The Radio Dept - closing scene, 2008

"Love this song. You are my favorite band and have been for so long."

The Lightning Seeds - life's too short, 1999

"Originally conceived as a one-off experiment for respected longtime producer Ian Broudie, his expertise in the studio and sugary voice made for easy hit-making, so Lightning Seeds took on a life of its own. Ten years later, we now have his fifth effort, and the magic is still there. Broudie has an uncanny flair for pure pop, and Tilt is no exception. He seems to be trying to attract a younger audience with the club-anthem sound of the “Life’s Too Short” single, which sounds a bit campy, but it’s forgivable."

Frightened Rabbit - holy, 2013

"Songs dedicated to Hutchison released after his death include Coldplay's "Champion of the World", Dan Mangan's "In Your Corner", Spanish Love Songs' "Routine Pain", Mystery Jets' "Watching Yourself Slowly Disappear", Dave Hause's "Bearing Down", Biffy Clyro's "Unknown Male 01", and The Lone Bellow's "August", co-written with Aaron Dessner, who produced Frightened Rabbit's album Painting of a Panic Attack. Dessner also wrote the song "Hutch" from his band's Big Red Machine second album, 2021's How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last?. "A Wave Across a Bay", from Frank Turner's 2022 album FTHC, was written after the musician had a dream in which "Scott came into my room with a guitar and showed me a few chords and a few words and some melody". Deacon Blue have dedicated their 2020 track Weight of the World to Hutchison. James Yorkston's 2023 album with Nina Persson and The Second Hand Orchestra, The Great White Sea Eagle, includes a song dedicated to Hutchison titled "A Sweetness in You".

Black Pumas - chronicles of a diamond, 2023

"bursting with colorful experimentation and pure musicianship that showcases a diversity that wasn't present on their debut"

Damien Jurado - in a way probably never, 2023

"he can let his stripped-down acoustic guitar chords mingle and intertwine with lovely orchestrations. That, and the fact that his voice is just the right amount of “understated” while still retaining a mysterious, almost unexplainable allure. That last part is probably why Jurado can get away with crafting shockingly simple tunes from time to time, such as the aforementioned “A Buildings Kind of Building” or a good chunk of “In a Way Probably Never” – the latter of which is quite close to Neutral Milk Hotel’s “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” in chord progression and rhythm."

Electronic - the patience of a saint, 1990

"Although Neil has written and recorded a couple other songs with Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner as part of their Electronic project ("Getting Away with It" and "Disappointed," with Neil singing lead on the latter), this cut from the 1991 Electronic album is the only one on which both Neil and Chris are co-writers and performers. As Sumner himself has said of this song, Chris "wrote a lot of the music." Thus it merits inclusion here as a "Pet Shop Boys track." The narrator (or perhaps, as we shall see, narrators) of this song is something of a bastard, set in his carefree ways, who admits that he's difficult to live with."

Pink Floyd - summer sixty-eight, 1970

"a catchy, fast and happy pop tune written and sung by Richard Wright" that's "one of the few songs Wright has ever done for Pink Floyd and it's actually pretty fine."

Club 8 - hush, 2015

"One of the most upbeat songs on the album, “Hush” brings in the second half. Compared to “Jealousy Remains,” the darker song before it, “Hush” is poppy, catchy and undeniably upbeat. The instrumentals in this track are similar to those in “Late Nights,” but the vocals don’t fall to the side in “Hush,” remaining dreamy, but a little more energetic."

Coldplay - don't panic, 2000

"Don't Panic" is a song by the British rock band Coldplay. Originally titled "Panic", the earliest known version of the song existed in 1998, performed live during the band's first gig in the same year. It had a different melody, and was included in the band's second EP, The Blue Room. The track was reproduced by Coldplay and British producer Ken Nelson for the band's debut album, Parachutes."

The Durutti Column - neon, 1990

"A cult artists’ cult artist, he’s not necessarily unknown. Acting as sideman for Morrissey on his solo debut Viva Hate certainly put him on peoples’ radars, and he has the distinction of being Wilson’s first signing to Factory Records, though not really a bellwether of the kind of music they’d be known for. Indeed, one Durutti Column record wasn’t necessarily a bellwether for any subsequent Durutti Column record."

