Coldplay - viva la vida, 2008

"Viva La Vida is genuine, musically ambitious, and filled with sonic dynamics as Chris Martin and crew guides the listener across an auditory play land that is equally familiar and foreign."

Tame Impala - nangs, 2015

"Have you ever stared into the sun and closed your eyes? Or maybe tapped rapidly on the sides of your eardrums? Well, that is exactly what this song sounds like."

The Waterboys - out of all this blue, 2019

"Scott may no longer be the young man who gave us "Don't Bang the Drum" and "A Girl Called Johnny" but he is far from being a Bono-like pompous windbag and on this evidence, he's not only not finished, but he may yet achieve the same mythic status of some of his own great influences."

Aimee Mann - goodbye caroline, 2005

"Mann’s record traces the relationship of John, an alcoholic boxer, and his love being the titular Caroline. And, this tune inside of that larger narrative just sings; a jangly pop classicist gem with a bit of folk-rock flavouring thrown in there too."

Pet Shop Boys - a red letter day, 1996

"Back in 1996 when the song was released, the Labour Party had been out of power for 17 years and the U.K. public itself was just waiting for the next year, 1997, for the General Election so that they could vote the Conservative government out.… [W]hen I saw Neil and Chris… on Top of the Pops surrounded in red light and singing, "Go to work and take your calls/Hang the fruits of your labour on the walls," I naturally thought the song was about, amongst other things, New Labour (as the Labour Party had been rebranded)."

Architecture In Helsinki - like a call, 2003

"The overall vibe is that of «little-angelish» innocence, due to all the xylophones, glockenspiels, high-pitched electronics, quasi-surf guitars, and pseudo-pre-pubescent vocals."

El Perro Del Mar - let me in, 2009

"That's an old story by now, but for some reason, it still means a lot to me. It's strange that it still does, but somehow I was right when I decided to use it. It came about during a time in my life when I was quite lost and had an existential and creative crisis. I was aimlessly trying to get away somewhere, and I happened to go to a Spanish island — and not in a romantic way at all, because I was really at a loss, and I really just had to flee somewhere. I ended up sitting by the ocean and staring out in the blue and just wondering, basically, what I was going to do with my life."

Saint Etienne - kiss and make up cover, 1991

"Kiss and Make Up" is a song by English band Saint Etienne, released as a single in 1990. It features Donna Savage of New Zealand indie pop band Dead Famous People and is a cover version of "Let's Kiss and Make Up", a song by The Field Mice from their 1989 album, Snowball. The single peaked at number 80 on the UK Singles Chart."

Wild Nothing - live in dreams, 2010

"Live in Dreams" reveals Jack Tatum's real love for synth-pop of the Reagan years."

AC Newman - last minute travel plans, 2014

"At a diner, Wallace tells Chantry about the trip and his feelings for her, and she responds unfavorably, informing him that she has accepted a work promotion and will be moving to Taiwan."

The Moody Blues - and the tide rushes in, 1970

"Ray was my best pal. I met Ray when I was 14. We were two young kids from Birmingham who were reaching for the stars — and I think we got there. I'm really pleased that Ray was around to know we'd be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I spoke to Ray just before Christmas — because his birthday was after Christmas, on the 29th — and we had a long conversation. We're very close friends — or were very close friends. Very sad. Very, very sad."

Belle And Sebastian - funny little frog, 2006

"Funny Little Frog" is the first single released from Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian's seventh studio album, The Life Pursuit (2006). The track was released in January 2006 on Rough Trade Records and was produced by Tony Hoffer. The single became the band's highest-charting single in the UK, reaching number 13. The artwork for the single features Julie Coyle and Marisa Privitera. A different version of "Funny Little Frog" appears on Stuart Murdoch's 2009 album God Help the Girl."

Club 8 - straight as an arrow, 2013

"The duo of composer-instrumentalist Johan Angergård and wispy-voiced singer Karolina Komstedt has cycled through aspects of bedsit pop, hi-NRG chic, trip-hop noir, and quiet-is-the-new-loud bossa nova, eventually encompassing many of those within a tender, nuanced take on acoustic pop-- and that's not mentioning the pair's prior work with the twee-leaning Poprace, or Angergård's ongoing roles in the noisier Legends and lushly orchestrated Acid House Kings."

