after Write About Love."

REM - fall on me, 1986

"The song was one of the band's early compositions about environmentalism, discussing acid rain. It also transitioned from their murky lyrics and jangling guitar of their first three albums to a more accessible sound influenced by producer Don Gehman."

William Fitzsimmons - o come o come emmanuel, 2018

"The hymn has its origins over 1,200 years ago in monastic life in the 8th or 9th century."

Father John Misty - chateau lobby four in c for two virgins, 2015

"It's one of a handful of songs I sometimes get tears upon hearing it. I think it's a near perfect love song, and the sentiment is beautifully expressed."

Ride - future love, 2019

"Sometimes, iconic bands get together, record one more album, and then drift off into the ether again. That’s not what’s happening here. Ride have just announced that they’ll release a new album called This Is Not A Safe Place this summer. And they’ve also shared the first single, a hazy and contemplative new song called “Future Love.”

Lambchop - grumpus, 2000

"The song is about a boy who is feeling restless and drinks to cope with his problems. He is going through a difficult time and is struggling to find hope. The lyrics suggest that the solution is to be kind to his friends and change his perspective by looking at things from a different angle."

Editors - ocean of night, 2015

"The song is the second track and the fourth single off of their fifth studio album, In Dream, and was released through PIAS Recordings on 20 April 2015. As of 2019, it is the band's second most streamed single of Spotify, amounting nearly 18.5 million streams."

Death Cab For Cutie - the new year, 2003

"I don't want to falsely believe in something solely so I can jump to the front of the line for whatever this awesome place is we go after we die. [...] The vastness of that idea is so beyond my comprehension that I feel like if there was a God, then that God would accept me saying I'm not able to believe because it's so outside of my ability to understand it. I understand that's where faith comes into play."

James - just like fred astaire, 1999

"Born in Bradford, Tim Booth was recruited by British rock band James while at Manchester University in the 1980s. With Booth as lead singer and lyricist, James went on to sell more than 12m albums worldwide. The band supported the Smiths on their 1985 tour and reached No 2 in the UK singles chart in 1991 with Sit Down. In 2001, Booth left the band to teach the movement meditation practice 5Rhythms, before releasing his first solo album, Bone, in 2004."

Belle And Sebastian - the model live, 2001

"it's the best example of why Fold Your Hands is an incredibly underrated album. Infact, alongside others like Womens Realm, Family Tree and Waiting for the Moon to Rise, it's got some of their finest work right before they started to really change their sound on Dear Catastrophe."

Manchester Orchestra - cope, 2014

"This is the sort of thing that used to be called “alternative rock” out of habit, and in 2014, it’s actually earned that name."

Aimee Mann - you do, 1999

“The attention I got in my family was negative attention. I equated that to: if somebody looks at you, it’s not good because you’re going to be criticised or yelled at or made fun of. I wanted to play music, but I didn’t like the idea of being in an airport and people looking at me. It’s that animal instinct – when another animal is staring at you, you physically experience it as a threat.”

The Moody Blues - the story in your eyes, 1971

"Still not convinced the Moodies can rock? Cue up this riffy Hayward number from the band's typically oh-so-mellow Mellotron days. No doubt on the strength of that guitar-focused attitude, "The Story in Your Eyes" soared to No. 23 in America – likely before anyone noticed its thrillingly weird coda." 

Such a great song!

Pink Floyd - green is the colour, 1969

“Green Is the Colour” comes from the band’s third album, More, which was the soundtrack for a 1969 movie of the same namely director Barbet Schroeder. It was Pink Floyd’s first album without founder Syd Barrett, whose mental illness led to his departure from the group. Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters recalled that Schroeder wanted the music for More to relate to what was occurring within its scenes. “So if the radio was switched on in the car for example, he wanted something to come out of the car,” Waters said. “I was sitting at the side of the studio writing lyrics while we were putting down the backing tracks. It was just a question of writing eight or nine instrumentals.”