Surf Rock Is Dead - as if, 2017

“New York City can be isolating and all inclusive simultaneously; choosing to jam-out with your band mates rather than making friends is just a small facet of the experience in a world where genuine connections with people are increasingly hard to find.”

Chumbawamba - homophobia live mdk zgorzelec, 1994

"the song remained a regular part of Chumbawamba's live set from its initial release in 1994 up to the band's retirement in 2012. Live recordings of the song are featured on Chumbawamba's two live albums Showbusiness! and Get On with It."

Frazier Chorus - all the air, 1991

"Original names for the band included both Fishing For Clouds and Plop!, but the band eventually settled on Frazier Chorus, a phrase they'd seen on a jacket for the Frazier College football team's cheerleaders in the United States."

Saint Etienne - a good thing, 2005

"We were rather excited when Sarah’s song was picked by Pedro Almodovar for the party scene in Volver."

Such a great song!

Helladusty - my funny bones, 2023

“My Funny Bones” is a lushly engaging single from Helladusty, the project of Livan Becerra. Nocturnal synth whispers and a steady bass line complement a yearning vocal presence, as guitars and backing glistening bolster an uptick in vocal emotion around the one-minute turn; the stylistic arsenal here reminds fondly of Toro y Moi. The Spanish spoken-word elegance adds further to the hypnotic appeal amidst the jangly guitar tones, with further synth-laden twinkling dazzling as well into the second minute."

The Streets - weak become heroes live, 2018

"Weak Become Heroes" is a song by English rapper and producer Mike Skinner under the music project the Streets. It was released in July 2002 as the third single from their debut studio album, Original Pirate Material."

Dido - closer, 2003

"Life For Rent is no masterpiece, but it has the same kind of sweet, unassuming, girl-next-door charm that made its predecessor such a smash hit"

Bifff - sinking in, 2023

"bifff Nashville, Tennesse"

The Cure - a night like this, 1985

"A Night Like This" contains a saxophone solo by Ron Howe from Fools Dance."

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

"Unlike part 1, this is a hard rocker, though a bit abbreviated at 1:20. The lyrics for the chorus are the same as part 1, but the music is entirely different."

Beirut - so allowed, 2015

"It’s strange to feel sad about a set of generally happy songs. It’s as if the romanticism of world music alienates Condon now, its faux European twists too reminiscent of a past he knew and has since waved goodbye to because someone else left him with no other choice. The fact that No No No was recorded during New York’s blizzard-filled winter doesn’t help. It’s clear he’s found new love, but it hasn’t taken hold with that adolescent magic. There’s unfinished wanting; “I want to say you’re mine,” Condon repeats come the end of “So Allowed”. He’s smiling the best he can, but the spirit is stifled, tired. Who can blame him? No No No is agreeable front to back, but it’s miles away from the youthful, heartfelt, inspired work of Beirut’s past — a world that may be too washed over with sadness to ever truly pull exuberance from again."

The XX - angels, 2012

"Angels" is a sparsely-produced, gentle ballad about the idea of being in love. It has a measured pace and features slight vocals and whispered cadences by Croft, background baritone bass, subtle drum thuds, and coiling guitar lines. Pitchfork Media's Larry Fitzmaurice observes on the song "lots of hollow space surrounding [that] add[s] intimacy." "Angels" opens with echoey guitar and Romy's vocals, which are at the front of the mix. Eerie snare rolls appear within a minute of the song, but quickly fade away. Arnold Pan of PopMatters writes that, in the context of Coexist, the song has its "own sense of development" and "resolution". Oliver Sim said of this moment of tension in the song, "Early on, Jamie said something about the album being inspired by dance music, so everyone's expecting a house beat to drop halfway through—which is hilarious because this is not a dance record."

Jade Bird - american pie cover, 2022

"On February 3, 1959, American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were all killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson. The event became known as "The Day the Music Died" after singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song "American Pie".

