Neil Young - amber jean live, 1984

"Amber Jean Young is an American artist and also the daughter of Neil Young. Amber Jean Young’s father is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. His guitar work, deeply personal lyrics, and signature high-tenor singing voice define his long career. The singer’s distorted electric guitar playing, especially with Crazy Horse, earned him the nickname “Godfather of Grunge” "Young was born Margaret Mary Morton in San Mateo, California, on December 1, 1952 to Thomas and Margaret Jean (Foley) Morton. Young met future husband Neil Young in 1974 when she was working as a waitress at a diner near his ranch, a story he tells in the 1992 song "Unknown Legend". They married in August 1978 and had two children, Ben and Amber, in addition to her becoming stepmother to his first child, Zeke. Both Ben and Zeke were diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and Amber with epilepsy. In July 2014, Neil filed for divorce in California. Young died of cancer on January 1, 2019, aged 66, in Mountain View, California." "there is no studio (non-live) recording of "Amber Jean" by Neil Young that has been officially released.The song, written as a tribute to his daughter Amber Jean Young (born in 1984), was first performed live shortly after her birth during his 1984–1985 tours with the International Harvesters. All official releases are live recordings:The primary version appears on the 2011 archival live album A Treasure (recorded during a September 20, 1984, appearance on the TV show Nashville Now in Nashville)."

Darksoft - you never know, 2023

"Darksoft is a singer-songwriter that makes dreamy alternative rock."

Arab Strap - bliss, 2024

"Vocalist and drummer Aidan Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton grew up in Falkirk, Scotland, and bonded over their mutual love for Drag City recording artists such as Will Oldham (who at the time recorded under the name Palace Brothers) and Smog. They began collaborating in 1995, and their debut album, The Week Never Starts Round Here, was released the following year. At this point Gary Miller and David Gow joined the band and became the rhythm section, creating a more dynamic live experience when the band started touring."

New Order - your silent face, 1983

"Your Silent Face is the fifth track of Power, Corruption & Lies by New Order. And also the first song off its second side. It is one of the most iconic songs from the album, in part from heavily featuring the melodica. It is still currently performed in New Order sets since the band reformed in 2011."

The Moody Blues - twilight time bbc dave symonds session, 1967

"Twilight Time" is a song from the Moody Blues' 1967 album Days of Future Passed. It is the final of three songs on the album representing the evening, along with "(Evening) Time to Get Away" (which is actually on "The Afternoon" track), and "The Sunset." Written by the Moody Blues' flautist Ray Thomas, "Twilight Time" primarily describes the scene in the sky after the sun has set. It is one of the more upbeat songs on the album (along with "Peak Hour"), played in a brooding minor key, and also has a heavy psychedelic rock sound to it."

Electronic - twisted tenderness, 1999

"Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner have a unique musical companionship. Both artists bred the '80s British music scene into pop candy delight thanks to Marr's charming guitar hooks while fronting the Smiths, and Sumner, whose ingenuous lyrical poetry pushed New Order's dance-oriented sound into the new wave mainstream. But since their musical collaboration began back in 1991, the duo continues to make music for themselves, uninhibited by current norms and marketing success. Twisted Tenderness, the band's third album, is certainly a vast improvement over their sophomore effort, 1996's Raise the Pressure. Twisted Tenderness steps back into Marr's talented guitar work: carefree, a bit rollicking at times, but in classic Electronic fashion."

The Lightning Seeds - green eyes, 2022

“I had six songs done and everyone was getting frustrated. I was told unless I finish the album in three weeks, it’d be another year before it could come out. Emotionally, that prospect felt a real drag. For the last four songs on the album, I finished off writing them and recorded them at home on my own, in the way I had in Lightning Seeds’ early days. People might think I’ve spent all these years doing final touches on everything and taking forever to write, but the last four songs were done in a fortnight. Maybe they’d been percolating in my head for a long time.”

The Decemberists - billy liar, 2003

"Billy Liar" is the debut single by the Decemberists. Deriving its title from the English novel Billy Liar, the song also references "Nogood Boyo" of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood and appears to generally talk about a young man's boredom during long summer days."

Outros olhares: meia-noite em Tallinn, Junho de 2023

The Beatles - baby you're a rich man, 1967

"Lennon wrote his portion of the song after attending the 14 Hour Technicolor Dream, an all-night festival held at London's Alexandra Palace that served as a key event in the emergence of the counterculture in the UK. His lyrics address the "beautiful people" of the 1960s hippie movement and combine with the chorus to present a statement on the universality of non-material wealth. The lyrics have also invited interpretation as a message to the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, and alternatively as a comment on fame. George Harrison performed the song during his visit to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district in August 1967, at the height of the Summer of Love. The track later appeared on the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album. Parts of it were used in their 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine."

