AC Newman - the ballad of wallace and chantry, 2014

"for the most part, feels cozy and lived in, and unlike some soundtracks with a quirky, rom-com indie pop pedigree, it manages to convey some of the melancholy and not just the exhilaration of love, which is something that Newman has been championing (quite melodiously) for years."

Wild Nothing - our composition book, 2010

"Second to last on the album comes the song “Our Composition Book”, which is a glamorous, picture-perfect pop song complete with shimmering sound effects and some excellent guitar playing by none other than Mr. Tatum himself."

Stars - trap door live, 2015

"Pumping up the audience with his high energy level, Campbell promptly encouraged everybody to flock to the stage, and with equal gusto from the band, would keep fans on their feet for the remainder of the evening."

The Embassy - everything i ever wanted, 2013

"Sweet Sensation is the third album by Swedish band the Embassy. It was released February 26, 2013 on International. The album clearly showcases the groups influences of club music while still keeping their distinct sound. During their following tour, the band collaborated with the lighting artist Thomas Hämén. They had previously experimented with light by turning on the light over the audience and keeping the stage in the dark."

Saint Etienne - afraid to go home, 1998

"All you need is some sparkling, uplifting pop music to get you in the mood for the fun ahead. And who better to provide it than Saint Etienne? I saw them this week at Kägelbanan and was transported away by their career-spanning cavalcade of magnificent bittersweet pop. The new songs from new album Home Counties stood up very well against all my old favourites."

The Legends - right on, 2003

"Johan Angergård always stays busy, what with running Swedish label Labrador Records (which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year), and making music in such acts as Acid House Kings, Club 8, and Pallers."

Elton John - solar prestige a gammon, 1974

"Elton and Bernie were annoyed by fans who over analyzed the band’s lyrics for hidden meanings. So they made the nonsensical Solar Prestige to mess with those fans in particular. But it isn’t all gibberish. There are several ocean life names hidden in the song."

Enya - tea-house moon, 1995

"It has been told that the path to the tea-house was one of a copse of summer trees, a wave of the sea, the pale evening moon. The trees, the sea, the moon evoked old dreams and the tea-house represented an oasis where the traveller could find peace. On entering through the low door, one could hear the song of water echo the distant sea or the sound of the rain in a bamboo forest. The tea-house was a place of repose and one in which the harmony of nature pervaded."

Stars - trap door, 2014

"Stars were a pretty big deal throughout the 2000s and into this current decade in the Canadian indie pop scene. For this record, they went rollerskate paradise retro in pink neon and full of hope in its title, while knowing full well that in reality, we are lost. It’s a good record with some excellent tracks, definitely worth your time if you haven’t yet given it its due."

The Embassy - the great indoors people, 2002

"The group's debut album Futile Crimes was released in 2002, preceded by the three singles "Sneaky Feelings EP", "It Never Entered My Mind" and "The Pointer/Make me sad". The album consists of 10 songs recorded by Björn Olsson in Sehr Schöön studios. The group sparked controversy during this time for using instruments made of cardboard while performing live, along with utilizing playback."

AC Newman - the troubadour, 2012

“This record was written during a very heavy time in my life. I was right in that in-between space where I’d just lost somebody that’s amazingly important to me, and I was also anticipating the arrival of somebody incredibly important, too. It made me think a lot about family, life and death, happiness and sadness, and how to reconcile them all.”

Gerry Rafferty - baker street, 1978

"Rafferty's daughter Martha suggested in 2012 that he could also have taken inspiration from a book he was reading while travelling, Colin Wilson's The Outsider (1956), which explores ideas of alienation and creativity and a longing to be connected."

Camel - flight of the snow goose, 1975

"Because it’s based on a novel, then it’s obvious that The Snow Goose tells a story and is a complete saga. As one would suspect, then, there is a flow that goes from happy and sweet on “Rhayader goes to Town” and “Snow Goose” to more melancholy and sullen on “Rhayader Alone,” while being dark and almost evil at times on “Dunkirk” and “Epitaph,” as the saga reaches its climax. All of these feelings are portrayed expertly with some of the better musical performances and composition I’ve ever heard from a rock band. Camel feels distinctly more advanced and smart compared to their very talented peers because of their intelligent use of character themes in the music. Arguably, this record is similar to a suite or a “symphony” of sorts in its arrangement and presentation."

Del Amitri - ceasefire, 1985

"I felt real loss that for now at least there are no more ahead, and there’s nothing much else that could replace the feeling you get from them. Nights like these are incredible. I cannot wait to see some more dates announced whenever that may be so that I might soar above the mundane like this again. Thank you Justin for this beautiful uplifting music that makes life better, and proves the inspirational power of art."

