The Style Council - have you ever had it blue extended version, 1986

"I got back to my record player, took the disk out of its sleeve, put the record on the turntable and prepared to be rocked with Mod power! After the song was over, I sat there bewildered. Something wasn't right. I re-played 'Have You Ever Had It Blue?' just to make sure. Yup, either my record needle was busted or the LP sleeve was mislabeled because this didn't sound like anything Paul Weller would have been involved with."

The Legends - there and back again, 2023

“There and Back Again” is the type of break-up song that will have you dancing with a smile on your face. The Legends have become the masters of low-fi garage/twee. Hand claps and a persistent string of tambourines are thrown in amidst distorted vocals and guitars. Each song is crafted so that with each listen a new aspect is brought forth–be it the barely audible backup vocals on the chorus or the punchy organ during the verses. The distortion in the earlier Legends work of frontman Johan Angergård (Club 8, Poprace, Acid House Kings) brings out the lo-fi and the garage sounds and takes a little getting-used-to, but after a few listens the underlying strength behind each song will become vividly apparent."

Damon Albarn - polaris, 2021

“I took some of these realtime, extreme elemental experiences and then tried to develop more formal pop songs with that as my source. I wanted to see where that would take me. Sometimes it took me down to Uruguay and Montevideo. Other times I went to Iran, Iceland or Devon. With travel being curtailed, it was kind of nice to be able to make a record that put me strangely in those places for a moment or two.”

Fleur Electra - your darling, 2023

"With layered and atmospheric synths topped with shimmering vocals and punchy alt-pop soundscapes, Fleur Electra is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter, producer, and performer. Evoking dreamy emotions in her music, Fleur Electra crafts an introspective and imaginative experience for listeners, gently reshaping the sonic experience within her own sound."

The Beatles - i need you, 1965

"The song has characteristics typical of Harrison's writing style in its syncopated melody line and melodic idiosyncrasy. According to author Ian Inglis, "its rhythmic and tonal structures clearly identify this as a Harrison song, but it is also, indisputably, a Beatles song."

The Mary Onettes - easy hands, 2023

“After quite a long time being artistically a bit unsatisfied ‘Easy Hands’ came to life when I realized that making art is really who I am. I can’t escape from it. But In order to keep making art I need to be nice to myself. That’s the core of the lyrics behind ‘Easy Hands'”

The Housemartins - caravan of love cover, 1986

"British indie band the Housemartins released "Caravan of Love" in November 1986. The a cappella song was a success, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart on 16 December 1986 (only the second a cappella recording to do so, after "Only You" by the Flying Pickets in 1983), before being denied the Christmas number one single by a posthumous re-release of Jackie Wilson's "Reet Petite". The song was an international hit reaching the top 3 in several countries, including no.1 in Ireland and Sweden. It is included on the Housemartins' greatest hits compilation Now That's What I Call Quite Good."

The Style Council - down in the seine, 1985

"One reason Paul Weller's rock and roll never convinced non-Brits was his reedy voice, which he has no trouble bending to the needs of the fussy phonographic cabaret he undertook so quixotically and affectedly after retiring the Jam. I'm sure the move has cost him audience, but the new format suits the specifics of his socialism."

The Radio Dept - sloboda narodu live, 2017

"Sloboda Narodu, a sunrise meditation track, starts out the album heralding in bongos and warm guitars. We hear front-man Johan Duncanson’s nasally voice for the first time, layered over crashing acoustic guitar patterns. There’s a wonderful repetition of guitar bursts, and some interesting keyboard work that make this opener particularly memorable."

The Beatles - i saw her standing there, 1963

"McCartney first worked out the chords and arrangement on an acoustic guitar at the family home of his Liverpool friend and fellow musician Rory Storm on the evening of 22 October 1962. Two days later, McCartney was writing lines for the song during a visit to London with his then-girlfriend Celia Mortimer, who was seventeen at the time herself. The song was completed about a month later at McCartney's Forthlin Road home in collaboration with Lennon and performed as part of their set in December 1962 in the Star-Club in Hamburg. It is also possible John Lennon had more to contribute than has been reported since there is more than one photo of both John & Paul working on the song with guitars in hand taken by Michael McCartney. John very likely contributed some chord ideas as well since he was already actively writing songs on his own by late 1962."

