Pink Floyd - wish you were here, 1975

"It was ironic that my father became well known as a family psychiatrist, when, in the meantime, he had nothing to do with his own family"

Beach House - levitation, 2015

"To begin the band’s 5th studio album, Depression Cherry, is a melancholic, eerie, and dramatic song, “Levitation.” The song maintains a few repetitive synth cords that echo throughout the song. Sometimes I find that repetition in songs can be a huge deterrent for me, but in “Levitation,” I feel it helps illuminate the lyrics and provides a deeper meaning to the song."

Bear's Den - fickle love, 2013

"For ten years now, Bear’s Den have poured their own unfiltered humanity into their songs, treating audiences around the world to an array of warm, tender, and achingly intimate indie folk-rock confessionals that make the heart flutter and skip a beat or two."

Tame Impala - let it happen, 2015

"The song centers on accepting personal transition, and was worked on in various locations around the world. The song runs at nearly eight minutes long, and its second half contains a section of the song repeating akin to a scratched Compact Disc, and stripped-down lyrics consisting of gibberish. It also has vocoded-like vocals in the second half, which were actually manipulated with a keyboard sampler."

Stars - the maze, 2017

"Does no one fall in love under fluorescent light? Pretty sure that's not true, as many an office romance could attest. But as a statement in support of love's delusions, we will stand by it. In love, the lights are different, softer; the air has more oxygen in it; and for a second, all you need is a good chorus to believe this might be the one."

Paul McCartney - let it be live, 2024

"McCartney said he had the idea of "Let It Be" after he had a dream about his mother"

The Triffids - a trick of the light, 1986

"Written one morning in the company of Bleddyn Butcher, in the woolshed where In The Pines was recorded, while waiting for the band to arrive. I can't for the life of me think what it's about. If anyone wants to know the juicy personal details that inspired these songs, please write to Mr Toby Creswell. He has a much better memory for these things than I."

The Innocence Mission - i would be there, 2020

"It ultimately has to do with the ability of kindness to transcend language, and also my coming to peace with the “unknowableness” of the internal life. I don’t know if there are themes, but those are trains of thought."

The Durutti Column - jacqueline, 1981

"I think once a week I just throw on Durutti Column for the entire evening and every time a different track stands out for me. I’d say my most played songs are The Missing Boy, Sleep Will Come, Jacqueline, and Bordeaux."

House Of Shem - let it be cover live, 2014

"He played funk, rock and roll, jazz and reggae. Perkins wasn’t classically taught and he admits he “wasn’t really taught how all genres were different like that” But he credited his father and uncles for showing him how to play across all kinds of music “even heavy metal. I played a bit of Deep Purple.”

Beach House - wishes, 2012

"I’ve been listening to it religiously for years and it still strikes the same emotional chords for me as it did the first time I heard it. I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it and I can’t say that about any other song. Its truly magical."

Genesis - heathaze, 1980

"the guy is a legitimate giant of music and in centuries to come will be talked of like the great western classical composers of history are in this era."

The Cure - charlotte sometimes, 1981

"This song is based on one of Robert Smith's favorite books: a 1969 novel called Charlotte Sometimes by the British author Penelope Farmer. In the book, the title character finds herself transported 40 years back in time. Smith wrote this song using the same themes of time shifting and displacement."

Tom Waits - alice, 2002

"adult songs for children, or children's songs for adults. It's a maelstrom or fever-dream, a tone poem, with torch songs and waltzes...an odyssey in dream logic and nonsense."

Cher - believe, 1998

"Believe" is an upbeat dance-pop and electropop song and represents a complete musical departure from Cher's previous efforts. It featured a pioneering use of the audio processing software Auto-Tune to distort the singer's vocals, which was widely imitated and became known as the "Cher effect".

Talking Heads - road to nowhere, 1985

"At our deaths and at the apocalypse... (always looming, folks). I think it succeeded. The front bit, the white gospel choir, is kind of tacked on, 'cause I didn't think the rest of the song was enough... I mean, it was only two chords. So, out of embarrassment, or shame, I wrote an intro section that had a couple more in it."