The Cranberries - will you remember, 1996

“One day I went to the airport to meet my husband and I was wondering if he’d remember all those little tricks I’d done: lipstick, hair dresses, blah blah blah, things that men don’t remember. Guys don’t take much notice of lipstick colour…”

James - gaudi, 2001

"Due to Gaudí's profoundly religious and ascetic lifestyle, the archbishop of Barcelona, Ricard Maria Carles proposed Gaudí's beatification in 1998."

Moscow Olympics - ocean sign, 2007

"Shoegazers from Philippines"

Wild Nothing - gemini, 2010

"The sweetness of Tatum’s exquisite melodies, often wrapped tight in a comforting blanket of distortion and propelled on their way by simple but effective percussion, is consistently tempered by his lyrical predilection for pessimism. Track four here is even titled Pessimist, and opens with the line: “Boys don’t cry, they just want to die”. Hopefully Tatum is not actually writing from a position of irreversible bleakness – after all, it’d be tragic if the enjoyment experienced by the audience came at a cost to the artist."

Demis Roussos - we shall dance, 1971

"We Shall Dance" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1971. The song was included on Roussos' 1971 album On the Greek Side of My Mind (originally titled Fire and Ice)."

Pet Shop Boys - somewhere cover, 1997

"Somewhere", sometimes referred to as "Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)" or simply "There's a Place for Us", is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story that was made into films in 1961 and 2021. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim."

Club 8 - stay by my side, 2003

"a breath of fresh indie air coming out of Sweden"

Mike Oldfield - sally, 1979

"Oldfield provided background vocals in sections of brother Mike's 1970s albums Tubular Bells, Ommadawn and Incantations. She reprised her role on Tres Lunas in 2002 and for the 2003 re-recording, Tubular Bells 2003. In addition, she worked on her other brother Terry's recordings. She sang "Shadow of the Hierophant" on Steve Hackett's 1975 album, Voyage of the Acolyte."

Etienne Daho - un homme à la mer, 1991

"the largest hot desert in the world"

The Shadows - nights in white satin cover, 1986

"a great song, a beautiful historic song."

Enya - on your shore, 1988

“On Your Shore,” which appears as the third song (of 11) on WATERMARK, and was never officially released as a single, has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I don’t know if my love for this song can be attributed to having been born near the ocean in Bar Harbor, Maine, having the ocean in my blood, whenever I’m visiting the ocean with Maryhope, or because it was featured in one of my all-time favorite movies and on its soundtrack (1991’s L.A. STORY with Steve Martin, who also wrote the brilliant screenplay)."

Bee Gees - and the sun will shine live, 1997

“And the Sun Will Shine” is a song by the British band Bee Gees, written by Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb and Maurice Gibb, and released in February 1968 on the album “Horizontal“. In the same month, Paul Jones, former Manfred Mann frontman, recorded the song with Paul McCartney playing drums on it."

Barclay James Harvest - hard hearted woman, 1977

"with some nifty guitar work grafted onto a tale of being bewitched by an unfeeling siren - it's a hard life!"

Ian Broudie - smoke rings, 2004

"Born in Penny Lane, Liverpool in 1958, Ian Broudie attended his first gig, the Beatles at the Liverpool Empire, when he was six. A member of punk band Big In Japan in his teens with Holly Johnson and the KLF’s Bill Drummond, he went on to produce records by Echo and the Bunnymen, the Fall, Alison Moyet, Texas and the Coral. Recording as the Lightning Seeds from 1989, he has released seven albums, and his 1996 song for that year’s UEFA European Championship, Three Lions, has been No 1 three times."

Saint Etienne - say it to the rain, 2008

"From council estates to mansions, Saint Etienne are perhaps the only band to capture the teeming variety of the capital"

Paul Weller - headstart for happiness live, 2001

"Paul Weller constantly amazes me with his workrate, fearless ambition, and the quality of his output this late into his career. He’s been releasing music since 1977 and he’s constantly pushing himself into new areas."

Azure Ray - rise, 2001

"A band called Azure Ray contributed a song to the soundtrack titled “Rise.” I made a mental note to Google the song while watching the movie. I loved its’ dreamy and reposed sound, similar to that of another band I enjoy named Beach House. This song comes from the self-titled debut from 2001. Two other albums followed"

Letting Up Despite Great Faults - breaking, 2012

"A lot of that was I wanted to make sure I was writing songs that I liked playing on just the guitar. I think it’s very easy for me to go down a lot of soundscapes and synths and drum machines and analog filters, and it’s so easy to get lost."

