Paul McCartney - we can work it out live unplugged the official bootleg, 1991

"Unlike other artists who appeared on the show with acoustic instruments plugged into amplifiers, McCartney's instruments were entirely unplugged. Microphones were carefully placed close to guitars, pianos, etc. to pick up the sound (this can be seen on the album cover, where a large rectangular microphone is pictured in front of McCartney's acoustic guitar)."

Of Monsters and Men - i of the storm, 2015

"I of the Storm" is a single recorded by the Icelandic indie folk/indie pop rock band Of Monsters and Men. The song was released as the second single from their second studio album, Beneath the Skin (2015). It was written by Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson (of Of Monsters and Men). The single artwork was created by artistic director Leif Podhajsky."

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - beautiful you, 2014

"A brighter, more polished synth-pop/indie-pop sound compared to their earlier shoegaze/dream-pop roots."

New Order - i've got a feeling, 2013

"This song starts so poorly that it was quite some time before I didn’t immediately fast-forward it, and eventually discover that – yet again – there was half a good song in I’ve Got A Feeling*; buried as it is in the chorus. But first you have to get past the intro, which is a big ask."

Nada Surf - the future acoustic, 2012

"In January 2012, Nada Surf released The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, an album that included the single "Waiting for Something". Later in 2012, Caws, who had moved to England, recorded acoustic versions of five of the songs from The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy as b-sides, in collaboration with record producer Lee Russell. The material was released as The Dulcitone Files EP. The group released a compilation of rarities called B-Sides in 2014."

Neil Young - hitchhiker acoustic, 2017

"This 2017 release, while being a brand-new album, was also a very old one in that this acoustic solo album was recorded in a single session in Malibu, CA at Indigo Studio in 1976. Chronologically this sits between the Crazy Horse albums ‘Zuma’ and ‘American Stars ‘n’ Bars’, yet here we do not have that powerful trio but instead the pure form of just a singer picking his guitar. In many ways this is my favourite style of Young’s, although Crazy Horse does come a close second, as his voice and passion really shines through when there is nothing else getting in the way. The only people in the studio at the time of the session was long-time studio collaborator David Briggs and actor Dean Stockwell, so Young is incredibly relaxed, just sitting and singing songs which at the time were all unreleased, and only a few of which have made it out since then. An example of this is the title cut which didn’t appear on an album until some 30 + years later, almost unrecognisable in its electric blast from the acoustic version we have here."

Of Monsters and Men - empire, 2015

"From the album: Beneath the Skin (released June 8, 2015) "Empire" is the second single from the Icelandic band’s sophomore album. It’s a sweeping, atmospheric anthem with their signature folk-pop sound layered with booming drums, gang vocals, and Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson’s intertwined voices."

Peter Bjorn And John - velvet sky, 2018

"Velvet Sky" is a track by the Swedish indie pop band Peter Bjorn and John, released on October 19, 2018, as the sixth song on their eighth studio album, Darker Days. The album explores themes of disillusionment and introspection, and "Velvet Sky" fits right in with its melancholic vibe, blending jangly guitars, driving rhythms, and lyrics about fleeting connections and existential drift."

Nada Surf - no snow on the mountain, 2012

"The lyrics explore environmental depletion (e.g., "no snow on the mountain, no water to drink"), human apathy, consumerism, and fleeting dreams. It blends personal regret with broader societal critique, delivered in Nada Surf's signature melodic, introspective style."

Pet Shop Boys - yesterday when i was mad jam and spoon mix, 1994

"All of this we expect, but this one's their campest techno-fevered thunder-stomp with 100% whistleability for ages."

Neil Young - like a hurricane live rust, 1979

"Neil Young is considered the godfather of grunge, which is fair. He rocked hard. He still rocks hard. He loves distortion. He has a weird facial hair pattern. He checks all the boxes. But the thing that's always amazed me about Neil Young is that for all of the chaotic grunge energy that powers him, he's never sloppy. Even live. Like on Live Rust, his album with his on-again, off-again backing band, Crazy Horse. The performances are raw and electric, but also amazingly tight. The energy is palpable, but it's all under control. And you wouldn't think that would be the case, given it's a live album of a live album. It was filmed and recorded during the tour for Rust Never Sleeps, a studio album that was recorded live in front of an audience, much like a 1970s sitcom, but without the nitrous oxide-induced laughter."

