Sister Irene O'Connor - fire luke twelve forty-nine, 1973

"Fire of God’s Love is also a quintessential winter record, perfect for the cooler months ahead."

The Moody Blues - question live at red rocks, 1993

"The Moody Blues made a some sort of a come-back in 1993 with this album, which also can be founded as DVD. I won't comment only the album but also the DVD which is a nice way to know this band a bit more. All the golden oldies are there: Tuesday Afternoon, Question, I'm just a singer in a Rock and Roll Band."

Club 8 - sneaky feelings, 2025

"a tale of love possibly gone wrong soundtracked by a warm but sparse arrangement. The vocals of Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård have a hint of melancholy about them, and the jangly guitar is full of summery hope that goes against the grain of the lyrics."

My Sad Captains - all hat and no plans, 2009

"Melancholic indie folk-rock with jangly guitars, subtle keyboards, and Ed Wallis's warm, narrative-driven vocals. It evokes a sense of wistful reflection, fitting the band's "sad captains" theme—perhaps nodding to Philip Larkin's poem "The Old Fools" or just poetic melancholy."

My Morning Jacket - in its infancy the waterfall, 2015

"And there's a scenic drive out there where you pass lots of waterfalls. Whenever I stand in front of a waterfall, I try to pause it in my mind, then rewind it and make it go backwards. Obviously you can't do that."

Pet Shop Boys - it's alright cover live at the mermaid theatre, 2006

"This performance of "It's Alright" (a 1989 cover originally by Sterling Void) is a standout from Pet Shop Boys' orchestral live show at London's Mermaid Theatre on May 8, 2006. The concert, titled Concrete: In Concert at the Mermaid Theatre for Radio 2 with the BBC Concert Orchestra, was an exclusive event for BBC Radio 2's Sold on Song program, broadcast on May 27, 2006. It served as a launch for their album Fundamental and featured the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Trevor Horn, plus guests like Rufus Wainwright, Frances Barber, and Robbie Williams. The intimate 600-seat venue created a unique blend of synth-pop classics and new tracks with full orchestral backing—PSB's first official live album release."

Paul McCartney - all my loving live back in the us, 2002

"In a candid and perhaps unguarded moment, Paul McCartney told Guitar Player in 1990, "What do they say? 'A good artist borrows, a great artist steals' – or something like that. That makes The Beatles great artists because we stole a lot of stuff." McCartney wasn't admitting to theft. He was saying that The Beatles didn't operate in a vacuum and they assimilated what was happening around them to create original music. Their "yeah, yeah, yeahs" had previously been used by Elvis Presley and The Isley Brothers and their introduction to "I Feel Fine" mimics Bobby Parker's "Watch Your Step". When McCartney woke up one morning with a beautiful melody in his head, he was sure he had nicked it. After friends told him it was original, he recorded it as "Yesterday". I would speculate that McCartney had heard Nat "King" Cole's "Answer Me, My Love". The mood and the tempo are similar and Nat even sings, "You were mine yesterday, I believed that love was here to stay." Written in 1963, "All My Loving" was McCartney's first attempt at writing an MOR standard, but play "Kathy's Waltz" from the Dave Brubeck Quartet. You might think that a modern jazz group was improvising around "All My Loving", but "Kathy's Waltz" was recorded in 1959."

Neil Young - king of kings journey through the past, 1972

"Journey Through the Past is a double LP soundtrack album from the film of the same name by Canadian / American musician Neil Young, released in November 1972 on Reprise Records, catalogue number 2XS 6480.[4] It peaked at #45 on the Billboard 200. Its initial release was on vinyl, cassette tape, reel-to-reel tape, and 8-track tape cartridge. Although its follow-up Time Fades Away was finally released on CD in August 2017, Journey Through the Past remains the only 1970s Neil Young album yet to see an official CD reissue."