The Shins - pink bullets, 2003

"Santa Barbara’s “rainy” weather has me digging through my Rainy Day playlist. A band that dominates this playlist is one of my all time favorites, The Shins. They are an American band who originated in 1996, but are still performing today. As much as I love mellow music like Bon Iver and other calm melodies, The Shins are my favorite, because although their music is very mellow, it is also exciting, and has rhythm. My all time favorite song by The Shins is Pink Bullets. It is the perfect song, because if you are happy, it sounds so good, that it makes you happier. However, if you are having one of those days where you need to put in your noise canceling headphones in hopes of canceling out more than just the noise of the outside world, this song will be the perfect escape. It will be the perfect soundtrack to your angst, without making you fall deeper into the darkness. All in all, great song."

U2 - sunday bloody sunday live, 1983

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is noted for its militaristic drumbeat, harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies. One of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the 1972 Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed unarmed civil rights protesters. Along with "New Year's Day", the song helped U2 reach a wider listening audience. It was generally well received by critics on the album's release."

Father John Misty - strange encounter live, 2015

"the beauty of lyrics is that the listener can interpret what the song means for themselves, and those interpretations can often be more personally resonant and beautiful than what the artist may have originally had in mind while writing it."

Neil Young - i'm the ocean, 1995

"I was listening to the Pearl Jam channel on Sirius and I heard I'm the Ocean. I loved it the first time I heard it. The lyrics are amazing. It's a 7 minute song full of verses and he never repeats one line until the title line at the very end of the song. Every line works too and musically it is amazing as well. I wish I could find another Neil Young song as good as this one. I've listened to other more popular Neil Young songs and I don't think they compare. I wonder why I'm the Ocean isn't considered a top 5 Neil Young song by it's true fans."

Death Cab For Cutie - i will follow you into the dark, 2006

"I Will Follow You into the Dark" is a song by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie, the third single from their fifth album, Plans, released in 2005. Written and performed by Ben Gibbard, it is an acoustic solo ballad, and was recorded in monaural with a single microphone and little editing. The single was released on Atlantic Records, becoming one of Death Cab for Cutie's lowest-charting singles, peaking number 28 on the Modern Rock Tracks, number 66 on the UK Singles Chart and failing to chart on the Billboard Hot 100; however, "I Will Follow You into the Dark" was certified as double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and is the band's best-selling single to date. Despite charting lower than other singles, the single is still one of the band's most played songs on commercial radio stations. The song's popularity has led it to be featured in a various television shows and movies, and has been covered by numerous artists."

James - getting away with it, 2001

"Getting Away with It (All Messed Up)" premiered on BBC Radio 1 on 18 May 2001; the band appeared on Later... with Jools Holland later that day, and performed "Falling Down" and "Getting Away with It (All Messed Up)". On 31 May, Pleased to Meet You was announced for release in July, and the track listing was revealed. Alongside this announcement, a remix of "Fine", done by Baynton-Power, was available from the band's website. "Getting Away with It (All Messed Up)" was released as a single on 25 June, after being delayed a week from its original release date. Two versions were released on CD: one with "Make It Alright" and "So Swell", and the other with "Stand" and a live version of "The Shining". The song's music video was directed by Gordon Main, Rob Leggatt, and Simon Earith. On 19 June, Dotmusic revealed the album's artwork, which is a computer-generated image that merged all of the members' faces. Pleased to Meet You was released on 2 July 2001 through Mercury Records. The UK special edition included the bonus songs "Gaudi" and "What Is It Good For" as 9th and 10th tracks. On 6 July, the band performed on Top of the Pops."

The Haunted Youth - teen rebel, 2021

"For most of us here, our teen years seems like ancient history or something out of another lifetime. But whether young, old, or somewhere in the middle, we can still pinpoint what made those days so powerful: that feeling of pure invincibility. And that the whole world was right there for the taking. More than a decade later, the future doesn’t exactly look as bright as we’d hoped, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn to nostalgia as a means of escapism. Enter Belgium’s aptly named The Haunted Youth, a new indie rock outfit whose debut single captures the essence of being young, hungry, and hopeful. Their first-ever release is called “Teen Rebel”, and it paints scenes that are all too familiar — even for this 33-year-old oldie. “Sweet teen rebel, you’re walking to the door, teen rebel/ You pass out on the floor, teen rebel/ Always wanted something more,” frontman Joachim Liebens sings."