The The - cognitive dissident, 2024

"Cognitive Dissident" by The The delves into themes of surveillance, censorship, manipulation of reality, and the inversion of truth. The song portrays a world where individuals are constantly monitored, restricted, and controlled, leading to a state of cognitive dissonance."

Au Revoir Simone - another likely story neon indian remix, 2007

"The group's musical inspirations were compared by the band's European label, Moshi Moshi Records, to "a dutifully mined musical thrift store"; these diverse influences include Modest Mouse, Stereolab, the Mountain Goats, Louis Prima, Pavement, the Beach Boys, Björk, Broadcast, Belle & Sebastian, David Bowie, Bee Gees and Billie Holiday."

Pulsar - apaisement, 1975

"One of the best debut's to come out of any band; and a virtually unknown band!! Pollen's certainly the most experimental to come out of Pulsar's discography. Super spacey, rocking in some parts (when needed), eerily beautiful, emotional vocals (many will have to grow accustomed to his strong French voice), but the strongest aspect of this album is the hypnotic effect. Pulsar drags you into their hauntingly beautiful world with its slow, powerful beat. Though repetitive after some time, it never grows tiresome."

Fukushima Dolphin - space lift, 2022

"I first photographed the fantastic band Fukushima Dolphin in Brighton in September. It was on the 27th September 2020 to be precise. At first I didn’t know who these guys were."

Sufjan Stevens - goodbye evergreen, 2023

"Javelin is an album about the need to be loved, agape and philia, and Stevens shows that he can write about both without trivializing or minimizing the importance of either. That's a commendable achievement in any creative medium, and the fact that he's done so while creating some of the best music of his life makes this essential listening."

Neil Young - quit don't say you love me, 2002

"Everything just kept evolving, and the songs came back and they were where they need to be to really happen. So it all just fell together as easily as you could imagine: I just let it go, I just let it happen. I knew what was making me feel good, and I knew that I wanted to play my guitar more like a saxophone this time. And I felt more like a horn player while I was playing my guitar."

The Radio Dept - deliverance, 2005

"Today was really dark and gloomy, which seems to have put me into the mood for The Radio Dept. Their music is quite befitting of this weather... it's shoegazey, melancholy, a bit subdued, but also lush and really well-layered between the vocals, guitar, keyboard, samples, and drum machine. The Radio Dept. comes from Sweden, and formed in 1995. Interestingly, I've never seen their name written as "The Radio Department", it's always abbreviated as "The Radio Dept." Anyway, they apparently took their name from a gas station/radio repair shop they saw called Radioavdelningen, or "the radio department" in Swedish. They've had many band members come and go, and now consist of Johan (original member), Martin, and Daniel. They've released several singles and E.P.s, and two full-length albums: Lesser Matters (2003) and Pet Grief (2006). If you've read my last post you might know how much I love a good B-side... so the song I'm featuring here is "Deliverance", a B-side from the "This Past Week" E.P. (2005)."

The Moody Blues - eyes of a child part one, 1969

"I really thought if you were out there what would you expect, what would you see if you were on the spaceship going out. And I suddenly realized if you went up there with all preconceived ideas and preprogrammed ideas in your mind you'd probably miss everything. And I realized then, that's how a child works."

Indochine - ladyboy, 2005

"Ladyboy" by Indochine delves into the complexities of human emotions, resilience in the face of loss, and the search for meaning and happiness in the midst of life's challenges."

Black Sabbath - laguna sunrise, 1972

"Raise your hand if, somewhere around age sixteen, you went through a metal phase. Come on, admit it…you grew your hair out, you bought a ring with a skull on it, maybe even went to a Megadeth concert. Well, no matter what the details of your metal phase were, it probably included the basic principle that Ozzy Osbourne was God, and Black Sabbath was the precursor to every band worth listening to."

Cage The Elephant - neon pill, 2024

"Cage The Elephant are one of those bands cursed with an anthem. You might argue that having a huge, timeless hit could never be a disadvantage, but the issue comes when a band is left desperately attempting to get out of their own shadow. How can they ever escape ‘Cigarette Daydream’, or free themselves from the shackles that come with soundtracking the distinct indie heyday of the 2010s?"

First Breath After Coma - salty eyes, 2020

"Let me guess... One of their biggest influences is Explosions in the Sky."

The Beatles - can't buy me love live, 1964

“The idea behind it was that all these material possessions are all very well, but they won’t buy me what I really want.” However, he was to comment later: “It should have been ‘Can Buy Me Love’ ” when reflecting on the perks that money and fame had brought him."

The Moody Blues - survival, 1978

"The sitar is very, very easy, as long as you tune it up right! 1 string. Once you tune up the other 18 strings right, it will resonate. But the time things that they play… we did a gig in London with a band called the Indo-Jazz Fusions with John McLaughlin and Ravi Shankar in the same band."

