Neil Young - i am a child, 1968

"This song, “I am a child,” comes from the last of the Buffalo Springfield’s non-retrospective albums, “Last Time Around” (1968). It is, of course, a Neil Young composition, and Young for once got to sing lead vocal. I doubt that most Buffalo Springfield or Neil Young fans would have this on their list of favorites, but I find it wonderful. Imagine this being a rock song in 1968, and written when Young was only 23."

Peter Bjorn And John - breakin point, 2016

"The integration of whistling on the track was initially unintentional. Morén whistled the tune while recording the song at Ingrid Studios in Stockholm, and the recording ended up being kept for the final version. Morén explained they were originally reluctant to include the whistles as they felt it might be viewed as "so obvious" considering their breakthrough single "Young Folks" from Writer's Block (2006) was heavily built upon whistling.[4] As "Breakin' Point" was conceived near the ten-year anniversary of Writer's Block, Morén described the whistling aspects as a "nice tribute" to "Young Folks". The band preferred a tribute record over issuing a "big deluxe" re-release of Writer's Block or an anniversary tour. An "early version" of the song, sans the whistles and solely produced by the band, is included on the deluxe edition of the album."

Nada Surf - no quick fix, 2002

"I remember calling that song “No Quick Mix.” It had something cool going on, but I don’t think it ever really hit its mark."

Pet Shop Boys - i don't know what you want but i can't give it anymore album version, 1999

"Aside from that fairly clever narrative device, simply taken as a song—that is, only as melody, chord structure, and lyrics—it's one of the dimmer lights in the Tennant-Lowe catalogue, particularly among their singles. Yet it's performed with such tragic, even epic grandeur that you can't help but admire the thing."

Paul McCartney - band on the run live wings over america, 1976

"Basically, there are two things that rock bands do: they make an album and they go on tour. Since Paul McCartney fervently wanted to believe Wings was a real rock band, he had the group record an album or two and then took them on the road. In March of 1976 he released Wings at the Speed of Sound and launched a tour of America, following which he released Wings Over America, a triple-album set that re-created an entire concert from various venues. It was a massive set list, running over two hours and featuring 30 songs, and it was well received at the time, partially because he revived some Beatles tunes, partially because it wasn't the disaster some naysayers expected, and mostly because - like the tour itself - it was the first chance that millions of Beatles fans had to hear McCartney in concert properly (the Beatles had toured, to be sure, and had played before millions of people between 1963 and 1966, but as a result of the relatively primitive equipment they used and the frenzied, omnipresent screaming of the mid-'60s teen audiences at their shows, few of those present had actually "heard" the group)."

New Order - regret live reading festival england august twenty-nine nineteen ninety-three retro disco four, 2002

"This performance is a standout from New Order's set at the Reading Festival (held at Little John's Farm, Reading, Berkshire, England), which took place on Sunday, August 29, 1993. It was one of the band's final shows before their first breakup, capturing them at the peak of their Republic era (the album from which "Regret" is the lead single)."

Nada Surf - hi-speed soul, 2002

"Reacquainting myself with “Hi-Speed Soul” after a couple of decades was a pleasure. It’s a nice blend of pop and slightly punkish guitar. What really drives it for me is Ira Elliot’s masterful drumming … especially his cymbal work. I’m torn between focusing on the music and the slightly disaffected lyrics, because it’s all luscious. The song’s bridge blends ethereal lyrics/vocals and insistent percussion … and then it breaks down to a tasty bass riff leading into an extended outro that could go on for another five minutes of jamming without any complaint from me."

The Mary Onettes - wdwhl, 2025

"The album starts with a weird sample, but immediately kicks into the dream-pop sound The Mary Onettes have always perfected. On this song "WDWHL" I could swear I was listening to a new Slowdive record."

Pet Shop Boys - yesterday when i was mad coconut one twelve mix, 1994

"An abbreviated (2:12) version of this mix appears on Disco 2"

My Sad Captains - in time, 2014

"Best of Times is the third studio album released by the English band My Sad Captains on 17 March 2014 through Bella Union Records. The album was recorded in London and mixed by Larry Crane in Portland (OR). A single, 'Goodbye' was released on 29 January with a video directed by Dan Davis featuring Vincent Meehan (aka Lavinia Co-op)."

Cocteau Twins - cherry-coloured funk, 1990

"Guthrie’s layered guitar work provides a dense harmonic backdrop, while Raymonde’s bass contributes a melodic counterpoint. Fraser’s vocals—at once emotional and cryptic—serve both as a lyrical and instrumental element, emphasizing sound and tone over literal meaning. The song’s title and repeated phrases evoke vivid, synesthetic imagery that reflects the band’s interest in abstraction and mood rather than narrative."

Nada Surf - beautiful beat, 2008

"Lucky sounds like a celebration of the band's good fortune. Somber songs are still present, most notably the plaintive closer "The Film Did Not Go 'Round," but most of the album is dominated by steady, mid-tempo pop/rock."