Peter Bjorn And John - longer nights intro, 2018

"Peter tackling what's happening in the world right now, Bjorn delving into relationship issues and John, the most existential, exploring the shadows of our own psyche."

Nada Surf - blizzard of seventy-seven, 2002

"A funny thing happened to Nada Surf on the way to sure-fire late-'90s alt-rock stardom. Despite obtaining a decent amount of MTV exposure, their sardonic first single, "Popular," ultimately arrived just moments too late to capitalize on the era's short-lived mainstream fancy with geek rock."

My Sad Captains - here and elsewhere, 2009

"There’s no getting away from it, there’s something distinctly Blue Peter about this Camden quintet. We can’t help picturing them playing in matching knitted cardigans and black-rimmed specs chiming every fourth beat of the bar in an organic juice café in Brighton. With this in mind, there is a certain ‘here’s one we made earlier’ feel about their lethargic Wilco/Sparklehorse melodies and downbeat tempo. This Americana-indie debut does exactly what it says on the tin, but the fact is we’ve been here, there and elsewhere already with the jingly-jangly, vegan harmonies of The Magic Numbers, The Little Ones and… oh, you get the idea. All in all, it’s an agreeable debut, but a predictable one nonetheless."

Damien Jurado - tundra, 2025

"It's a sparse, atmospheric folk piece that evokes themes of isolation and reflection—fitting its title, which conjures vast, frozen landscapes."

Pet Shop Boys - dreaming of the queen live at the mermaid theatre, 2006

"Dreaming of the Queen" from their 2006 concert at London's Mermaid Theatre is a standout track from their first official live album, Concrete. This rendition features the duo (Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe) backed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, giving it a lush, orchestral swell that elevates the original's witty, satirical take on British monarchy and celebrity culture from their 1993 album Very. The song's spoken-word verses and soaring chorus shine in this intimate venue setting, with Tennant's deadpan delivery adding extra charm."

The Moody Blues - nights in white satin live at red rocks, 1993

"recapturing the song's poetic melancholy while adding symphonic depth—think lush strings and brass amplifying the themes of unrequited love and introspection."

My Morning Jacket - into the woods, 2005

"The album was the second highest rated album of 2005 according to Metacritic, behind Sufjan Stevens' Illinois; the album has a total score of 90 out of 100. Technically, both Z and Illinois were tied for the highest Metacritic rating in 2005, with a score of 90 each. However, the score for Illinois was based on a larger overall number of reviews: 40, compared to 31 for Z."

The Everly Brothers - cathy's clown, 1960

"Cathy's Clown" was inspired by Ferde Grofé's Grand Canyon Suite. It was a major influence on the Beatles, who — having "once toyed with calling themselves The Foreverly Brothers" — three years later copied the Everly's harmonies on their first U.K. No. 1 hit single, "Please Please Me".

REM - i'll take the rain, 2001

"In an April 2021 interview, Michael Stipe declared Reveal his favorite R.E.M. release. While lacking the consistency of Automatic for the People or the ferocity of Monster, Reveal remains among them, a worthy offering from a brilliant band entering middle age, and looking toward the future with history still in mind."

The Moody Blues - lovely to see you live at red rocks, 1993

"Every once in awhile someone has a good idea that actually turns out well. That is what happened when The Moody Blues decided to record a live album backed by The Colorado Symphony Orchestra. The result, A Night At Red Rocks With The Colorado Symphony Orchestra, was recorded to celebrate the 25th anniversary release of Days Of Future Passed."

James - trouble demo, 2018

"Trouble (Demo)" is a bonus track by the English alternative rock band James, released in 2018 as part of their 13th studio album, Living in Extraordinary Times. The demo version captures a raw, introspective vibe typical of the band's style, with frontman Tim Booth's emotive vocals layered over atmospheric guitars and subtle percussion. It explores themes of mental turmoil, addiction to overthinking, and finding reassurance amid chaos—the chorus repeats the mantra "Trouble, trouble, trouble / It's gonna be alright" like a self-soothing incantation."