Wild Nothing - summer holiday, 2010

"Right from the drop, it has a late Velocity Girl-type sound to it. I love that. You know. After they quit being so noisy. Not that I dislike the noise. To the contrary. Just that they were almost a completely different band. Anyway, there’s that. And it’s such a bubbly, bright, “summery” song. I like it quite a bit."

Saint Etienne - this is tomorrow, 2008

"When Saint Etienne were chosen as the first ever artists-in-residence at London's Southbank Centre, their mission was clear: to document the historic £100m reconstruction of the Royal Festival Hall. The resulting documentary, This Is Tomorrow, depicts that process in parallel with the story of the venue's original construction in 1949. It's a beautiful celebration not only of the Royal Festival Hall, but also of a certain British optimism about the power of the arts, and of London itself."

Enya - china roses, 1995

"Everyone has their own idea of heaven. What creates the beauty of the world is the love we have for it, connected to memories, wishes, desires. For each of us it is a different treasure we embrace – a changing sky, the crimson flower of the Keys of Heaven, a love token, the endless delight of fairy-tales, the ever-shifting pictures of our world that we find in the words of poets. For each one of us a different love becomes our own wood of dreams."

The Cranberries - ode to my family, 1994

"Let Dolores be your station's guardian angel. Real Christmas family spirit is generated by this ballad which surpasses all the rest currently available when it comes to sincerity."

Pet Shop Boys - gin and jag, 2009

"Boredom deplores a vacuum" – At least that what how this line of the song reads in the lyrics section of the Pet Shop Boys' official website. But in the actual recording, Neil clearly sings "Boredom abhors a vacuum" [my emphasis], which more closely matches how the original phrase that inspired this line is most often rendered. It's a takeoff on the ancient dictum "Nature abhors a vacuum," attributed to the Greek philospher-scientist Aristotle (384-322 BC). I know of no reason for the deplores/abhors discrepancy aside from a simple mistake on someone's part."

AC Newman - chantry's ticket, 2014

"Eighteen months later, Wallace and Chantry return home from Taiwan after becoming engaged. They marry and contemplate the rest of their lives while sitting on Wallace's rooftop."

REM - make it all okay, 2004

"The song begins with some piano which is quickly accompanied by Michael’s vocals and an acoustic guitar. The first thing I noticed was Michael’s melody, especially during the “Didn’t you now?” part. It’s really catchy and sounds just nice in general. Mike’s bass comes in with some tasty fills and we get a little distorted guitar bends from Peter which starts filling out the song’s space quite well. So why isn’t this song better? I think it’s because the verses are by far the best part about it. When we get into the chorus, it’s kinda hard to tell it’s even a chorus. It’s becomes a little more minor key and when the drums come in they just don’t add anything to the song."

Mr Kitty - glycerin, 2023

"glycerin was great and remind grew on me, the other singles I didn't like. I'm scared but I'm also excited since I have around 25 Mr Kitty songs on repeat for years. His music really connects with me, especially Time"

The Lightning Seeds - the life of riley, 1992

"The Life of Riley" is a song by British band The Lightning Seeds. It was released in 1992 from the album Sense. The song was a minor hit when it was first released on 2 March 1992, reaching number 28 on the UK Singles Chart, and even reaching the top 100 in the US. However the song later gained popularity when the BBC football programme, Match of the Day, began to use it frequently for segments including "Goal of the Month", throughout most of the 1990s. The song was still associated with the programme many years later and featured in a similar "Goal of the Day" segment in the mid-2000s. It is still occasionally used for the same section as of 2023."

Keane - somewhere only we know, 2004

"We've been asked whether "Somewhere Only We Know" is about a specific place, and Tim has been saying that, for him, or us as individuals, it might be about a geographical space, or a feeling; it can mean something individual to each person, and they can interpret it to a memory of theirs...It's perhaps more of a theme rather than a specific message...Feelings that may be universal, without necessarily being totally specific to us, or a place, or a time..."