My Morning Jacket - rocket man cover, 2004

"Editor’s comment: The original Rocket Man, written and performed by Elton John, does not appeal to me nearly as much as this softer, more melodic version. Favorite lyric: “Rocket Man is burning up his fuse up hear alone.”

Renaissance - kalynda a magical isle, 1979

"Just as the narrator finds solace in Kalynda, I discovered my own magical haven where the outside world faded away, leaving only the pure essence of my existence. It was a place where I could be authentically and unapologetically myself. As I grew older, life carried me away from those shores, but the memories of that sanctuary remained etched in my heart. They became a guiding light, reminding me of the importance of seeking out my own personal Kalynda amidst the chaos of life. It’s a constant reminder to find that place where I can be still, look beyond what is transient, and reconnect with my most authentic self. Through “Kalynda (A Magical Isle),” Renaissance takes us on a metaphorical journey of self-discovery, urging us to find solace in the uncertain. Life’s incessant changes and unexpected twists can leave us feeling unmoored and adrift. Yet, within the depths of our souls, lies the power to create our own islands of refuge – our very own Kalynda."

Afraid Of Stairs - they aimed bad, 2006

"Swedish indie band that's sporadically been making music since 2002."

Au Revoir Simone - all or nothing, 2009

"Still Night, Still Light chronicles lost loves, dark secrets and being trapped in suburbia, along with the associated loss of a sense of self, a longing for escape and disappointment at letting life slip by. The calm vocals, verging on the brink between singing and speaking, are well executed throughout the album, purposefully evoking the sense of disembodiment the lyrics express. They are at their most mesmerising when each band member contributes, particularly in the overlapping harmonies of ‘Knight of Wands’ and ‘All or Nothing’."

Asobi Seksu - perfectly crystal, 2011

"when they begin to marry the sweet melodies and swooning guitars, like on ‘Perfectly Crystal,’ or ‘Counterglow,’ no one can touch them"

The Radio Dept - slottet two, 2003

"the whole point of that thread was to discuss bands that had been (undeservedly?) missed by el radar. I'm just wondering out loud why that happened to this particular band. I guess it has to do with distribution, PR, and the whole promotions apparatus."

Bee Gees - i've gotta get a message to you, 1968

"This is about a prisoner on Death Row who only has a few hours to live. He wants the prison chaplain to pass on a final message to his wife. There's a certain urgency about it. Myself and Barry wrote it. It's a bit like writing a script. Sometimes you can sit there for three hours with your guitar and nothing will happen. Then in the last ten minutes something will spark."

The Moody Blues - tuesday afternoon compilation edit two, 1967

"a youthful contemplative sort coming to a philosophical realization that helps him get that much closer to the meaning of life"

The Lightning Seeds - losing you, 2022

"The album starts off perfectly with Losing You, a song about falling in and out of love and trying to be as positive as possible – say yes rather than no. It was recorded in an afternoon with foot tapping and lap slapping for percussion in a similar vein to Buddy Holly or Paul McCartney. I love the vocals and the harmonies are fabulous and in a shade over 2 and a half minutes it’s done, but it builds up to track two beautifully."

Au Revoir Simone - knight of wands, 2009

"If anything, their philosophy is based more around the simple thesis that "primitive = good" and with an unparalleled love of analogue synthesisers, vintage drum machines and succinctly tailored harmonies, the three-piece have become something of a cult phenomenon on both sides of the Atlantic, pertinently illustrated by the fanfare of cheers that greeted the announcement they were to co-headline this year's Indietracks, Europe's biggest celebration of all things minimal, lo-fi and incessantly twee."