The Smashing Pumpkins - we only come out at night, 1995

"The songs on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness are intended to work together conceptually, with the two halves of the album representing day and night. Despite this, Corgan has rejected the term concept album to describe it, and it was at the time described as more "loose" and "vague" than were the band's previous records. He also said it is based on "the human condition of mortal sorrow". Corgan aimed the album's message at people between 14 and 24 years of age, hoping "to sum up all the things I felt as a youth but was never able to voice articulately. ... I'm waving goodbye to me in the rear view mirror, tying a knot around my youth and putting it under the bed."

Acid House Kings - wake up, 1997

"they released Advantage Acid House Kings in 1997 and the album proved to be a huge step forward to form their trademark sound of jangly, catchy guitar oriented indie-pop. The album featured Julia Lannerheim as guest vocalist on a couple of songs, who eventually joined the band officially as a full-time member in 2001. In 2002 they released their third album Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays."

Enya - oriel window, 1991

"Oriel Window" is a previously unreleased track and a piano instrumental song by Irish musician, songwriter and singer Enya. It was a B-Side track for the lead single from her third studio album, Shepherd Moons, "Caribbean Blue" at the first time, released on October 7, 1991 by WEA. In 2009, the song was contained in Japanese reissue and remastered edition of Shepherd Moons as a bonus fifteenth track of the album."

The Shadows - god only knows cover, 1975

"The song's musical sophistication is demonstrated by its three contrapuntal vocal parts and weak tonal center (competing between the keys of E and A)."

The Jesus And Mary Chain - between planets, 1989

"Automatic is the third studio album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain, released on 9 October 1989 by Blanco y Negro Records. The group on this record consists of the core duo of brothers William and Jim Reid, with a drum machine providing percussion and synthesised bass."

Bee Gees - world, 1969

"'World' is one of those things we came up with in the studio, Everyone just having fun and saying, 'Let's just do something!' you know"

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - so in love, 1985

"How can you resist a song like 'So in Love'? A misty piece of McCluskey romance tinged with sadness before showing its true claws on the chorus."

Tame Impala - love paranoia, 2015

"Parker recorded the album on his own, only this time without Dave Fridmann's guiding hand and by mostly forsaking electric guitars in favor of a wealth of synthesizers, and with a much more relaxed, intimate approach. In addition to the soft rock of the '70s feel that permeates the sound, Parker adds elements of R&B and hip-hop to the mix, gets lyrically introspective in spots, and generally sounds like he's either on the verge of a long nap or just waking up from one."

The Radio Dept - lost and found, 2003

"Came here looking for Lost and Found"

Swallow - follow me down, 1992

"The song "Follow Me Down" by Swallow explores themes of love, devotion, and the fear of losing someone. The lyrics convey a strong desire for the listener to remain close and committed."

The Beatles - from us to you live, 1964

"The Beatles' song "From Us to You" is a lively and upbeat track that carries a message of love and support from the band to their fans. Although the song itself may seem simple and straightforward, it can take on deeper meanings when we delve into its lyrics and explore the underlying themes. Throughout the song, several standout lines help develop these imaginative themes, all of which ultimately tie back to the overarching message of love and connection."

James - heavens, 1992

"Heavens" by James explores themes of longing, loss, and seeking divine intervention or clarity in a confusing and uncertain world. The lyrics depict a sense of isolation and helplessness, with the singer feeling disconnected from those they love and searching for a higher power to guide them."

Bob Dylan - i threw it all away, 1969

"I Threw It All Away" was one of the first songs written for Nashville Skyline and one of only two new songs that were definitely written prior to the recording sessions ("Lay Lady Lay" being the other). Dylan played the song for George Harrison and his wife Pattie in November 1968, and Harrison was apparently impressed enough with the song to learn it himself."

Nada Surf - bizarre love triangle cover, 2012

"It actually may be safe to say that this version is more accessible than the original song, which opens with about a minute and thirty seconds of electronic music before any lyrics are added. Nada Surf jump right in, using only acoustic instruments and human beatboxing, making a really decent, very gentle version of the song."

The Housemartins - build, 1987

"Build" is a song released in November 1987 as the third single from the album The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death by British band The Housemartins. It follows the softer template of the group's later material and reached no. 15 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is notable amongst the Housemartins catalogue, as it features drummer Dave Hemingway on vocals during the choruses, whilst usual singer Paul Heaton sings the verses and bridge."

The Style Council - how she threw it all away, 1988

"As the brass bounces off the synth bass giving a lesson in how do late 80s production with elegance, the bitter Falklands winter of “But now I watch smoke leave my lips/And fill an empty room” is something Paul Weller may have considered to be a show of agency in the final hurrahs of The Jam, but with the cutting of that neurotic spectre he exorcised in a short burst of glory on The Style Council’s descent into schlock, he managed to set himself free from both the personal neuroticisms that plagued his laboured love ballads, and press in-jokes that presented him as the as the Ivan Lendl of pop/rock."