The National - slow show, 2007

"So, what’s so special about Slow Show? Just a miserable middle-aged man reflecting on his youth right? Well take the opening 20 seconds, an electric guitar swells, bristling with electric ambiance and a sense of tension. An acoustic guitar chops in with that rhythm, and it is so simple, yet so sophisticated, like a well made cocktail or a Michelin stared meal the devil is in the detail. This is before you even get to the first lyric"

The Flaming Lips - the sound of failure, 2006

"It was tough to find a snippet of lyrics that did justice to the beauty of this song. One thing I’ve liked about past Lips record is that they seemed blissfully unaware of the pop culture around them; mentioning such pop idols as Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani in their lyrics is tantamount to putting up a big red sign that says “Forgettable lyric with a shelf life here – move along, folks.” But don’t judge it by that. The temporary nature of said stars may serve as an adequate contrast to the “failure” of a girl who just wants to do, or be, something unique. What, I can’t tell. Her insecurity plays out against a backdrop of lovely guitar strumming and faint orchestral elements that builds to such a beautiful crescendo, that part of me doesn’t really care what weirdness is being discussed here. As if self-conscious regarding the beauty they’re creating, the Lips throw in an insistent, nervous, blurting electric guitar, but it just adds to the idiosyncrasy, not managing to divert the beautiful melody despite the guitar’s relative monotony. The whole thing is very 70’s, and just to be a little more “prog-rock” than normal, the song expands into a second section, with a brief, slow verse and gentle guitars and bells, before the calming sounds of flutes, synthetic bells, and humming insects conclude the song, which has now stretched leisurely past the seven-minute mark. A bit much for only track three, but who cares, it’s a lovely piece of work."

Enya - my my time flies, 2008

"The lyrics are based on a conversation Enya, Roma and Nicky had that particular day and evolve around passing time and Jimmy’s favourite music, making references to The Beatles or Tchaikovsky. This up-tempo song marks a slight departure from Enya’s usual style as it features guitar solos performed by Pat Farrell."

My Morning Jacket - time waited, 2025

"I made a loop of that piano intro and listened as I went for a walk, and all these melodies started coming to me. For a long time, I didn’t have lyrics, but then I had a dream where I was in a café and a song was playing, and the lyrics to that song became the lyrics to “Time Waited” — the melodies just fit perfectly. And the lyrics are about how flexible time is, how we can bend and warp time, especially if we are following our hearts, the universe and time itself can flow to work with us."

America - tin man live, 1985

“Tin Man” was manufactured from the chunks of thoughts and themes that I was putting together into a kind of mosaic. It wasn’t a common thread."

Club 8 - kinky love, 2015

"A blubbery bassline cradles Komstedt’s glass heart across a solitude fortress of crystalline synths as cymbals shatter like flying bottles against the walls."

The Housemartins - paris in flares, 1987

"Paul realised that he hated writing about love...and that writing politically came easier to him"

AC Newman - dropping chantry off, 2014

"A.C. Newman’s (of the Vancouver band The New Pornographers) score coupled with songs by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Patrick Watson, Marsha Hunt, and the Parting Gifts help set just the right mood and energy to carry us through the hip, urban landscape, which leads me to…"

Saint Etienne - stars above us, 2005

"Amazing pop. If this had been by a more fashionable band at the time it would have been a massive hit."

Pet Shop Boys - nothing has been proved live, 2006

"A fascinating footnote is the fact that, in his book The Complete Dusty Springfield, author Paul Howes says that Neil — ever the historian, having long been intrigued by the Profumo Affair — wrote the original version of this song, with pretty much the same lyrics but a different melody, before he even met Chris. It was resurrected for Dusty and Scandal, with Neil and Chris collaborating on a new melody."

Electronic - one day, 1996

"Electronic was formed by Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr, the guitarist of the Smiths, in 1989. They collaborated on certain tracks with the Pet Shop Boys and a member of Kraftwerk. When compared with the other New Order spinoffs, Electronic is the best from a technical perspective, which isn't surprising considering the names involved."