New Order - touched by the hand of god, 1987

"The song was originally recorded for the soundtrack to the film Salvation! and the version released as a single was remixed by Arthur Baker. The B-side was a dub remix, titled "Touched by the Hand of Dub", and the release had the catalogue number FAC 193; its production is credited to New Order."

Belle And Sebastian - the party line, 2015

"somebody trying to make a political record is somebody making a boring record. It's what people do when they've given up on life and romance. But I think I have become more aware of the outside world – you start looking around you a bit more when you're older. I was interested in similar characters, but perhaps considering how the political world affects them."

REM - supernatural superserious, 2008

"It is the first single and third track from the band's fourteenth album Accelerate and premiered on now defunct New York City radio station WRXP on February 5, 2008, without the consent of Warner Bros. Records. The single was first released on February 11, 2008 as an MP3, and February 25, 2008 on CD. Michael Stipe considers the song to be "one of the best things we've ever wrote."

The Digital Age - all the poor and powerless, 2013

"At The Christian Manifesto, Calvin Moore told that the release "isn't a bad effort", and felt that the album "ends up being a more fanciful worship project than anticipated, but it works well and offers a fresh direction for the genre." Louder Than the Music's Dave Wood noted that "There's plenty of variation in the style of songs on this album, and music lovers will find more than enough to keep them entertained." At All About Worship, Matthew Reames evoked that the album "was masterful in how each song allowed the guitars to fit in without overpowering the song itself." Christian Music Review's Daniel Edgeman rated the release a 4.9-out-of-five, and called the album "a breath of fresh air." At CM Addict, David Bunce affirmed that "This is a great album!"

Robert Forster - demon days, 2008

"Forster truly challenges himself over the course of the record, most notably on “Demon Days.” Forster’s songwriting has always tended toward a high-minded, almost literary style, while McLennan’s far more direct approach provided a real sense of balance. Completing the lyrics for “Demon Days,” then, required Forster to attempt to adopt his friend’s voice. The song’s final lines, “But something’s not right/Something’s gone wrong,” capture both McLennan’s straightforwardness and Forster’s tendency to make specific allusions."

Simon And Garfunkel - mrs robinson, 1968

"Paul had been working on what is now 'Mrs. Robinson', but there was no name in it and we'd just fill in with any three-syllable name. And because of the character in the picture we just began using the name 'Mrs. Robinson' to fit […] and one day we were sitting around with Mike talking about ideas for another song. And I said 'What about Mrs. Robinson.' Mike shot to his feet. 'You have a song called "Mrs. Robinson" and you haven't even shown it to me?' So we explained the working title and sang it for him. And then Mike froze it for the picture as 'Mrs. Robinson'."

The Flaming Lips - we a famly, 2017

"... at first this song was intended to be part of the Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz record.. Then we (her and us) lost interest in it... It was, back then, very slow and serious... But after speeding it up (a lot) and adding the galloping “We A Famly” sing-a-long bit we thought it was dorky enough and fun enough to present to the world. And... We (Cyrus and us) really do say to each other, all the time, “We A Famly.”

The Shins - girl sailor, 2007

"Wincing the Night Away is The Shins' most musically diverse and experimental album yet, ranging from hip hop loops to psychedelic to Hawaiian folk to new wave and post-punk elements"

James - destiny calling, 1998

"Destiny Calling is a James single released in March 1998 as a new track ahead of The Best Of. It is a lighthearted dig at the music business with references in the lyrics to both the Spice Girls and the Monkees. The video features the debut appearance of Graham, the voice over man off 90s TV show Blind Date. Saul described the writing process for Destiny as “whacking on a capo and playing She’s A Star at twice the speed.”

The Digital Age - your name we shout, 2013

"You know when you get a bunch of people together and start to sing to God, it’s supposed to be a communal thing. We wanted to do everything we could to foster that environment."

Muzz - everything like it used to be, 2020

"Interpol frontman Paul Banks has formed a new band with Matt Barrick (of the Walkmen and Fleet Foxes) and Josh Kaufman (of Bonny Light Horseman and Day of the Dead)."

Sufjan Stevens - no shade in the shadow of the cross, 2015

"I was so emotionally lost and desperate for what I could no longer pursue in regard to my mother, so I was looking for that in other places. At the time, part of me felt that I was possessed by her spirit and that there were certain destructive behaviors that were manifestations of her possession."