Genesis - ripples, 1976

"Ripples..." was a combination of a 12-string guitar piece composed by Rutherford and a piano-led middle section written by Banks."

Lush - desire lines, 1994

"Split touches on most forms of emotional turbulence. A legitimizing stunner, the record prevented the band from being lost amidst the bunker of form-over-function dream pop bands. Split shattered every negative aspect of those failed acts with flying colors. A fantastic record within any realm."

Mike Oldfield - incantations live, 1979

"Oldfield had been listening to a greater amount of religious music than before, which he credited to keep him "calm and sane" as he described himself as "very disturbed" during this time. He also examined the styles of music of his previous albums; rock with a classical music format on his debut Tubular Bells, Celtic music on Hergest Ridge, and "more African" styles on Ommadawn. For Incantations, Oldfield wanted to present "some magical things", which influenced his decision to use a string section and flute."

Bummer Daze - spring, 2023

"dream-pop, with elements of warm guitar tones, retro synths, and spacious drums. Lyrics often evoke nostalgic or summery themes"

Cat Stevens - king of a land, 2023

"heartfelt stories such as these show – not tell; King of a Land does so in the last leg, but there's always a nagging wonder of what the record would've been had it done so throughout its entirety"

Louis Armstrong - what a wonderful world, 1967

"It was also the biggest-selling single of 1968 in the UK, where it was among the last pop singles issued by His Master's Voice before it became an exclusively classical music label."

Neil Young - old man live dorothy chandler pavilion, 1971

"Neil sounds more relaxed in a less high-pressure venue. He mumbles casually through song introductions and approaches the tunes playfully, as if pondering the possibilities of his songwriting in real time. At one point he even tells the audience not to waste their energy applauding between every song. "You can just clap real loud at the end, and it'll be cool," he smirks. That laid-back attitude encapsulates the feel of Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, capturing a master songwriter in the middle of an early phase of brilliance, but in a moment where he sounds especially comfortable and at home on-stage. Less obsessive fans might not see the necessity in seeking out more than one live recording from a window of time when a lot of Young's shows were fairly similar."

Peter Bjorn And John - young folks live at sxsw, 2007

"The group performed the song on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on 29 January 2007, and on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 18 May 2007 (the latter with Tonight Show band member Vicki Randle on bongos). On 29 September 2007, the band played "Young Folks", with Victoria Bergsman's vocals, on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on BBC1. When the band performed the song at the 2007 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Bergsman's vocals were performed by Bebban Stenborg of Shout Out Louds. On Peter Bjorn and John's 2008 Australian tour, Victoria Bergsman's vocals were performed by Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura."

Grant McLennan - easy come easy go, 1991

"Watershed does have moments of glory and McLennan’s excellence in song writing, musicality and storytelling is as sharp as it ever was. The track Haunted House displays McLennan’s ability to create gentle and warm ambience in his music that is unmatched by many of his peers. Stones for You is another sweet ballad that talks of love in a kind and not so saccharine way that McLennan handles well. Black Mule is an odd tale that is slightly long but showcases McLennan’s ability to paint pictures and create worlds. One highlight is Haven’t I Been a Fool which is a more strident song which has a sharp degree of alacrity to it. It’s a poppy number that brings to attention the amalgamation of McLennan’s soft vocals and catchy musical refrains in perfect harmony. His main single Easy Come, Easy Go is another example of this but unlike Haven’t I Been a Fool, there is a sense of trying too hard to make this a hit single rather than just focusing on just making a good song."

The Flaming Lips - waitin for a superman, 1999

"Waitin' for a Superman" (subtitled "Is It Gettin' Heavy??" for the song's U.S. album release) is a song by The Flaming Lips, released as the second single taken from their 1999 album The Soft Bulletin"

Fanfarlo - the walls are coming down, 2009

"these folks know what to do with a trumpet, which is more than can be said for some, and the arrangement on this single is stunning – orchestral and complex yet utterly accessible, with the tinkle of a glockenspiel welcoming all and sundry to the fold."