Nada Surf - let the fight do the fighting, 2012

"For fans of New York alternative rockers, Nada Surf, 2010 must have been something of a disappointing year. Whereas 2008 yielded Lucky, 2010 saw Nada Surf release If I Had A Hi-Fi, an album made up entirely of cover songs. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with covers, it’s often contentious for fans who come to expect an album of original material every couple of years to have to wait four. Still, Nada Surf have always been a band to take their time, and The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy sees Nada Surf continuing with what they do well, resulting in an enjoyable, if not terribly exciting, seventh album."

Peter Bjorn And John - living a dream, 2018

"This song is that feeling of exhilaration when everything finally lines up after ages of hitting your head against a wall, maybe to the point where you’ve reckoned giving up."

Club 8 - your modern heart, 2025

"Your Modern Heart continues this year’s run of songs that flow from beauty to heartache and back. Each line of the lyrics pulls at your heartstrings, one after another fraying with every unanswered message, a bitter melancholia giving the shoegaze-meets-dream-pop guitars a sharper edge. If your emotional walls can resist that, then the vocals of Karolina Komstedt will certainly tear down your defences, reminding you of your smallness in the world of love."

Pet Shop Boys - domino dancing alternative version essentials, 1998

"the "imperial phase", the phrase Neil Tennant coined to describe the period of a career where an artist can equally coast on critical acclaim, creative satisfaction and commercial success. He defines its end as when Domino Dancing failed to reach the UK top five."

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - kelly, 2014

"The new record is the band’s most musically sophisticated to date, channeling the gilded pop optimism of bands like Aztec Camera, The House of Love and The Lightning Seeds, while maintaining The Pains’ penchant for earworm melodies and emotional candor."

Neva Dinova - no one loves me, 2008

"You May Already Be Dreaming is the newest full-length album from the group, and certainly displays that the group is not experiencing a drought in musical talent. Not just instrumental talent, but tightly arranged vocal harmonies adorn the album like lights on a Christmas tree, and create an engulfing musical presence in the room around the listener. “Apocalypse,” may be the most enchanting of the songs on the album with a haunting vocal melody, punctuated by elemental harmony, followed by an explosion of drums, and distorted lead guitar. If the world were coming to an end, and you didn’t have a copy of R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World and We Know it,” Neva Dinova’s “Apocalypse” would certainly be a worthy substitute. One of the albums more rocking tracks is “What You Want,” a story about a guy that’s all wrong for the girl who wants him. Besides being one of the more upbeat tracks musically, it is probably the most passionately delivered vocal performance on the album. Some of the other more captivating tracks on the album include “Someone’s Trippin,” the simple-yet-elegant “Clouds,” and the dreamy “Tryptophan.”

Nada Surf - jules and jim, 2012

"Jules and Jim is from 2012’s The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, which took the band’s winning streak to four. The song is an Alex Chilton-ish minor classic, with one of their most glorious choruses. Although, really, it’s just one hook after another. The band are now a four-piece (when playing live, at least) with the addition of guitarist Doug Gillard, also of Guided by Voices, and when I saw at the Electric Ballroom a few years ago and Gillard and Caws struck up the song’s chiming harmonised intro, it was total Big Star-in-1972 jangle heaven."

The National - the pull of you, 2019

"A song that didn’t make the cut for Sleep Well Beast, before being drastically reworked from “Hague Blue” to “Hague Pink,” which itself eventually turned into “The Pull of You.”