Counting Crows - daylight fading, 1996

"For their second album, Recovering the Satellites, Counting Crows crafted a self-consciously challenging response to their unexpected success. Throughout the record, Adam Duritz contemplates his loss of privacy and sudden change of fortunes, among other angst-ridden subjects. In one sense, it's no different from the subjects that dominated August and Everything After, yet his outlook is lacking the muted joy that made "Mr. Jones" into a hit."

Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - make me smile come up and see me, 1975

"It was sad to read over the weekend of the death of Steve Harley"

Saint Etienne - spring instrumental, 2020

"Saint Etienne exclusive edition – Spring b/w Spring (instrumental). Spring is taken from Saint Etienne’s debut LP, Foxbase Alpha. It is the first time it has been released as a single. The instrumental on the flip side is previously unreleased."

Such a great song!

Mojave 3 - breaking the ice, 2006

"Puzzles Like You is the fifth and final studio album by the British country rock-folk group Mojave 3, released on 19 June 2006. The album was regarded as taking the band away from their old sound and leading into a more uptempo style."

The Digital Age - overcome, 2013

"This would be the weepy piano ballad about God’s grace and love that seems to be tailor-made for someone to post a cheesy “lyric video” of it on YouTube with still images of sunsets and people raising their hands and stuff in the background, and using the wrong “Your” at every possible opportunity when trying to transcribe the lyrics."

U2 - ultra violet light my way live, 2009

"It is the tenth track from their eighth studio album Achtung Baby. Ostensibly about love and dependency, the song also lends itself to religious interpretations, with listeners finding allusions to the Book of Job and writers finding spiritual meaning in its invocation of the light spectrum."

The Beatles - fixing a hole, 1967

"In his 2021 book The Lyrics, McCartney revealed that the most important influence for the song was a "little blue hole" he saw while under the influence of LSD. According to McCartney, "the most important influence here was not even the metaphysical idea of a hole… but this absolutely physical phenomenon – something that first appeared after I took acid. I still see it occasionally, and I know exactly what it is. I know exactly what size it is"."

The Charlatans - impossible, 1999

"Impossible" set the standard for the remainder of the album of "impeccably arranged '60s pop songs rich in pedigree and bankrupt in R&D"

Neil Young - big green country, 1995

"It's kind of like a bunch of flashes of things going on all at the same time or something. So you get kind of the feeling that your life is flashing before you. So that makes you think you're floating up on the ceiling somewhere watching. I just got caught up in this thing where everything just kept happening and all I could do was write it down."

Thomas Dybdahl - call me by your name, 2020

"According to Dybdahl, a chief reason his music turns out as it does is because of his experience with his initial instrument. “I see myself first and foremost as a guitarist,” he says. “That’s where my musicality started. There’s just no getting away from how if one is a guitarist then one thinks musically as a guitarist. As you evolve, you may go on, as I did, to singing as well, however you have started as a guitarist. You’re still approaching music through the guitar, and that has to carry some weight. It makes for some interesting choices along the way, melodically and structurally, because whatever you approach - singing, other instruments, songwriting - the work continues to come from the mind of a guitarist. That is controlling.”

Ride - lannoy point, 2017

“‘Lannoy Point’ is the result of going synth shopping in the States. I found an old Poly 61 exactly the same the as one I had when I was very young and the backing track is sound of my bank account emptying as I shipped it back to London.”

Beirut - gallipoli, 2019

"We were seeing signs for a city called Gallipoli. We get out of the car and we just decided to go for a walk and in that moment we happened to hit a procession. We happened to walk in at the exact moment as the Saint was leaving the church, carried by a bunch of priests. Behind them was this frenetic kind of brass band. Sound was bouncing off the walls, and simultaneously every church bell in town was ringing, which just made for utter chaos. And the city is just claustrophobic, streets winding — you would have to live there your whole life to know where you're going."

Green Day - worry rock, 1997

"I think my parents were into alt-rock in the '90s, because this 1997 release was probably the first record I remember hearing. And when I was 11, it was the first record I formed a bond with. Nimrod will alway hold a place in my heart as the record that brings me back to being 11, living care free and sitting in my first house's big tree with my Diskman. Plus, listening to a "punk rock" record gave me mad cred (not really) in grade school."