The Radio Dept - could you be the one, 2020

"The band have decided that, instead of writing and producing a new full-length record, they will be scattering a range of sporadically released singles throughout the course of the year, with the intention to compile the singles onto an album-length compilation later in the year. If you’ve only jumped into the blog today, The Radio Dept. are the Swedish duo of Johan Duncanson and Martin Larrson (along with touring member Daniel Tjader), who got the name from a local gas-station-turned-radio-station-turned-repair-shop called “Radioavdelningen”, which translates to “The Radio Department”. The Dept. have never been a fixture in mainstream culture, but 2006’s “Pet Grief” and 2010’s “Clinging To A Scheme” were relative cult classics within the internet music community. I have a joke with my friend Harrison, where we call them “Lund’s Finest”.

Paul Simon - i am a rock, 1965

"I Am a Rock" is a song written by Paul Simon. It was first performed by Simon as the opening track on his album The Paul Simon Songbook which he originally recorded and released in August 1965, only in the United Kingdom. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, as the American folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, re-recorded it on December 14, 1965, and included as the final track on their album Sounds of Silence, which they released on January 17, 1966."

Real Estate - wonder years, 2011

"I had a job for a while working at a greeting card company, selling greeting cards on the phone. The lyrics to “Fake Blues” are about that. It took us a while to take off but as soon as we started we were playing a lot—sometimes two shows a week—that was the main thing that kept us motivated."

The Mary Onettes - henry live, 2009

"The Mary Onettes took to the Hus 7 stage just after 9pm – with a gentle ‘hello’ from lead-singer Philip – to the drum pattern for ‘Puzzles’, the opening track from their 2009 LP ‘Islands’. It was a blistering start and it felt like a dream coming true. I sensed the goosebumps emerging and a lump in my dry throat… emotions were taking over. If you know their music at all, then I’m sure you can relate to this… they can cut you to the bone."

The Beatles - let it be, 1970

"McCartney said he had the idea of "Let It Be" after he had a dream about his mother during the tense period surrounding the sessions for The Beatles ("the White Album") in 1968. Mary Patricia McCartney died of cancer in 1956, when he was fourteen. In rehearsing the song with the Beatles in January 1969, in place of the "Mother Mary" lyric, McCartney occasionally sang "Brother Malcolm", a reference to the Beatles' assistant Mal Evans. McCartney later said: "It was great to visit with her again. I felt very blessed to have that dream. So that got me writing 'Let It Be'." In a later interview he said about the dream that his mother had told him, "It will be all right, just let it be." When asked if the phrase "Mother Mary" in the song referred to the Virgin Mary, McCartney has typically replied that listeners can interpret the song however they like."

Fazerdaze - lucky girl live, 2023

"Indie music has become a part of my daily dose of music. I have been into Indie since I was..I don’t remember the exact time but yea in High School for sure. There’s not much people that like this kind of music, so it’s arguably ‘anti-mainstream’. But for those indie fans I would recommend you guys to listen to this kind-of-new indie darling, Fazerdaze!. The genre of this band is indietronica (indie with a touch of electro). The synth is the perfect blend and creating the ambient-dreamy-like indietronica music, and so that’s why I love this band so much."

Barclay James Harvest - titles, 1975

"For review purposes the history of the band is quite a complex one with a number of different re-incarnations. The original line-up featured John Lees on lead guitar, Les Holroyd on bass guitar, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme on keyboards and Mel Pritchard on drums. Wolstenholme dipped in and out of the band at various times and after the River of Dreams album of 1997 the band officially split, going in two different directions. At that point two separate bands emerged - Barclay James Harvest through the Eyes of John Lees (which featured John Lees and Woolly Wolstenholme at various times) and eventually was re-named John Lees' Barclay James Harvest and Barclay James Harvest featuring Les Holroyd which featured Les Holroyd and Mel Pritchard until his death. Both these new bands are still in existence and touring. Meanwhile Wolstenholme also had his own band Maestoso which was in existence until his death in 2010."

Midi Memory - a stitch in time, 2024

"Everything we need is here See through a new angle"

God Help The Girl - come monday night live, 2009

"In 2009, Stuart Murdoch of the Scottish indie rock band Belle & Sebastian produced a stand alone album titled God Help the Girl. This was sort of a B&S concept album, as the songs were written by Murdoch and the instrumentation was done by the band, but he found several female singers to voice the women in the songs. The album’s songs have loose connections – not enough so that, if there is a narrative, you can’t quite tell what it is, but enough so that you could string them together to make your own story. After releasing the album Murdoch started imagining his own narrative for the story as well, hoping to turn the songs into a movie."