The Radio Dept - your true name, 2018

"Newly liberated from their former label Labrador, Swedish indie luminaries The Radio Dept. (Johan Duncanson and Martin Larsson) revisit their original laid-back college rock sound in their new single, “Your True Name,” released on their own independent label Just So! Signaling an optimistic outlook on the future ahead, the band explains, “‘Your True Name’ is a song about faith"

Neil Young - hey hey my my into the black live weld, 1991

"one of the definitive live Neil Young moments — raw, feedback-drenched, and unapologetically loud. “It’s better to burn out than to fade away…” never sounded so apocalyptic."

Pet Shop Boys - being boring extended mix, 1990

"In a 1993 interview, Tennant described "Being Boring" as "one of the best songs that we've written", and said that "For me it is a personal song because it's about a friend of mine who died of AIDS, and so it's about our lives when we were teenagers and how we moved to London, and I suppose me becoming successful and him becoming ill".

Nada Surf - bright side cover, 2010

"Nada Surf came out of New York City and got its foothold in 1996 with the intriguing, novelty single, “Popular.” It was from their first LP, High/Low¸ that reached #51 on the US charts. Mixing a slacker vibe, humour, and a not-quite-rap spoken word vocal, it was a good, original track for its time. I picked up the CD and listened to it a lot, pleased to find many solid, indie rock tunes such as, “The Plan.” After that, aside from a couple songs I had on compilations (“Hyperspace” and “Inside of Love”) over the next several years, I had little clue Nada Surf was a going concern until I saw a concert announcement for them in 2018."

Pet Shop Boys - where the streets have no name i can't take my eyes off you cover extended mix, 1991

"this track is one of the most insidious deconstructions of rock mythology that you're likely to find anywhere. It completely takes the wind out of U2's sails, essentially revealing the original to be precisely the dance track that it is but tries hard not to be."

63 Trees - darkness this is manchester, 1990

"This Is Manchester - 14 Songs From The North West"

Paul McCartney - band on the run live tripping the live fantastic, 1990

"Band on the Run" is a classic Wings track from their 1973 album of the same name, written by Paul McCartney during a challenging period in Lagos, Nigeria. It became one of McCartney's biggest solo-era hits, blending rock energy with a narrative escape theme. In 1990, McCartney revived it for his first major solo world tour (1989–1990), which marked his return to live performances after a decade-long hiatus due to family priorities and legal issues with the Beatles' catalog."

Of Monsters And Men - hunger, 2015

"Beneath the Skin takes an anthemic approach to Of Monsters and Men’s familiar output of modern folk rock. However, the album fizzles out before it has any room to take hold. For a land known for doom-impending volcanoes, harsh winters, and rotten fish, Iceland sure has a lot to say. I can always tell when an Icelandic artist hits the airwaves. No, it’s not the accent — which, I still can’t quite grasp. It’s not even Icelandic pop’s knack for weirdness, like Bjork’s army of bell wielding children."

Nada Surf - question cover, 2010

"Rather than attempting to distil all of their influences into one covers record, major label rejects-turned independent mainstays Nada Surf have chosen to capture the songs that were, as you might expect, in their hi-fis at the time of recording. Consequently and unlike most covers records, If I Had a Hi-Fi (which, rather neatly, is a palindrome) sounds wonderfully fresh and easy, but also yields some unexpected pop trinkets. Chances are this is because the range of artists covered is wide enough and, crucially, the record sounds like it would’ve made a good mix-tape even if they hadn’t recorded it themselves."

Peter Bjorn And John - silicon valley blues, 2018

"When Peter Bjorn and John recorded their 2016 album Breakin’ Point, they recruited big-name pop producers Paul Epworth (who’s worked with Charli XCX and Robyn), Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia), and Emile Haynie (Lana Del Rey, Bruno Mars), presumably in the hopes of a releasing a smash hit. The reception was much more modest, but like Franz Ferdinand and their single “Take Me Out,” Peter Bjorn and John have lived in the shadow of their 2006 breakthrough hit “Young Folks.” Breakin’ Point, and to a lesser extent 2011’s Gimme Some, were both upbeat and accessible pop albums saturated with radio-friendly tracks, yet neither came close to regaining their mid-2000s attention, let alone containing another “Young Folks.” As an expected yet unfortunate consequence, they have edged onto some one-hit wonder lists, always with that perennial disclaimer of “the band continues to make music.”