Fleet Foxes - going-to-the-sun road, 2020

"Going-to-the-Sun Road is a scenic mountain road in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States, in Glacier National Park in Montana. The Sun Road, as it is sometimes abbreviated in National Park Service documents, is the only road that traverses the park, crossing the Continental Divide through Logan Pass at an elevation of 6,646 feet (2,026 m), which is the highest point on the road. Construction began in 1921 and was completed in 1932 with formal dedication in the following summer on July 15, 1933. Prior to the construction of the road, visitors would need to spend several days traveling through the central part of the park, an area which can now be traversed within a few hours, excluding any stops for sightseeing or construction."

Young Cardamom And HAB - psv, 2016

"Mamdani is a fan of hip-hop and has composed and produced rap music. In 2016, under the moniker Young Cardamom, he collaborated with Ugandan rapper HAB on an EP titled Sidda Mukyaalo, which is Luganda for "No going back to the village".

Pet Shop Boys - the sodom and gomorrah show live at the mermaid theatre, 2006

"a clever, ironic take on urban excess, with nods to Marcel Proust's Sodom and Gomorrah and the biblical "pillar of salt" tale."

Neil Young - sugar mountain live in concert at the canterbury house ann arbor michigan nineteen sixty-eight, 1969

"In 1965 I was up in Canada, and there was a friend of mine up there who had just left a Rock'n'Roll band in Winnipeg/Manitoba near where I come from on the prairies to become a folk singer a la Bob Dylan, who was his hero at that time, and at the same time there were breaks in his life and he was going into new and exciting directions. He had just newly turned 21, and that meant in Winnipeg he was no longer allowed into his favorite hangout which is kind of a teeny-bopper club and once you're over 21 you couldn't get in there anymore, so he was really feeling terrible because his girlfriends and everybody that he wanted to hang out with, his band could still go there, you know, but it's one of the things that drove him to become a folk singer was that he couldn't play in this club anymore. But he was over the hill. So he wrote this song that was called "Oh to live on sugar mountain" which was a lament for his lost youth. And it went like this... [sings a few verses]. And I thought, God, you know, if we get to 21 and there's nothing after that, that's a pretty bleak future, so I wrote a song for him, and for myself just to give me some hope. It's called The Circle Game."

The National - you had your soul with you, 2019

"You Had Your Soul with You" is a song by American indie rock band The National. It appears as the first track on the band's eighth studio album I Am Easy to Find. "You Had Your Soul with You" was released in the United States as the album's first single on March 5, 2019."

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - joan of arc maid of orleans, 1981

"Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)" is a song by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released in 1982 as the third single from their third studio album, Architecture & Morality. To prevent confusion with the group's previous single "Joan of Arc", the song was retitled "Maid of Orleans (The Waltz Joan of Arc)" for its single release. Both songs are about the French heroine Joan of Arc and both reached the Top 5 of the UK Singles Chart — although this release was more successful internationally, topping the charts in several countries including Germany, where it was the biggest - selling single of 1982. "Maid of Orleans" has sold four million copies worldwide."

James - moving car demo, 2018

"This is a bonus track from their album Living in Extraordinary Times, capturing a reflective, nostalgic vibe with themes of youth, fleeting memories, and the rush of life. It's a stripped-down demo version, clocking in at about 5:37, with a tempo of 129 BPM in the key of E major—perfect for an energetic yet introspective drive."

Peter Bjorn And John - wrapped around the axle, 2018

“Wrapped Around the Axle” is the brainchild of the classic combo’s B: Björn Yttling. “Axle” is an upbeat-yet-lyrically-somber affair, detailing the complications of a platonic break-up."