The Lightning Seeds - god help them, 1990

"It kind of was Lightning Seeds by numbers. A radio-friendly pop song which had a touch of the indie about it, but very much had an appeal to a wider audience. The fact that Ian Broudie was an old punk at heart could be seen from the fact that he chose to record cover versions on the 2xCDs which made up the release of Ready or Not. I’m sure he would never claim that he had bettered the originals, but at least he was bringing them to the attention of a wider audience, as well as delivering some royalties to the songwriters. mp3 : Lightning Seeds – Another Girl, Another Planet (The Only Ones) mp3 : Lightning Seeds – Whole Wide World (Wreckless Eric) mp3 : Lightning Seeds – Outdoor Miner (Wire)"

Sun Haze - vhs memories, 2024

"Music to stare at the blue sky"

Au Revoir Simone - only you can make you happy deradoorian remix, 2010

"Brooklyn-based three piece electronic group Au Revoir Simone released their third album – ‘Still Night, Still Light’ – in 2009 to strong reviews. Before getting started on their next studio release, they’ve worked on a remix album of long player three, commissioning several important names in the alternative community to rework the original tracks from the album and put their own individual stamp on them."

Summer Moon - star child, 2023

"So, gear up, plug in, and immerse yourself in the sonic journey of “Casino Days” by Summer Moon. It’s a musical escapade that’ll get your heart pounding and your senses tingling."

The Beatles - all you need is love, 1967

"The song was Britain's contribution to Our World, the first live global television link, for which the band were filmed performing it at EMI Studios in London on 25 June. The programme was broadcast via satellite and seen by an audience of over 400 million in 25 countries. Lennon's lyrics were deliberately simplistic, to allow for the show's international audience, and captured the utopian ideals associated with the Summer of Love. The single topped sales charts in Britain, the United States and many other countries, and became an anthem for the counterculture's embrace of flower power philosophy. Our World coincided with the height of the Beatles' popularity and influence, following the release of their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Rather than perform the song entirely live, the group played to a pre-recorded backing track. With an orchestral arrangement by George Martin, the song begins with a portion of the French national anthem and ends with musical quotations from works such as Glenn Miller's "In the Mood", "Greensleeves", Bach's Invention No. 8 in F major, and the Beatles' 1963 hit "She Loves You".

Vitesse X - fortress cover, 2024

“In 2023, I found myself gravitating more to guitar-based indie music again. I think I might have been craving a sense of solace from the heaviness of current events and maximalist nature of modern production. Tapping back into my sonic roots felt like an escape to a simpler, calmer moment in time. I was listening to Fortress by Pinback on my walk to work one day, and thought it would be fun to try out a cover for the first time. I was having a hard time getting into a creative flow, so I treated it as an exercise to not overthink and just enjoy the process, and this is what came out.”

Sufjan Stevens - jupiter, 2017

"About four-and-a-half minutes into “Jupiter,” for example, a cinematic interlude of piano, strings, and trombone fades, and Stevens’ voice interjects, processed such that it feels very intentionally like a radio communiqué from a vintage spacecraft: “Father of light, father of death/Give us your wisdom, give us your breath/Summoner says that Jupiter is the loneliest planet.” Stevens is no stranger to this practice of gravely summoning opaque imagery, but the outer-space literalism of his delivery makes this evocation of the isolation inherent in mortality feel light years more distant than usual, which, as far as I can tell, was not the desired effect."

The Radio Dept - nineteen ninety-five, 2003

"I belatedly discovered their music in 2019, by which time all of their physical singles and albums were readily available to seek out wherever I could, and so that was what I did as much as possible. I glutted on everything they brought out, belatedly picking up all their albums on CD, given that I had already fallen hopelessly in love with their music."

Fazerdaze - take it slow, 2017

"there's nothing quite like the interplay of a minimal bass line and a reverb-heavy guitar over some wistful vocals to get you in the mood for summer"