Pet Shop Boys - closer to heaven shell and straight dave, 2001

"In the musical, the song "Closer to Heaven" appears multiple times in different contexts: First rendition: A duet between Shell (played by Shell Christian in the original London cast) and Straight Dave (played by Paul Keating). Shell is a young woman dealing with her rock-star father's death and her own vulnerabilities; Straight Dave is an Irish immigrant and aspiring dancer working as a bartender at a Soho club. This version captures their initial heterosexual attraction and budding romance, blending synth-pop with emotional longing."

Nada Surf - agony of lafitte cover, 2010

"Nada Surf — a band no stranger to being screwed over by Elektra Records in the ’90s — did a commendable version of “The Agony Of Laffitte” on the 2010 covers record If I Had A Hi-fi. Spoon, of course, found greater fame (and respect) in the early ’00s after landing on Merge Records — giving the band the last laugh after being chewed up by the major label machine."

Pet Shop Boys - i wouldn't normally do this kind of thing beatmasters seven inch version, 1993

"Neil was embarking on a day trip from London to Edinburgh, and on his way via taxi to Heathrow Airport he thought to himself, "I wouldn't normally do this kind of thing"—that is, fly from one place to another and back in a single day. He couldn't get the phrase out of his head, and it soon evolved into a song. He and Chris created the demo for it in the studio the very next day."

Of Monsters and Men - human, 2015

"Human" marked a slightly darker, more electronic-leaning evolution from the folk-pop sound of their debut My Head Is an Animal (2011)."

Neil Young - powderfinger live rust, 1979

"I had subconsciously neglected this song for the past seven years because of my horror at learning an Australian band had stolen its identity – that’s not a reflection on the band in question (whom I’ve never listened to), but more a reflection of my stubbornness at the time. This song was my secret. How dare they publicise it to the world!"

Pet Shop Boys - domino dancing seven inch version, 1988

"After taking some delightless turns in recent months, Tennant and Lowe swoon, yup swoon, back with their most exquisite offering for many a moon. It looks as weightless as a kite up there. It comes complete with a spoken interlude that wakes up the glowworms inside me for the first time since that heavenly respite in the middle of Human League's 'Louise'."

Nada Surf - you were so warm cover, 2010

"Dwight Twilley (June 6, 1951 – October 18, 2023) was an American pop/rock singer and songwriter, best known for the top 20 hit singles "I'm on Fire" (1975) and "Girls" (1984). His music is associated with the power pop style. Twilley and Phil Seymour performed as the Dwight Twilley Band through 1978, and Twilley performed as a solo act afterwards."

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - if you leave, 1986

"If You Leave" is a song by the English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD). It was recorded for the soundtrack to the film Pretty in Pink (1986), in which it is played prominently during the final scene. Along with 1980's "Enola Gay", the track has been described as OMD's signature song. "If You Leave" is the group's highest-charting single on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number four in May 1986. The song was also a top-five hit in Canada and New Zealand and charted at number 15 in Australia. A defining track of the 1980s, it was described by Interview as "one of the most influential, zeitgeist-capturing songs ever to be written".

Nada Surf - evolucion cover, 2010

"Spanish band formed in 1995 by former Surfin' Bichos guitarist Joaquín Pascual. The band released a series of well-loved albums before breaking up in 2005."

Of Monsters And Men - crystals, 2015

"Crystals" is a song written and recorded by Icelandic indie folk/indie pop band Of Monsters and Men. It is the lead single for their second studio album, Beneath the Skin. The single and album artwork was created by artistic director Leif Podhajsky."

The New Pornographers - backstairs, 2014

"after periods of difficulty, I'm at a place where nothing in my life is dragging me down."

New Order - sub-culture seven inch version, 1985

"Torn between my optimistic tendency to want to love everything that New Order produces – particularly (the vast majority of) their remarkable singles – and worrying that this may be tainting the truth that some tracks are just not that great."