The Radio Dept - david, 2010

"somebody who has failed to launch their life, and they are stuck living at their parents' house while feeling very sorely about it" 

Such a great song!

New Order - as it is when it was, 1986

"a melodic rose between 4 faster punk-esque thorns, it's the highlight of Brotherhood for me. It's about attaining the thing you have always desired then being disappointed with it. Then yearning for the desire to return."

Gorillaz - feel good inc, 2005

"Gorillaz are an English virtual band created in 1998 by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, from London. The band primarily consists of four fictional members: 2-D (vocals, keyboards), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (guitar, keyboards, vocals) and Russel Hobbs (drums). Their universe is presented in media such as music videos, interviews, comic strips and short cartoons. Gorillaz's music has featured collaborations with a wide range of featured artists, with Albarn as the only permanent musical contributor."

Beach House - irene, 2012

"this individual is not yet aware of “Irene,” who stands to bring a substantial amount of light and compassion to their world."

William Fitzsimmons - i am easy to find cover, 2020

"William Fitzsimmons is an Illinois-based singer/songwriter specializing in a gentle mixture of folk-rock and electronica applied to carefully written and often autobiographical songs that deliver a quiet emotional power."

Renaissance - opening out, 1978

"A Song for All Seasons is the eighth studio album by the English progressive rock band Renaissance, released in 1978. It marked the return of electric guitars to the band's music after several years of absence."

Editors - munich, 2005

"The Back Room is the debut studio album of British rock band Editors; it was released on 25 July 2005 through Kitchenware Records. The Editors formed while attending university and later moved to Birmingham, where they played club shows and made demos. After signing to Kitchenware in late 2004, the band recorded their debut album at studios in Lincolnshire, London and Wolverhampton. Jim Abbiss produced all but one of the tracks; the exception was produced by Gavin Monaghan. The Back Room is a post-punk revival, gothic rock and indie pop album that has been compared to the works of Echo & the Bunnymen, Elbow and Interpol."

Crystal Castles - black panther, 2008

"Crystal Castles was a Canadian electronic music group formed in 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, formed by songwriter-producer Ethan Kath and singer-songwriter Alice Glass, who later left and was replaced by Edith Frances. Crystal Castles were known for their chaotic live shows and lo-fi melancholic homemade productions."

Camel - la princesse perdue, 1975

"La Princesse Perdue is one of the most nostalgic beautiful pieces of music Camel have ever written. A must for all enthusiasts of progressive music."

Fleet Foxes - sunblind solstice version, 2021

"In his artist’s statement, he said he “wanted to make an album that celebrated life in the face of death,” and he did so by conjuring globality through the spirits of deceased musicians—David Berman, Richard Swift, Judee Sill, John Prine—whom he loved greatly, in juxtaposition with that seminal Fleet Foxes self-contained heartache and fits of momentary, geographical joy. “I think, with Swift and Berman passing, [their deaths] made it clear to me how important community is and how music is a binder and how these people could bring so many others together,”