Luke Sital-Singh - almost home, 2020

"Luke co-wrote ‘Almost Home’ with his friend, fellow songwriter Steve Aeillo (Lana Del Ray, Mumford & Sons, Thirty Seconds To Mars). Explains Luke: “We made this during the first ever session I did after moving out to LA last year. I was opening my world to a whole new set of collaborators in a whole new place, whilst always questioning what it means to be at home.”

Sufjan Stevens - to the workers, 2005

"The varied instrumentation and experimental songwriting on the album invoked comparisons to work by Steve Reich, Neil Young, and the Cure. Besides numerous references to Illinois, Stevens continued a theme of his songwriting career by including multiple references to his Christian faith."

The Style Council - wanted or waiter there's some soup in my flies, 1987

"In their lyrics, the Style Council took a more overtly political approach than the Jam, with tracks such as "Walls Come Tumbling Down!", "The Lodgers" and "Come to Milton Keynes" being deliberate attacks on 'middle England' and the Thatcherite policies of the UK government during the 1980s. In 1985, Weller was persuaded by Billy Bragg to let the Style Council play a leading role in Red Wedge, a youth-orientated political campaign associated with the British Labour Party. Although his views at the time have since been described as those of a "traditional British socialist", in 2014 Weller admitted the experience had left him feeling "exploited" by politicians, noting further that: "Before the Wedge, the Style Council had done a lot independently, raised a lot of money in benefits. But after the Wedge we were so disillusioned it all stopped. We were totally cynical about all of it."[35] In a previous interview, whilst asserting that there was still "a place for outspokenness" in popular music, Weller had pointed out he was "first and foremost" a musician, and stated: "In the '80s, in the Style Council, we were involved with a lot of political things going on at that time. I think after a while that overshadowed the music a bit."

Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan - honey child what can i do, 2006

"On the first couple of times I saw Isobel Campbell perform Ballad of The Broken Seas, Eugene Kelly did a sterling job of filling in for Mark Lanegan and we were treated to a rather fine version of Son of A Gun by The Vaselines. I say that Kelly did a great job that was until the first time I saw Lanegan with Campbell which changed my opinion completely not by anything Eugene Kelly had down, it was just that he wasn't Mark Lanegan who although saying very little and moving even less filled the stage with his presence and you had the impression that Campbell was in awe of him."

Matt Berninger - serpentine prison, 2020

"Berninger’s sentimentality usually pushes back against the National’s reputation for self-serious art rock, but it doesn’t hold up as well on its own. “One More Second” was conceived as a response to “I Will Always Love You,” but the lyrics are so boilerplate (“The way we talked last night/It felt like a different kind of fight”) that it could be a response to just about anything. When Berninger ambles about, barely stringing together melodies on “Oh Dearie” as Andrew Bird’s violin soars and Mickey Raphael’s bass harmonica drones, he feels like the least talented person on his own album. He’s most at home revisiting familiar themes of intimacy and projection on the title track: “I feel like an impersonation of you/Or am I doing another version of you doing me?” It’s not that the emperor has no clothes, it’s that these don’t fit."

Sufjan Stevens - that was the worst christmas ever, 2006

"Something about Sufjan’s voice paired with the sparse acoustic arrangements really gets across the barrenness of a Midwestern winter, when everything is blanked out by snow. Christmas is supposed to be a colorful light in the middle of that, but sometimes it isn’t, and amid the celebrations represented elsewhere in the world and on these albums, Sufjan makes sure to make a place for those Christmases."

Kraftwerk - kometenmelodie two, 1974

"Autobahn is the fourth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released in November 1974 by Philips Records. The album marked several personnel changes in the band, which was initially a duo consisting of Florian Schneider and Ralf Hütter; later, the group added Klaus Röder on guitar and flute, and Wolfgang Flür on percussion. The album also completed the group's transition from the experimental krautrock style of their earlier work to an electronic pop sound consisting mostly of synthesizers and drum machines. Recording started at the group's own Kling Klang facility, but was predominantly made at Conny Plank's studio. Autobahn also includes lyrics and a new look for the group that was suggested by Emil Schult, an associate of Schneider and Hütter."