Pet Shop Boys - it's alright cover seven-inch version, 1989

"It's Alright" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 26 June 1989 as the third and final single from their third studio album, Introspective (1988). It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart. Written and originally recorded by Sterling Void and Paris Brightledge, the song came to the attention of Pet Shop Boys on a house compilation issued by DJ International Records in 1987."

Neil Young - my my hey hey out of the blue live rust, 1979

"Kurt Cobain quoted that exact line in his suicide note, which gave the song an even heavier cultural shadow. Neil himself later expressed mixed feelings about that—said he wished he could’ve talked to Kurt, told him there’s more to the story than just those two choices."

Nada Surf - whose authority live acoustic, 2008

"The song explores themes of personal autonomy, questioning external influences, and the frustration of seeking validation from others."

Noah And The Whale - i have nothing, 2009

"Once a knock-about indie act from central casting, they're now full bodied and sophisticated, skilled with massed choirs, pedal steel, church bells and anything that comes to hand."

The New Pornographers - whiteout conditions, 2017

"Clearly this one came through a period of being depressed and dealing with the double-edged sword that is modern medicine, which can pull you back from the brink, but the dosage is often a bit of a crapshoot, rendering an otherwise talented and motivated person a total zombie barely capable of driving themselves to work in the morning."

Nada Surf - all is a game, 2005

"Nada Surf have composed fine songs for free-thinking, analytical, and pensive individuals, without being overly complex. The result of all this experience and reflection is that Nada Surf and producer Chris Walla have made a great pop/rock record. It's more of an emotive affair, with soft-hued guitar layers, hushed harmonies, and frontman Matthew Caws' signature aching, bittersweet vocals. From the gloomy orchestrations of "My Legs Grow" and the shiny hopes of "All Is a Game" to the more unapologetic, rollicking moments such as "Blankest Year" and "Armies Walk," the disc never loses momentum. The Weight Is a Gift is Nada Surf's most honest and earnest record to date."

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."

Neil Young - jesus chariot, 2012

"Written in the 1800s based on an old Negro spiritual, this song refers to the second coming of Jesus and “she” is the chariot Jesus is coming on. Some interpret this as the end of the world. Others have said that “she” refers to union organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones going to promote formation of labor unions in the Appalachian coal mining camps. The Americana arrangement continues the folk process with a new melody, a new title and a combination of lyric sources."

Neva Dinova - it's hard to love you, 2008

"I'd imagine that Old School finds its way into many a Netflix queue at this point in the year, as outgoing college seniors face the grim specter of adulthood. Maybe it's just serendipitous timing, but I can't help but see this film as a primary influence on You May Already Be Dreaming, even if Neva Dinova has been around since the 1990s and are on their third full-length LP. As Saddle Creek's diaspora continues to expand sonically as well as geographically, for their label debut, the Nebraska band (previously featured with Conor Oberst on the One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels EP) sounds seduced by the prospect of "living the dream" via arrested development, in this case, a time when the imprint/collective could be relied on for little more than Omaha natives playing a tears-in-your-Sparks combo of "acceptable country" structure and indie self-centeredness. The simplicity of the form makes it incredibly hard to fuck up, but You May Already Be Dreaming posits that it's also incredibly hard to make interesting."

My Sad Captains - meta, 2012

 

 “Meta” is indeed the closing track — a beautiful, hazy, reverb-drenched slow-burner that feels like the perfect dreamy full-stop to the EP."

Pet Shop Boys - flamboyant michael mayer kompakt mix, 2006

"the Michael Mayer Kompakt Remix of the song includes near the end (at about 7:23) a very brief, faint sample, only a couple seconds in length, lifted from the Boys' own "So Hard"—probably included more as an in-joke and/or "tip of the hat" more than anything else. It also sounds as though it includes, at several different junctures, samples of the soprano saxophone solo from one of the Brothers in Rhythm remixes of "How Can You Expect to be Taken Seriously?" — either the Extended Mix or the Classical Reprise; it's very difficult to tell for sure which."