The Radio Dept - we climb the wired fences, 2003

"This track stands out after dozens of hours of listening to The Radio Dept. as one of my favorites. It's sweet with a slight overcast of sadness, washed in a blissful numbness. This (and everything I project onto it) leads me to believe it's a song about a relationship that is enjoyable and comforting but also uncertain, as it also carries uncomfortable aspects. The first verse conveys a fond vignette of walking through a park and 'climbing wired fences', but there is a hint of tension as one person senses "something outside". The use of 'outside' is discomfiting, as the setting is already established as outdoors, in a place of comfort and safety. This ill-fitting context creates a form of dischord that makes sense as the song continues. Fences are boundaries, 'wired' could be a shortening of 'barbed wire', meaning these boundaries must be carefully negotiated in order to avoid injury - much the same with the boundaries between most people. The second verse introduces a feeling of unease or dissatisfaction, of coping with what is being negotiated while avoiding barbs. The line "I must be ill" represents the questioning of our own mental state or emotional stability that can occur when struggling with understanding a troubled relationship. The following lines, "Keep thinking we pretend / And 'how long before this has to end?'" is a continuance of this line of thought, realizing that the relationship may not be sustainable over time. The line "on self-medication ambition fails" suggests that the speaker may be using substances to cope with the uncertainty and anxiety from the sense of erasure of the self in order to sustain the relationship. "Or can you set me free?" speaks to the reluctance to be the one who decides to end the relationship while struggling with this anxiety. This relationship has aspects that are pleasurable and others that are troubling. To me, this is a beautiful reverie of ambiguity and uncertainty in the future of the relationship, as well as a struggle to maintain one's sense of self and purpose within. This circles back to the odd redundancy of the word "outside" - a subtle introduction to the theme that permeates the whole piece."

Tindersticks - here cover, 1995

“I believe, it’s easy for people to think about me as a singer. And then, think about written words as some kind of a poetry. But for me, it’s like “forever”. Working in a studio, creative environments, creative atmosphere, creating songs, it’s the thing that drives me first. I kind of learn to sing. And I think, words are the easier thing to disturb the thing I’m looking for. And so, my work with words becomes very careful."

Pet Shop Boys - it's alright cover, 1989

"The classic house-music track "It's Alright" was originally performed by its co-writers, Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge (along with co-producer Marshall Jefferson, the latter now widely regarded as one of the chief originators of house music), although their original version is spelled "It's All Right." (See more about this below.) Neil and Chris heard it, loved it, and decided to cover it. A powerful song about the immortality of music, its vision is on nothing less than a cosmic scale. Music is sustained "on a timeless wavelength," whereby it asserts and helps to maintain human hope and dignity in the face of overwhelming obstacles."

The Moody Blues - the night nights in white satin, 1967

"Days of Future Passed is the second album and first concept album by English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, released in November 1967 by Deram Records. The album represents a significant creative turning point for the band. The album is their first with guitarist and singer Justin Hayward in place of Denny Laine and bassist John Lodge in place of Clint Warwick. The album is also their first to feature longtime producer and collaborator Tony Clarke and the first to feature keyboardist Mike Pinder on Mellotron. These changes, combined with a shift away from R&B covers toward original compositions and a thematic concept, helped define the band's sound for the next several albums and earned the group new critical and commercial success."

Low - rome always in the dark, 2018

“disconcertingly pretty in the way some terrifying images can be disconcertingly pretty, like the vivid colors in an all-consuming wildfire, or the lacerations that particularly vicious storms cut across the sky”

Beach House - troublemaker, 2012

"At first I loved the transition the hours to troublemaker then to new year, then it was the chord progressions within the song, then the lyrics, and then the vocals had me sold by the fifth listen."

The Triffids - bury me deep in love, 1987

"Between 1978 and 1981, the Triffids recorded six collections of original songs at The Cliffe. The house remained a sanctuary and source of inspiration throughout their career. Its peculiar location, an eyrie on Devil's Elbow overlooking Freshwater Bay, gave David a startling perspective as well as a beautiful view. When he became interested as a teenager in forming a band, he and the future Triffids would gather in the cellar at The Cliffe to practise, the size of the grounds ensuring there were few neighbours to disturb."

Hooverphonic - club montepulciano, 1998

"The band Hooverphonic recorded a song called "Club Montepulciano". It was inspired by a visit to the club (then resident at Dingwalls) while the band were recording their debut album for Sony in a nearby studio. When their album was later launched, it was done so at a private version of Club Montepulciano at Dingwalls in Camden."

Rufus Du Sol - simplicity is bliss, 2013

"Embodying into the healing energies of electronic music on the new record, Surrender’s raw, organic, ambient electronic atmosphere is rooted in Joshua Tree’s natural landscape, while tapping into each members most natural, raw, and instinctive emotions."