Keane - the starting line, 2012

"Calming it down does mostly work; the album's tales of growing up in small towns probably would not work quite so well if there was some electronic demon monster all over their boink. With the overarching theme of friends pulling each other out of strife, Rice-Oxley's lyrics are at their most contemplative here, the likes of 'The Starting Line' imploring the protagonist to "ignore the ghosts that make you old before your time"."

Coldplay - life in technicolor ii, 2009

"Life in Technicolor II" (stylised as "Life in Technicolor ii") is a song by British rock band Coldplay released as the first single from the Prospekt's March EP. It is the full-vocal version of the instrumental track "Life in Technicolor", from the band's fourth studio album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends. The songs starts with a loop consisting of a santoor accompanied by tabla-like percussion. The loop is then repeated through the verses and part of the chorus."

Saint Etienne - keep nothing, 1999

"Track written as potential B-side for one of the singles off the Tiger Bay album... In retrospect it could have fitted neatly on Continental"

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - strange, 2011

"The album sounds like we're taking away what we were hiding behind before. Lyrically, the first record had a lot of remembered experiences that I was looking back on and trying to make more clever, which can sound contrived. I like the idea of lyrics that don't get beyond themselves but catch you and make an impression. I think that's more emotionally compelling."

Club 8 - saturday night engine, 2003

"Club 8's spring 2003 EP, Saturday Night Engine, is a turning point in the band's young career. This is mostly due to the title track. "Saturday Night Engine" is a song unlike any other Club 8 song committed to record. A pounding drum beat like a Swedish Northern soul stomper, gleefully twisting guitar lines, a fat and funky organ, and Johan Andergard's uncharacteristically excited vocals combine to make this a classic indie pop song. It is the first Club 8 track that makes you want to get up and jump around for joy. It is the first track that transcends their influences (Saint Etienne, the Cardigans) and sounds like a truly inspired band."

REM - losing my religion, 1991

"Losing My Religion" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M., released in February 1991 by Warner Bros. as the first single from their seventh album, Out of Time (1991). It developed from a mandolin riff improvised by the guitarist, Peter Buck, with lyrics about unrequited love. "Losing My Religion" is R.E.M.'s highest-charting hit in the United States, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and expanding their popularity. Its music video, directed by Tarsem Singh, features religious imagery. At the 1992 Grammy Awards, "Losing My Religion" won Best Short Form Music Video and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. Its video won awards for Video of the Year, Best Group Video, Breakthrough Video, Best Art Direction, Best Direction, and Best Editing at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards. In 2020, "Losing My Religion" became the first R.E.M. video to reach one billion views on YouTube. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017, and Rolling Stone ranked it at number 112 in its 2024 list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

The Mary Onettes - unblessed, 2013

"One of the new album’s most stunning tracks is “Unblessed”, led by caressing synth pads and slick bass reverberations. A minimal synth arpeggio creeps in slowly, as is the case in many Italo-disco and Balaeric gems, and Ekstrom’s vocals take off into its usual soaring peaks. “It’s more than just a bad dream,” he sings over enchanting melodies and beach-set ambiance. This is far from a nightmare. Much of Hit the Waves is pure bliss."

Headlights - words make you tired, 2006

"Tristan Wraight and Brett Sanderson round out the group, accompanying Fein selectively on vocals and developing a sound both mature and well-rounded — a nice feat for a debut album. “Songy Darko” includes a sombre, chamber-like organ and potentially a glokenshpiel. Many songs, like “Owl Eyes”, start out quietly and build throughout to explosive endings. “Lions” and “Words Make You Tired” do not follow that mold. They both start strong and loud and continue as so to the end. “I Love, You Laugh” closes the album on a soft note; a fitting end for a great album."

Slowdive - machine gun, 1994

"I think the reason Souvlaki enjoys such acclaim and reach beyond the confines of the shoegaze canon is that, shit damn, there is such a palpable of emotional gravity here. The album’s background story as an Halstead and Goswell’s breakup record is well-established, and while the shockwaves of this are borderline naked at points (“Here She Comes”, “Dagger”, “40 Days”, “Melon Yellow”) and blearily nostalgic at others (“Altogether”), they add a melancholic undertone to the album’s radiant moments (“When the Sun Hits”, “Machine Gun”, “Souvlaki Space Stations”) and underscore “Alison” being far more depressive opiate bender than sexed-up bedroom glow (no comment on which of the two is more relatable for your average dreamgaze fan). The mood – not just the mood, the scene – here is so richly fleshed out, so much more than the sum of the album’s parts that practically every level of its craft feeds into a deeper basis for connection – and if that isn’t something you appreciate in a classic record, music ain’t for you."