William Fitzsimmons - annie's song cover, 2022

"The first song I ever remember hearing is John Denver’s masterpiece ode to his wife, “Annie’s Song”. I can still picture the tattered double vinyl sitting on my parents record cabinet, John’s smiling face looking out while my mother would sing along with every word and I would sit on the living room floored, mesmerized and happy to just be still in these peaceful sensations. Years later, when I began teaching myself the guitar, I would fumble through the chords and sing the same song with my mother in the evening; the same feelings of peace and nostalgia filling the room many years later. If there was only one song I could play for the rest of my life, it’d be this."

Bee Gees - railroad, 1969

"another throwback to country-pop balladry"

Rose City Band - mariposa, 2023

"While Ripley and co. have long slowed down the air around cosmic country, embracing the humidity of languorous afternoons, “Mariposa” might capture this more than most in their catalog. The song saunters and sways, a ripple of those liquid strings underpinned by a slow crest of organ. The song stretches out, dips its hat over the eyes and lets the sun soak into every fiber of the listener."

Pink Floyd - lost for words, 1994

"Lost for Words" is a song recorded by English rock band Pink Floyd, focused on forgiveness, written by guitarist and lead singer David Gilmour and his spouse Polly Samson for the band's 14th studio album, The Division Bell. It appears as the penultimate track on the album. The lyrics, mostly penned by Samson, are a bitterly sarcastic reflection on Gilmour's then-strained relationship with former bandmate Roger Waters."

The Durutti Column - the missing boy, 1981

"The song "The Missing Boy" is a tribute to songwriter Vini Reilly's friend and label-mate Ian Curtis of Joy Division, who committed suicide in the previous year."

Rádio Macau - o anzol, 1987

"The song "O Anzol" by Rádio Macau appears to address feelings of stagnation and a lack of novelty in the speaker's life. The first verse describes a failed attempt to be original by painting the sky a different color, only to realize that someone else had the same idea before. This could be seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of finding genuinely new experiences or ideas in an already saturated world. The chorus presents a choice between "fleeing" or "biting the hook," both of which could represent different approaches to tackling this problem - either running away from it or confronting it directly."

The Moody Blues - house of four doors part two, 1968

"House of Four Doors" by The Moody Blues is a song that explores themes of mystery, self-discovery, and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey through four doors that symbolize different aspects of existence."

The Smiths - some girls are bigger than others, 1986

"the clipped, undulating frivolity of 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', a hypnotic musical travelogue that verges on the transcendental [...] Again, the Morrissey muse and Marr's musical setting collide marvellously, the track illuminated by some lovely slide guitar from the latter. It would have made another classic Smiths single"

Jaguar Sun - i feel it, 2023

"Everyone in their twenties feels anxiety about the unstoppable passage of time, how it becomes a place you can’t return to. It’s easy to get caught up feeling homesick for an idealized past that may never have existed, or to be haunted by one that did."

Chumbawamba - scapegoat, 1997

"The only thing we really wanted to get across was feeling positive and having a good time. A lot of people wouldn’t call that political, but I would. One of the reasons behind that was, as anyone who knows us and knows our context knows, we were a “college radio band” with a small fanbase selling maybe 30,000 records if we were lucky. Everyone who knows our history sees us as a very somber, political band with lots of inadvertent comments and “important” things to say, so we wanted to make a record that was really positive."

Damien Jurado - qachina, 2016

"QACHINA" by Damien Jurado delves into themes of personal reflection, emotional turmoil, and introspection. The lyrics use symbolism, such as the colors yellow and blue, to represent different emotional states. The song's significance lies in the exploration of one's internal struggles, the desire for understanding, and the need for solace amidst confusion."

Genesis - fireside song, 1969

"The song "Fireside Song" by Genesis seems to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and the transformative power of hope. The lyrics depict a transition from a state of confusion, disappointment, fear, and disillusion to one of optimism and clarity."

The Radio Dept - the things that went wrong, 2004

“The thing with the extreme right populism is that they’re actually saying what they want to do and people still go for it. They don’t even have to lie. We had a moderate right wing government for about eight years until recently; and they kind of paved the way for this. When poor people get poorer and rich people get more rich, they tend to go for easy solutions.”

New Order - true faith, 1987

"As is the case for many New Order songs of this period, the words in the title do not appear anywhere in the lyrics. The original lyrics included a verse that read "Now that we've grown up together/They're all taking drugs with me". Hague convinced Bernard Sumner to change the latter line to "They're afraid of what they see" because he was worried that otherwise it would not get played on the radio."