Neil Young - love and only love live weld, 1991

"We were there all the way through it, and to me, that's what Weld is about. It's very brutal, especially the songs with the big endings. I was trying to create the sound of violence and conflict, heavy machinery, outright destruction. We were watching CNN all the time, watching this shit happen, and then going out to play, singing these songs about conflict. It was a hard thing. And I feel there was nothing else I could do. Whatever could bring people together was more important than me playing a new song. We couldn't go out there and just be entertainment."

Pet Shop Boys - shameless vile celebrities, 2001

"This song, originally released by the Pet Shop Boys as the b-side of their "Go West" single, has long been a fan favorite. And it's such a natural for theatrical treatment that it's no wonder at all that Neil and Chris decided to use it in their first musical. That is, it was made to be a showstopper. The only trouble is, at least in its cast album recording, it's vastly inferior to the Boys' own version. The omission of the third verse is only one of its flaws. More damaging, the musical arrangement isn't nearly as effective (oh, how I miss Neil's sampled "oohs" and "ahs"!). Again, I'm sure that seeing it performed "live"— where the singers and dancers are engaged in a lot of comic posing and interacting — would have helped me enjoy this number a lot more. As it is, I'd much rather go back and listen to the original."

New Order - crystal radio edit, 2001

"Alternative Dance pioneers who fused electronic sounds and dance club rhythms to an indie rock aesthetic, proving dance music could be sophisticated and taken seriously. Formed by the remaining members of Joy Division in 1980 after the suicide of Ian Curtis, New Order at first struggled to emerge from the post-punk shadow of their prior success."

Neva Dinova - squirrels, 2008

"On your way home on a calm Monday evening you pass by a back road so inanimated that you can hear your own gaits and your own breath, when suddenly some sweet sound gets you prick-eared. Is there someone playing guitar? Where does this lyrical singing come from? You glance through the window of a self-help-bicycle-repair-shop where Jake Bellows seems to do some unusal rehearsal. Surrounded by bikes of all sizes and styles Jake starts the song “Squirrels” anew."

Nada Surf - the way you wear your head, 2002

"The Way You Wear Your Head" is a jangly, bittersweet power-pop song with Matthew Caws’ signature introspective lyrics about self-consciousness, identity, and quiet resilience."

My Sad Captains - resolutions, 2012

“Resolutions” is a bittersweet New Year’s/reflection song about failed attempts to change, holding on to small moments of warmth amid loneliness"

Neil Young - i am a child live at massey hall, 1971

"This concert was filmed and recorded with such care that Neil later called it one of his favorite live documents. The version of "I Am a Child" here is considered by many fans to be definitive."

The National - rylan, 2019

“Rylan” sat around for nearly a decade before it finally was recorded on The National’s 2019 album I Am Easy to Find. Matt Berninger wrote the song some time around the band’s 2010 album High Violet was made. They started playing it live, and it immediately became a favorite of many concertgoers who heard it. Why then wouldn’t the band put the song on a record? Well, for one thing, they couldn’t quite settle on an arrangement that felt just right. On top of that, The National are sticklers for having the songs on each album contribute to an overall sense of thematic unity. For whatever reason, “Rylan” was the odd song out each time they settled in to make a new one."

New Order - round and round ninety-four, 1994

"New Order's first compilation album, Substance (1987), finally broke the group through to commercial success in the U.S. Its second one, The Best of New Order, isn't exactly Substance II. The previous set was a singles collection, and Best Of does pick up that story, including a series of songs - "True Faith" (in a new remix), "Touched by the Hand of God," "Blue Monday 88," "Fine Time," "Round & Round" (in a new remix), "Run," and "World in Motion" - that were bigger hits in the U.K. than in the U.S. (Also included is the group's biggest U.S. hit, "Regret" as well as its charting follow-up, "World [The Price of Love].") But in addition, the compilers have included one song each from the group's albums - "Dreams Never End" from Movement, "Age of Consent" from Power, Corruption & Lies, "Love Vigilantes" from Low-Life, "Vanishing Point" from Technique, and "Ruined in a Day" from Republic."