Prefab Sprout - faron young, 1985

"Name dropping can certainly get you places and in music it’s no different; both Madness and Bananarama sang about Michael Caine and Robert De Niro respectively but surely no one drops more names, in song anyway, than Prefab Sprout. They named their 1985 album Steve McQueen and the track that opened that album was named after the country music singer Faron Young."

Saint Etienne - cosy cafe, 2006

"'We realised early on that we couldn't make the same kind of poetic film even if we had wanted to. With Finisterre, we had the whole of London to play with. But the Lea Valley is a bit more, erm, restrictive. There's no real precedent for what we are trying to do.'"

Echo And The Bunnymen - lost and found, 1987

"The band's attempt to reach a wider audience worked out when they splattered the hook-heavy reverb bomb "Lips Like Sugar" all over American college radio, but the backward guitar solo on "Lost and Found" is more representative of the album as a whole. The sunnier production watered the band's sound down a bit, but they still managed to turn out "All in Your Mind", a throbbing beast of a pop song swimming in twitching guitar and aggressive synth bass, and god, that is so obviously Ray Manzarek of The Doors playing organ on "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo" that you don't even need the liners to clue you in-- it works almost purely on improbability."+

Stars - the face, 2002

"Face" is a some kind of electronics-tinged homage to Morrissey, or maybe the Wedding Present. Without mentioning another impossibly iconic English group that Stars sound like, let's just settle and say that Dead Child Stars is a nice collectible for Stars fans, and pleasant enough indie music in its own right."

Pet Shop Boys - the end of the world, 1990

"The Virgin spoke in apparitions" – The Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to people at various times and places throughout Christian history, such as at Lourdes, France, in 1858. One of the most famous instances of all—commonly (and controversially) linked to prophecies of the end of the world—involved her reported appearance to several shepherding children at Fátima, Portugal, in 1917. The word "apparition," while often used to refer to any supernatural appearance, is very specifically used in reference to Mary's appearances: so-called "Marian apparitions."

Scott Orr - clear, 2023

"Scott Orr is a captivating American musician and songwriter known for his ethereal whispering vocals and minimalist songwriting style. Often classified within the stomp and flutter genre, Orr's music seamlessly blends haunting melodies with uplifting lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners. His unique ability to evoke emotion through simplistic yet poignant compositions has not only solidified his place in the indie music scene but has also made him a cherished figure in vinyl culture."

Pink Floyd - burning bridges, 1972

"Burning Bridges" is a song from Pink Floyd's 1972 album Obscured by Clouds. It shares a similar tune to the instrumental "Mudmen" on the same album."

The Mary Onettes - blues, 2013

"Maybe read some great Swedish poetry so that people get really serious and maybe sad. And then play our show. And then more poetry."

New order - sugarcane, 2013

"It is the final album featuring bassist Peter Hook, who left the band in 2007 (almost 6 years before the album's release), the final album to featured as a quartet, and the only album by New Order produced from archival recordings."

Edward II - my love the horizontal polka, 1991

"My Love (The Horizontal Polka)" fits their pattern of mixing traditional elements with modern or whimsical twists. The "horizontal polka" phrase itself is a colloquial euphemism, adding a layer of humor or innuendo, which aligns with the band's creative approach."

Saint Etienne - over the border, 2012

"The album opens with "Over the Border", a semi-spoken memoir that narrates a first-person coming-of-age tale that is defined by musical milestones. It was the last song recorded for the album, and includes references to the likes of Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Modern English, New Order, Marc Bolan, Top of the Pops, Smash Hits, NME, Factory Records and Postcard Records."