Voxtrot - wrecking force, 2005

"the true standout is the closing track, “Wrecking Force,” which sounds something like The Mekons jamming with The Arcade Fire. It’s truly triumphant and powerful music that begs for an emotionally receptive ear. It will be your song of the year once you hear it."

Saint Etienne - people get real, 1992

"‘People Get Real’, is a mellifluous diatribe against people who venerate ‘real soul’ and condemn House music as ‘unauthentic’. "It's about Kenny Thomas," Bob adds, "and the impending jazz-funk revival. Jazz funk, Kiss FM, it's miles more offensive than any heavy metal."

Dido - thank you, 1998

"We heard your track. We love it. We'd like to use it for this track 'Stan.' Can you take a listen? I hope you like it and can we use your song?"

Electrelane - tram twenty-one, 2007

"Electrelane were an English indie rock band, formed in Brighton in 1998 by Verity Susman and Emma Gaze. The band comprised Susman, Gaze, Mia Clarke, and Ros Murray. Their music drew from a wide range of influences including Neu!, Stereolab, Sonic Youth, and the Velvet Underground."

Enya - wild child, 2000

"Wild Child" is a single by Irish singer-songwriter Enya. It was released on 19 March 2001 as the second and final single from her fifth studio album, A Day Without Rain (2000)."

James - waltzing along, 1997

"It might not be the James sound you're used to, but I think bands should be comended when they develop musically to co! nfront complex themes. The folky chorus of Waltzing along is like a recharge..."May your mind be wide open; May your heart beat strong"

Rádio Macau - cidade fantasma, 1987

"On the night of Passover in Gethsemane, Jesus prays beside his disciples Peter, James and John. Satan tries to tempt Jesus as his sweat turns into blood and a serpent emerges from Satan's guise; Jesus rebukes him by crushing the serpent's head."

Pet Shop Boys - up against it, 1996

"The more that it hurts, the less that it works" – This flawed couplet at the very conclusion of the song is almost certainly a pointed subversion of the slogan "It hurt but it worked," which was used by the U.K. Conservative Party (the Tories) during the campaign of 1995, the year immediately before the song's release. In other words, the Tories were campaigning on their record, maintaining that their tight fiscal policies may have caused some suffering, but they ultimately proved beneficial to the British economy. The slogan was widely criticized at the time by more liberal commentators as being both socially callous and factually questionable. It's safe to say that our musical heroes felt much the same about it; hence the subversion."

The Radio Dept - this time around live, 2010

"The album begins rather conventionally with a few extremely accessible efforts in “Heaven’s on Fire” and “This Time Around”, both of which capitalize upon brisk percussion and chirpy synths that appear contrary to subdued later efforts like the brilliantly moody “Memory Loss”. It is amazing how that track manages to send chills up my spine with only minor alterations to production and melody throughout."

Wild Nothing - shadow, 2012

"The name itself comes across as rather misleading, as the track sounds less shadowy than you’d perhaps think; it’s a fast-paced, heart-felt song featuring graceful vocals and beautiful violin sections invoking a deeply thought-provoking atmosphere."

AC Newman - strings, 2012

"Strings," too, immediately ranks among the most direct and unambiguous things he's ever written: "'We've been waiting for you' is a simple line of no great artistic worth, but it is very very true," he insists. He's only half-right."

Elton John - crocodile rock, 1973

"Crocodile Rock" is dominated by a Farfisa organ riff, played by John. The lyrics take a nostalgic look at early rock 'n' roll, pop culture, dating and youthful independence of that era. John's band members, including Davey Johnstone on guitars, Dee Murray on bass and Nigel Olsson on drums, were also performers on the song. John, however, did all the vocals, including the falsetto backing vocals."

Stars - the theory of relativity, 2012

"Habitat 67 comprises 354 identical, prefabricated concrete forms (11.7 m × 5.3 m × 3 m [38 ft 5 in × 17 ft 5 in × 9 ft 10 in]) arranged in various combinations, divided into three pyramids, reaching up to 12 residential storeys, with a parking level, and a building services level."