Genesis - afterglow, 1976

"Afterglow" was composed by Banks, who described it as a spontaneous piece written in about the same amount of time as it takes to play it, and consequently [it] has a spirit about it that comes from being less contrived. This cynical comment is typical of the tensions felt in the band at the time. In 1975 Hackett completed his first solo album “Voyage of the Acolyte” which was successful and had the blessing of two of the members who actually appeared on the album, namely Mike Rutherford on bass guitar, bass pedals, Fuzz 12-String, and Phil Collins on drums, vibes, percussion, and vocals.

Slade - cum on feel the noize, 1973

"I was at a Chuck Berry gig in '72 and everybody was singing his tunes. He kept stopping and letting the crowd sing and it wasn't just a few people, it was everyone. I thought it was amazing and thought – why not write the crowd into the songs, and so we got round to 'Mama Weer All Crazee Now' and 'Cum On Feel the Noize' and all the chants were written into the tunes."

Wild Nothing - chinatown, 2010

"Anybody who grew up listening to the elegantly miserable 1980's guitar-pop faithfully evoked on Wild Nothing's excellent Gemini knows a thing or two about being down. That this comfortably sad feeling can be as ephemeral as the weather makes the foggy positivity of Gemini highlight "Chinatown" all the more fitting. "I want someone/ Somewhere", WN's Jack Tatum yearns, before noting during the chorus, "We're not happy 'til we're running away". Tatum doesn't sound like he's necessarily moping around, though; instead, his low-register voice pulses and throbs like a heartbeat, giving "Chinatown" a bright, in-the-moment, bliss-touched glow."

Beach House - norway, 2010

"A percussive intro yields to an explosion of twinkling guitars and a chorus of woozy backing vocals. The core elements of Beach House's sound-- the drum machine, the thrift store keyboards-- are still present; they're just a few ticks faster. This makes a big difference."

Pet Shop Boys - yesterday when i was mad, 1993

"The lyrics allude to a number of charges often leveled against the Boys and their music, especially during the first half or so of their career: that Neil's voice is weak, that their live music is pre-recorded on tape, that nearly everything they do is ironic."

Fun - all alright, 2012

"Some Nights is a millennial classic. A shining example of just what indie music could become. Its flawless melodies and sharp lyrics recall a time that was, for many of us, both frightening and exhilarating. Jack Antonoff, Nate Ruess, and Andrew Dost added a worthy bit of commentary to the national dialogue, and many of their words ring true a decade on."

Del Amitri - long journey home, 1992

"For the life of me i couid not recall the name of the song, which when I returned home came to me instantly, “The Long Journey Home” After “In the Meantime” my favourite Del Amitri song."

Stars - ageless beauty, 2004

"a perfect gem of an indie rock tune."

Neil Young - after the gold rush live,1979

"I love Neil Young. He’s absolutely one of my musical heroes, being so cranky, weird, and uncompromising, but with a sense of humour."

The Killers - human, 2008

"I think that I do, and I don't want to be too much of a preacher," he said. "I say that it's a mild social statement, and that's all I'm gonna say. We're still trying to write the best pop songs we can write." It seems to be a similar strategy to the one Jesus took when he dropped spiritual explosives into the hearts as well as ears of his hearers. The explosive does not need spelling out; that might diminish its potency. “Those with ears to hear...”

New Order - everyone everywhere, 1993

"It’s gorgeously produced, particularly how Hague and the band found such breadth and depth in the guitar mix, with quite a few layers of bass, lead and rhythm guitar interacting; starting with the rhythmic strumming under Bernard’s (beautifully performed ) vocals, the subtle additional textures that are added, Peter’s integral bass riffs, and the lush lead layers performed during the chorus. The primary bassline is synth-based, and has a nice ‘grain’ to it; a subtle but excellent touch of programming. Equal to the terrific guitar performances are the luscious and atmospheric synth layers. The last 30 seconds of the track soars upwards to Bernard’s repeated despair that ‘this world is gone‘. Sublime."

U2 - one, 1991

"During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict arose between the band members over the direction of U2's sound and the quality of their material. Tensions almost prompted the band to break up until they achieved a breakthrough with the improvisation of "One"; the song was written after the band members were inspired by a chord progression that guitarist the Edge was playing in the studio. The lyrics, written by lead singer Bono, were inspired by the band members' fractured relationships and the German reunification. Although the lyrics ostensibly describe "disunity", they have been interpreted in other ways."