Cocteau Twins - pur, 1993

"Four-Calendar Cafe ends with Pur which begins with frantic pounding drums, slow chiming guitars and sweeping synths. Liz Fraser’s voice follows the lead of the guitar and synths and sings really slowly. It’s a a thoughtful, careful vocal. For a while, her voice stays within the same range. Her voice athen quickens, soaring beautifully. Likewise the arrangement gets louder and fuller. The guitars especially become much louder momentarily. By now Liz’s vocal is surrounded by a lovely arrangement, melodic yet fulsome. Since I first heard Pur, I’ve always loved it. What makes it special is the mixture of the power provided by Raymond and Guthrie and Liz’s thoughtful and beautiful vocal."

The Jesus And Mary Chain - girlfriend, 1994

"So here, at the time of writing, are 10 of my favourite songs by The Jesus and Mary Chain. About You, Girlfriend, The Two Of Us and I Love Rock n Roll are other real favourites."

Belle And Sebastian - nobody's empire, 2015

"Murdoch’s book brings this into the light as the basic Christian values of compassion, companionship, communion – plus the added bonus of groovy musical composition. Put simply, faith."

Club 8 - the next step you'll take, 2003

"Much of Strangely Beautiful sounds like what might happen if Abba crawled into bed with the Carpenters and they all took some clean X and strong morphine, and I say that as a positive thing. A touch of a spectral Astrud Gilberto sneaks into the footloose, pop-samba of The Next Step You'll Take, for which Karolina Komstedt's air-brushed voice becomes a small chorus of angels. The following The Beauty of the Way We're Living, will sound strangely familiar to those even casually aquatinted with the genre Club 8 is immersed in, but the hypnotic bit is all there own, and don't think you can call where this band will go next. Just when you think you've got them pegged, numbered and filed, they whip out Saturday Night Engine, which is the best Flaming Lips song the Flaming Lips never did. This is definitely a case where the album title says it all."

The New Pornographers - failsafe, 2007

"I admired A. C. Newman for his exceptional melodic talent, Neko Case for her strong, liquid voice and the rhythm section of John Collins and Kurt Dahle for their powerful rhythmic support. Each of their first three albums had featured at least one of the best melodic rock songs I’d ever heard: “Letters from an Occupant,” “Mass Romantic” and “The Laws Have Changed.”

Sambassadeur - albatross, 2010

"‘Albatross’ contains the brilliant line “I was happy to be alone / cut my hair just like a boy”, it seems to be a contemporary response to Abba’s ‘The Winner Takes it All’ and a nod to the early days of the band when they attempted to channel Sweden’s greatest pop export. Again all the emotion comes out in the strings - the longing gaze out of the window, the sight of couples arm and arm that turn a singleton inwards, smothering themselves in thoughts of better days."

REM - femme fatale cover, 1987

"Nico, whose native language is minority French, would say "The name of this song is 'Fahm Fatahl'." Lou and I would sing it our way. Nico hated that. I said, "Nico, hey, it's my title, I'll pronounce it my way"

The Radio Dept - peace of mind, 2002

"Perhaps the secret to the Radio Dept.'s inimitable ambience is their science of memory. There's not yet a band that can evoke the intangible nostalgia that the Radio Dept. do, but at least with this release we can be assured we don't need there to be."

Sufjan Stevens - love yourself short reprise, 2019

"Sufjan Stevens is celebrating Pride Month (which begins June 1) with the release of two new songs. The first, "Love Yourself" is based on a sketch Stevens originally wrote and recorded in 1996. "Love, can you love yourself," Stevens sings in a euphoric chorus. "Show me everything, every reason to believe in yourself." The second, "With My Whole Heart" is an entirely new and much more propulsive piece. In a press release announcing the new songs, Stevens says he wanted to "write an upbeat and sincere love song without conflict, anxiety or self-deprecation." As part of the special release, Stevens has also posted the original 1996 demo recording of "Love Yourself," along with a "Short Reprise" of the song."