Mike Oldfield - the top of the morning, 1998

"By mid-1996, Oldfield had put his Buckinghamshire home for sale and relocated to the Spanish island of Ibiza, setting up a recording studio at Casa Atlantis, a cliffside home in Es Cubells which he designed on a virtual reality simulator on his computer and had it built from scratch. With Ibiza being a major club destination, he became inspired by the electronic and dance music that local DJs were playing and decided to make a dance version of the familiar opening to "Tubular Bells (Part One)", which he used with a Nord Lead synthesiser and used the "caveman" beat from "Tubular Bells (Part Two)". Oldfield liked the results, which persuaded him to make a third Tubular Bells album, following Tubular Bells (1973) and Tubular Bells II (1992). Despite not having a recording contract at the time, Oldfield secured a new deal with Warner Music UK by informing the label that he wished to start work on a third Tubular Bells album. Oldfield later admitted that Ibiza's hedonistic lifestyle was a negative influence on him and succumbed to alcohol and drugs. In one incident, he was caught driving while twice over the legal alcohol limit and received a one-year driving ban. In April 1998, Oldfield left Ibiza and returned to live at Roughwood Croft, his home in Chalfont St. Giles, Buckinghamshire, which he had bought in the late 1980s. He then finished recording Tubular Bells III in London until June 1998. In August, he put his Ibiza home, two cars, and powerboat for sale for £2 million. The home was bought by Noel Gallagher."

Of Monsters And Men - from finner, 2011

"how toxic things can draw us in, stealing our attention, and ultimately wasting our time."

Mar de Sintra, hoje, 13 de janeiro de 2025

Tilly And The Wall - the freest man, 2006

"‘The Freest Man,’ is very much a pop tune but just plays to a great concept of absolutely doing your own thing. It can mean a lot to you if you let it."

Le Fil Bleu, 9/1/2025

Moby - sleep alone, 2002

"Perhaps 18 should have been called 13 and ended with the eerie yet comforting sentiments of “Sleep Alone.”

Bee Gees - morning of my life, 1970

"Morning of My Life" (originally known as "In the Morning") is a song written by Barry Gibb in 1965 whilst in the town of Wagga Wagga, Australia and later recorded by the Bee Gees and several other artists. It was recorded in 1966 during sessions for the album Spicks and Specks, and later was released as the opening track on the compilation Inception/Nostalgia in 1970. The first recording of the song to be released by any artist was by Ronnie Burns, first as a B-side to his Exit, Stage Right single in June 1967 and a month later on his Ronnie LP."

Pet Shop Boys - can you forgive her, 1993

"Neil borrowed the song's title, but not its subject matter, from a literary work, in this case a Victorian novel by Anthony Trollope."

AC Newman - there's money in new wave, 2012

"It’s about me in the future trying to talk to my son when he’s a teenager and feeling like I don’t really have that much to tell him."

Fun - why am i the one, 2012

“Why Am I The One,” a sweet, melancholy ballad from fun.’s hugely successful album Some Nights."

Ride - from time to time, 1994

"Carnival of Light is the third studio album by British rock band Ride, released in June 1994 via Creation Records. The album is named after a lost song by the Beatles."

Cocteau Twins - athol-brose, 1988

"the Cocteau Twins' approach to lyrics and vocals, driven by Elizabeth Fraser's unique style, was as revolutionary as their sonic innovations. By prioritizing sound and emotion over literal meaning, they opened up new possibilities for vocal expression in popular music, influencing generations of artists and changing how listeners engage with lyrics and vocals."

Saint Etienne - peach trees starlings, 2020

"While the theory that a frustrated rock star is trapped inside the body of every able music journalist could be debated until the cows come home, there have certainly been instances where ambitious members of the media have laid down pen – or laptop – and strapped on a guitar for the greater good."

U2 - lemon, 1993

"Lemon" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the fourth track on their eighth album, Zooropa (1993), and was released as its second single on 8 November 1993 by Island Records. Inspired by old video footage of lead vocalist Bono's late mother, the lyrics describe an attempt to preserve memory through film. More than any previous U2 song, "Lemon" showcases Bono's falsetto vocal range, aided by atmospheric backing vocals from the Edge and Brian Eno. Mark Neale directed the accompanying music video. At almost seven minutes, it is among the band's longest songs."

Wild Nothing - midnight song, 2012

"Nocturne invokes darkness, the night and the moon with frequency. It’s an apt muse, since the album often sounds like luminous orbs reflecting light in the darkness. Low, dark synths ride under flashes of bright guitar notes and shimmering production. Tatum’s voice is a wash of starlight, echoing from far away."

Pet Shop Boys - beautiful people, 2009

"I'm imagining I'm a woman waiting at the bus stop in the rain in London thinking about how shit life is and looking around and seeing a newsstand with magazines like Heat and OK and Hello with Victoria Beckham on the cover, thinking, 'Yes, I would like to live like that.'"