Fleet Foxes - i'm not my season, 2020

"While the melody of I'm Not My Season is powerful, the vocals are stripped-back, forgoing signature Fleet Foxes harmonies in favour of a a subdued, unguarded delivery that captures the melancholy resolve of the lyrics. These vocals are complimented by the subtle drone of a Moog synth, and the steady gentle strum of guitars that wash over the song like waves lapping against the rocky shore of a windswept island. I'm Not My Season poignantly depicts the experience of being caught in one of the storms and inner-conflicts that inevitably pass through all of our lives, while at the same time acknowledging the transience of these periods. It's a song of hope and perseverance in the face of conflict and turmoil, encouraging us to weather the storm and hold on for a brighter tomorrow."

Pet Shop Boys - i'm not scared, 1988

"It is entirely meaningless and is exactly what you expect it to be. This doesn't stop it roving through an empty space with a fair amount of scarlet charm."

The National - mr november, 2005

"The band supported Barack Obama's presidential candidacy in 2008. In July of that year, the band designed and sold a T-shirt featuring Obama's image above the words "Mr. November", a reference to both the closing track on the album and the month of the U.S. presidential election. All proceeds were donated to Obama's campaign. The song had been written, in part, about John Kerry's candidacy four years earlier."

The Pigeon Detectives - i can't control myself, 2007

“I Found Out” is the superior of the two songs, and in fact is one of the highlights of the album, the incessant backing vocals may at first seem annoying, but upon more listens you’ll find yourself idly humming away with them, amazed that you ever hated them in the first place. Like the vast majority of British indie, this album does, at times, sound the same, and with many of the tracks seemingly borrowing off one another, this is not a diverse record."

My Morning Jacket - like a river, 2015

“Like a River”, which is probably the album’s most breathtaking treasure. My Morning Jacket harken back to their alt country roots on The Waterfall and create a remarkable vision of the American countryside in the process, one as filled with solitude as it is with wonder."

REM - the lifting demo, 2003

"Originally released as the opening song on their 2001 album Reveal, the demo appeared in 2003 on the compilation In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (Rarities and B-Sides). It's a more stripped-down, haunting take compared to the polished album version, featuring a slower tempo, acoustic elements, and slight lyrical tweaks (e.g., the album version omits the line "You think you've felt the lifting" from the demo)."

James - backwards glances, 2018

"Backwards Glances" is a bonus track by the British alternative rock band James, released in 2018 as part of the deluxe edition of their 15th studio album, Living in Extraordinary Times. The album itself dropped on August 3, 2018, via BMG Rights Management, marking a politically charged and introspective chapter in the band's long career. This track didn't make the standard edition but was included on the expanded version alongside other demos like "Moving Car" and "Overdose".

Paul McCartney - silly love songs live wings over america, 1976

"He did the best thing possible, which was to write songs about things that appealed to him, whether it was silly love songs or rock’n’roll. He wanted to experiment and be free to do what took his fancy. Things in everyday life. Cooking. Making breakfast."

Pet Shop Boys - in the night nineteen ninety-five, 1996

"les Zazous, long-haired proto-beatnik dissidents who conscientiously chose not to take sides with either the Nazis or the Resistance, but instead "opted out." As a result, they were distrusted and hated by both sides. The Nazis disdained them as depraved and decadent, while the French Resistance regarded them as collaborators. Obviously Neil was intrigued by the dramatic possibilities of being in such an ambiguous and precarious position. Stylistically the song betrays the influence of American producer "Bobby O" Orlando, with whom Neil and Chris were working at the time. (In particular, note the strong musical similarity to the cult classic "Passion" by the Flirts, written and produced by Bobby O.) A British TV program devoted to fashion, The Clothes Show, used part of "In the Night" as its theme song, which prompted the Boys to record a new version in 1995. The newer rendition, an instrumental, replaced the old one as the TV theme music and was released as a bonus track on the "Before" single. Oh, and in case you're wondering how things turn out for the Zazou addressed in this song, I would be remiss not to point out that its music ends with a percussive effect highly reminiscent of the firing of a machine gun. Make of that what you will."