Pet Shop Boys - try it i'm in love with a married man cover, 2003

"Try It (I'm in Love with a Married Man)" was written by Bobby "O" Orlando, who had played an important role in the very early history of the Pet Shop Boys, having produced the first released versions of "West End Girls" and "One More Chance," among a few others. "Try It" was the 1983 debut single for a Bobby O "girl group" studio ensemble called Oh Romeo, which apparently featured different vocalists for each release. None of them achieved any great measure of success (not even on the dance charts, their primary target), but some today are regarded as cult classics.

Sufjan Stevens - to be alone with you, 2004

"In Sufjan Stevens’ song “To Be Alone With You” off of his 2004 album Seven Swans, he outlines the sacrifices Jesus made to be with his followers, and for their sins to be resolved. Stevens begins his outlining of Christ with the lines “I’d give my body to be back again”. This is referring Jesus giving his body by being crucified so that mankind would be relieved of sin. The phrase “to be back again” is an obvious reference to his resurrection. This can also be seen in the line “You went up on a tree/ to be alone with me”. This is talking about the wooden cross that Stevens delves further into the story of the crucifixion by saying “They took your clothes”. This is referencing John 19:23 describing the Roman soldiers taking his clothes right before he is crucified (“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments…”). When Stevens begins to talk about giving up a “wife and a family”, he is referring to Hebrews 4:15 which says “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin”. This is talking about Jesus being tempted with an assortment of things (including sex), but remained without any. That is to say Jesus chose a life without the things that many people strive to attain (like a family and spouse). With the lines “You gave up your ghost”, Stevens is finally connecting how one can “be alone” with Jesus after his crucifixion. The “ghost” Stevens is referring to is the Holy Spirit, which, in Christian mythology, is considered, like Jesus, to be another manifestation of God. To Christians, you are only able to achieve salvation by accepting Jesus. Once that is done, Christians believe that the Holy Spirit resides in them. Thus, they are “alone” with Jesus, and through that connection, they are relieved of suffering and evil."

The Cranberries - dying inside, 2001

"The second half of the '90s was difficult for the Cranberries, not just because of changing fashions, but because the group embraced both a social consciousness and a prog rock infatuation"

AC Newman - just walking to the dress shop, 2014

"I read books more than anything else. My wife reads a lot of things like the New Yorker, which I wish I could do more of. My reading goes in waves. When I'm busy with other things, I may not read for a long time. I went for about two and a half years one time where I tried to average a book a week. And I did it. I got back on the horse this last tour and started reading a lot again."

The Go-Betweens - you won't find it again, 1988

“You Won’t Find It Again” was a great acoustic demo from McLennan that only appeared here, thank goodness. It served as a warning that I should really start investigating the Grant McLennan solo material that I haven’t really expended any energy in finding. I never really noticed the solo material when the band split, but this one showed that McLennan plus some acoustic guitar got across very well."

Noah And The Whale - shape of my heart, 2008

"a luscious, marshmallow-centered pop ditty, complete with horns and strings to brighten up the sweeping baritone of lead singer Charlie Fink. It doesn’t stray as dangerously close to ‘twee’ as the band’s aformentioned summer smash, and is all the better for it. Instead, it is simply basic guitar chords, with a few bits of fancy orchestration and the astounding lyrics of Charlie Fink. It’s truly a joy to hear him croon ‘The trees were all leafless and lifeless and black and I wonder if the leaves could grow back’."

My Morning Jacket - two halves, 2008

"Even more ironically, Two Halves, the most "pop" sounding, also manages to be the centerpiece of all the themes. Two Halves is also a metaphor for the fans' reaction to Evil Urges: People wanting them to grow up into a great band, but also keeping their roots. "You want this now, you want that now, can't have it all, you should enjoy what you have" is the typical reaction to the haters, but Jim knows that they are all missing the point, that both halves are meant to work together. There's so much hidden here that you could spend hundreds of times listening to this album and finding something different. Brilliant."