Father John Misty - hollywood forever cemetery sings, 2012

"Songwriting for me had always only been interesting and necessary because I saw it as this vehicle for truth, but I had this realization that all I had really done with it was lick my wounds for years and years, and become more and more isolated from people and experiences. I don’t even like wound-licking music, I want to listen to someone rip their arm off and beat themselves with it. I don’t believe that until now I’ve ever put anything at risk in my music. I was hell-bent on putting my preciousness at stake in order to find something worth singing about."

Foreign Fields - don't give up, 2020

"Don't Give Up" features a bewitching melting pot of electronic beats, tender guitars, lush strings, haunting piano, and lyrics that expose our sometimes-flawed attempts at bringing hope and recognition to those we hold close. A lead vocal performance that feels both understated and deeply personal lays the foundation for a gorgeous homage to the fast bonds of friendship, and the realization that sometimes solidarity is everything. This endearing nugget of sonic encouragement underscores the idea that eventually, everyone will need a moment to be vulnerable. Both Hillman and Holl are seasoned producers, and have between them produced albums by artists such as Matthew and the Atlas, Hembree, Joel Porter and Boom Forest as well as various soundtracks and video games."

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - falling thunder, 2020

"Sideways to New Italy was met with universal acclaim through critics' reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 80, based on 17 reviews."

Mojave 3 - bluebird of happiness, 2003

"Mojave 3 were a British rock band consisting of former Slowdive members Neil Halstead (vocals, guitar), Rachel Goswell (vocals, guitar) and Ian McCutcheon (drums) alongside keyboardist Alan Forrester and former Chapterhouse guitarist Simon Rowe. The band formed as a trio shortly after Slowdive's breakup in 1995, with Forrester and Rowe joining after the release of their debut album. Mojave 3 released five albums before going on a hiatus and returning to live performances in 2011, but have been inactive since."

The Digital Age - oceans where feet may fail, 2014

"A couple of months back a friend of mine shared a video on social media - a band doing a cover of All Sons and Daughters’ “All the Poor & Powerless”. Loving the song, and being the curious type, I gave it a look and proceeded to sit glued to the screen for the duration. Ironically, the video was shared by one of my American friends, somewhat proving the band’s rationale for their calling - friends no longer have to be in your own town, we are all connected in The Digital Age. Formed of the “band” element of the former David Crowder Band (DC*B), here we have the newly-formed band’s debut EP Rehearsals Vol.1. Let’s take a closer look."

Cold Hart - tammy and the t-rex, 2020

"Cold Hart has shared his new single “Tammy and the T-Rex,” a bright and hook-laden track, with signature hi-hats and driving guitar. A love song for the new age, co-written and produced by YAWNS, the song takes inspiration from the 90s cult classic film of the same name."

Oh Wonder - ultralife, 2017

"Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht of Oh Wonder began the writing process with a month in an Airbnb in Brooklyn, New York in April 2016. Later in the year, they returned to their hometown of London after a year of touring the world, and wrote the second half of the record. The twelve songs were recorded over a 10-day period at The Pool Studio, Bermondsey in December 2016 and finished at their home studio at the start of 2017. The duo wrote, recorded, produced and mixed the record themselves. The first single "Ultralife" was released on 31 March 2017 and hailed by the NME as "bright-eyed" and "dazzling".

Neil Young And Willie Nelson - heart of gold live, 1995

"The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about '72 and the big song at the time was "Heart of Gold". I used to hate it when it came on the radio. I always liked Neil Young, but it bothered me every time I listened to "Heart of Gold." I think it was up at number one for a long time, and I'd say, "Shit, that's me. If it sounds like me, it should as well be me."

Stars - backlines, 2012

"Backlines" sizzles, pops and fades out quickly like a summertime sparkler: With a running time that barely exceeds two minutes, it hardly bothers to clear its throat before bursting to alternately woozy and spiky life. Stars' music isn't often ambiguous — there's a song on The North called "Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It," lest the mission statement get lost — but "Backlines" is instead content to get by on fizzy energy, vague references to romantic unease, and its own considerable charm."