Saint Etienne - stormtrooper in drag cover, 1997

"Paul Gardiner struggled with heroin addiction in his last years and died at the age of 25 from an overdose of Valium and Diconal combined with cold weather on 18 February 1984 in Limetrees Park in Northolt, Greater London. He is survived by a son, Chris who has a son named Dylan."

Sintra, pôr-do-sol, 30 de Março de 2025, há poucos minutos

Coldplay - white shadows, 2005

"White Shadows", meanwhile, is just the track that can keep the band nested right at home on Alternative."

The Cure - play for today, 1980

"one of their most loved deeper cuts, ‘Play For Today’ a favourite for so many, the liquid, chiming guitar of Robert Smith as distinctive as his pleading vocals."

Beirut - fener, 2015

"Indie-rock band Beirut originally began as the solo act of frontman Zach Condon, who wrote and recorded the band’s debut album mostly by himself. After the record had some success, Condon recruited some friends to make a live debut, and the band Beirut was born. The band quickly found success with its well-rounded instrumentation. It used horns, strings and keyboards to achieve a folksy, yet full and nuanced sound that displayed influences ranging from traditional European folk to electronic. Four well-received albums and several EPs later, Condon and Beirut were more successful than ever, touring extensively at increasingly larger venues until Condon put an end to the band, citing both physical and creative exhaustion. “No No No” is Condon’s eagerly anticipated return to the music industry, and marks the band’s return to recording after four years."

Paul McCartney - ballroom dancing, 1982

"Like most people, I’ve got memories that go back to when I was a teenager, like when George Harrison and I used to go to the local dance and neither of us would ever dare to ask a girl to dance until the last waltz. It was then that we thought, ‘Oh God, we’ve wasted all our money when all we came here for was to touch a girl. We’ve got to do it. Okay, let’s waltz, come on.’ We were always too shy but we’d always try and grab someone for that last dance. But most times we’d get refused. We never really got into ballroom dancing but that was where you went if you wanted to dance."

Stars ‎– this charming man cover, 2001

"Last year, we said Stars’ version of “This Charming Man” was the best cover of the song ever. You know who agreed with us? Smiths drummer Mike Joyce (he called it the best Smiths cover period). You know who else? Prince."

James - i know what i'm here for, 1999

"It's about the meaning of life. It's also about the nature of being in a band: the fulfilment of adolescent fantasies of endless drugs, drink and sex. But unless there's self-discipline, it can easily become a nightmare... Initially we did it almost as a blues song, but [producer] Brian Eno came up with the wacky, space-funk hookline. It became the album's first single, to make an announcement that we'e gone into a new musical area."

The Mountain Goats - autoclave live, 2008

“Autoclave” is a song concerned mainly with one single metaphor, a metaphor of such shining clarity that it makes me smile even when it makes me flinch. My heart’s an autoclave. An autoclave is a piece of equipment that sterilizes scientific tools with heat and pressure. They are pretty terrifying but they are mostly clinical, effective. My heart’s an autoclave, a thing that crushes. Your heart is meant to sterilize, your heart is constructed with scientific precision to kill everything inside of it that lives. Nothing could survive there even if it wanted to and at this point, nothing wants to. Your heart pulverizes all good feelings that get within a city block of it."

Softcult - haunt you still, 2023

"A bittersweet, shimmering reflection on the mark we leave on others in the extended aftermath of a breakup, Softcult have shared their latest single ‘Haunt You Still’. Full of their trademark shadowy, swirling riffs and soft dual vocals, the Canadian duo explore accountability and atonement on their latest offering."

Mike Oldfield - moonlight shadow live, 1999

"One of the first “live” version of “Moonlight Shadow,” I ever watched, was on a German TV show where a black woman, possible Pepsi DeMacque (who is awesome on “Man in the Rain”), performed the vocals, whoever she was, she was clearly not Maggie Reilly, but it sounded just like Reilly. In fact, the entire live performance sounded identical to the studio version. It was a lip sync, which I thought was really strange, because no one was upset by it. It did not make any sense, Mike Oldfield was there with a guitar, why not just perform the song live? Obviously, this would be the part of the review where I post the video, but I cannot find it anymore. I am pretty sure I did not imagine it during a fever dream."