The Cult - rain, 1985

"Despite the song's popularity with the band's audience, and it being one of its more commercially successful single releases, after performing it on 24 November 1989 at Wembley Arena Astbury asked the crowd: "So you like that one?", and after it cheered in response, he responded with "Well, personally I don't but there you are..." although as he laughed when saying this, he may not have been serious."

Morrissey - sing your life, 1991

"one of Morrissey's subtler pieces, and also one with a more upbeat and straightforward message than most."

Bear's Den - think of england, 2014

"Taken from that album is the bands new single, Think of England, which drops on February 2nd next year, via Communion Records / Carloline, and was, like the rest of the record, produced and mixed by Ian Grimble (The 1975, Daughter). It opens up with this tumbling percussion, handclaps and atmospheric guitar sighs, as Davie delivers this folk based vocal, the emotion in his voice only heightened with the evocative accompaniment. As the track progresses so it gently starts to unravel, almost unnoticed at first till, with the addition of strings, it builds to its climax."

Bee Gees - ioio, 1970

"I.O.I.O." is a song by the Bee Gees, released on the album Cucumber Castle. It was written by Barry and Maurice Gibb. The song was released as a single in March 1970, and was also one of the highlights of the album."

Franz Ferdinand - twilight omens, 2009

"I don't have a classical music background, so when I read about music theory sometimes it spurs me on to write in a different way. I was reading about modes, and I realized you can write in these modes just by choosing what note you start on and restricting yourself to certain notes. So I was going through this experiment of trying to write on just the white keys on the keyboard, and that's how the melody came about. In the clubs of '94, I'd fallen asleep on my hand. They'd write something on my hand or put a stamp on my hand, and it was on my face the next morning. And I thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if someone had written their name on your hand, and it was backwards on your face but then forwards on your mirror.' Something like that would be an omen—and I do love omens."

Easterhouse - out on your own, 1986

"Easterhouse’s original incarnation — a Manchester quintet led by argumentative brothers Andy (vocals/lyrics) and Ivor (guitar) Perry — turned strident leftist rhetoric into bracing, cathartic music before predictably imploding over ideological conflicts. The band’s demise was a shame, since Easterhouse seemed well on its way towards perfecting a brand of explicitly political rock that compromised neither music nor message."

"Here Comes an Union leader with a Brand New Deal
To save the industry talking profitability
Profitability
What does that mean to me?
Whether a profit or a loss
I'm just working for the boss
It's only foolishness to speak your massive words "

Death Cab For Cutie - codes and keys, 2011

"Ten years ago this month, Codes and Keys (the seventh Death Cab for Cutie studio record) arrived to a tepid reaction. In my case, my vinyl preorder arrived on a day before the release date, and my buddy Neil came over to my college apartment to drink beer, play video games, and listen to the record. We’d loved the sensational music video for the lead single, “You Are a Tourist”, and hoped that song was a good indication of how the other ten tracks would fare. Similarly, Gibbard had performed a solo rendition of “Codes and Keys” for NPR on just a piano and the track, despite its jaunty rhythm, had a haunting quality that teased the best of their earlier work."

Beach House - new year, 2012

"Everything about this song is extremely addicting. The intro draws you into the world of the track so beautifully, then you get Vic’s amazing vocals. However, my favorite part of the song is the bridge(?) (“all you ever wanted”). The guitar has this very melancholic sound in between the rest of the instrumentation. The synth is beautifully calming yet a little sad. It’s the chord progression that does it for me."

Electronic - time can tell, 1996

"Inspired by contemporary dance music like Italo house and acts such as Technotronic, their initial concept was to release white label records on Factory and remain an anonymous entity, in contrast to their considerable reputations with The Smiths and New Order. The track "Lucky Bag" and the name Electronic itself are two of the vestiges of this initial approach."

The The - this is the day, 1983

"I was 21 and going through various life changes. I was in a new relationship, with Fiona, my first proper girlfriend. I’d come off the dole, signed to CBS and had been recording in New York, which all felt very exciting. My ex-manager and I ended up smashing up hotel rooms and misbehaving, all the stuff you feel you’re supposed to do when you’re 21 and signed to a record company and abroad. Drugs were involved, of course. The record company had loved Uncertain Smile so I was under a lot of pressure to come up with another single."

Moby - slow light, 2009

"favourite philosopher, i sort of answered this earlier, but i would have to say ludwig wittgenstein. in part because of his work, but also in part because he led a really interesting life. i’ve thought about writing a book, but i think i’d rather focus on making music."

The Lightning Seeds - all the things, 1999

"With their sunny hooks and loosely psychedelic take on melodic indie pop, the Lightning Seeds emerged at the tail end of the 1980s as the solo venture of Liverpool producer and musician Ian Broudie."

Alvvays - tile by tile, 2022

"It was my song of choice today. I listened to it A LOT. By nature I enjoy melancholy, nostalgia, wistful, or songs of longing or sadness. I really love this song. Love the instrument choices for this one and the melody is very haunting."

Luke Sital-Singh - pure cover, 2016

"It's a real beauty, and especially impressive in that it approximates the choral sound of Fleet Foxes' white winter hymnals, only those tremulous voices are presumably all just him, multi-tracked. It's like hearing a bunch of Neil Youngs circa After the Goldrush, harmonising together."

Ride - taste, 1990

"hazy, textural music; but there is a purity and an innocence, a bravery almost to be vulnerable… musically, it would be something where the beat or the vocals aren’t particularly prominent."

The Triffids - save what you can, 1987

"Calenture is the fourth studio album by Australian rock group The Triffids, it was released in November 1987 and saw them explore themes of insanity, deception and rootlessness—the title refers to a fever suffered by sailors during long hot voyages."

Pet Shop Boys - a different point of view, 1993

"despite the song's downbeat theme, the music is anything but depressing. In fact, this stylistically exuberant track was at one time seriously considered as a candidate for single release"

Such a great song!

William Fitzsimmons - weird fishes cover, 2023

"Does a broken heart heal easier with a certain age? Probably not. But there are other aspects that help to set things in perspective. The beloved bearded songwriter knows a thing or two about that issue and now has to face it again on his upcoming album, almost exactly ten years after the last time. Time for a reflection about the past, present and maybe also the future."

Beach House - lazuli, 2012

"the word itself can give me such a feeling-- looking at it, saying it. I fall in love with words. I felt like it had a real imagination to it. I had written it down a while ago and always thought I'd love for this word to be in the Beach House world. It was only a matter of time before the music of "Lazuli" was erupting. That word and the feeling completely merged and became one. It's not about the meaning, or the actual stone."

Moby - why does my heart feel so bad, 1999

"Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?" was originally written by Moby in 1992 in an iteration that Moby would describe as "really bad techno... Just mediocre, generic techno." Years later, Moby revisited the song, reproducing it as a considerably slower and more "mournful and romantic" song, which he eventually included on his fifth studio album, Play after being encouraged to do so by his manager, Eric Härle. The track is based on the samples from the Banks Brothers' "He'll Roll Your Burdens Away" (1963)."

Texas - inner smile, 2000

"Inner Smile" is a song by Scottish alternative rock band Texas, originally released on their greatest hits album, The Greatest Hits (2000)."

Fazerdaze - winter, 2022

“Winter is a song about hope and disappointment. It’s about striving to see the best in someone, and choosing to believe someone’s words over their actions. This song makes me think of what Maya Angelou said; “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time”. This is something I have had to learn the hard way repeatedly, and these lyrics show me going through that lesson."

New Order - times change, 1993

"I always loved the pre-apocalyptic vibe of the song. Some kind of life-shattering earthquake seems to be on the way in the god-forsaken town of Port Royal, while Barney finds solace in detached existential musings."