The Moody Blues - ride my see-saw live at the royal albert hall, 2000

"Ride My See-Saw" (from their 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord) served as the explosive encore closer, ramping up the energy after hits like "Nights in White Satin" and "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)." Reviewers called it a "metal melting point" high, with the orchestra amplifying the song's playful psychedelia into something triumphant and crowd-pleasing. The full concert runs about 90 minutes, capturing the band in fine form for an audience heavy on longtime fans."

Club 8 - working on the next life, 2025

"Club 8, the Swedish indie pop duo of Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård, released "Working on the Next Life" as a single on March 7, 2025. It's their third single of the year, following "Stay Together" and "Sneaky Feelings," and serves as a key track on their 12th studio album, Seasonal Echoes. The album dropped on October 10, 2025, via Shelflife Records and Labrador, blending their signature dreamy, melancholic pop with influences from 60s British and Francophone pop, layered in shimmering dreampop production."

My Sad Captains - round and back again, 2011

"There’s no better way describe Fight Less Win More than to say that it is the perfect album for a fall afternoon. The acoustic guitar is finger-picked superbly (as on the excellent Heavy Lifting) while the bass and drums establish a sort of coffeehouse laid-back groove and the keyboard launches subtle but affecting atmospherics."

Pale - dreaming, 2025

"Pale delivers melodic alt-pop with winding guitar lines, dreamy shoegaze textures, and introspective vibes reminiscent of Soccer Mommy or early Alvvays—think hazy, cathartic soundscapes perfect for late-night introspection."

The Moody Blues - question live at the royal albert hall, 2000

"The Moody Blues performed "Question" live during their concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May 1, 2000, backed by the World Festival Orchestra. This performance was part of a special Hall of Fame induction celebration and was captured for both audio and video releases. "Question" (from their 1970 album A Question of Balance) was the penultimate song in the 14-track setlist, delivering an energetic, orchestral rendition that highlighted Justin Hayward's soaring vocals and guitar work."

Pet Shop Boys - you only tell me you love me when you're drunk live at the mermaid theatre, 2006

"The live version of "You Only Tell Me You Love Me When You're Drunk" (the third track on the album) captures the song's poignant, synth-pop melancholy with lush orchestral swells, emphasizing its themes of conditional love and emotional vulnerability."

Lunar Isles - dust, 2025

"Lunar Isles - Dust (2025)Lunar Isles is a hazy indie-pop project based in Seoul, South Korea, led by musician David Skimming. Known for their motorik dream pop sound—often compared to The Sundays with Slowdive influences—their music features ethereal, reverb-drenched guitars, introspective lyrics, and a nostalgic, summery vibe."

My Morning Jacket - i can’t wait, 2015

"I Can't Wait" is a standout track from My Morning Jacket's seventh studio album, The Waterfall, recorded at a cliffside house in Stinson Beach, California. The song captures the band’s signature blend of psychedelic rock, soulful melodies, and Jim James’ soaring falsetto. It’s a dreamy, mid-tempo love song with lush reverb, shimmering guitars, and a heartbeat-like rhythm section."

Mar de Sintra, ontem, 11 de novembro de 2025, esperando a chegada da tempestade Cláudia

Nada Surf - what is your secret, 2005

"Nada Surf have composed fine songs for free-thinking, analytical, and pensive individuals, without being overly complex. The result of all this experience and reflection is that Nada Surf and producer Chris Walla have made a great pop/rock record. It's more of an emotive affair, with soft-hued guitar layers, hushed harmonies, and frontman Matthew Caws' signature aching, bittersweet vocals."

The Moody Blues - legend of a mind live at the royal albert hall, 2000

"The Psychedelic Experience (1964) was the inspiration for John Lennon's song "Tomorrow Never Knows", on The Beatles' album Revolver (1966). The Moody Blues recorded two songs about Leary. "Legend of a Mind", written and sung by Ray Thomas on their album In Search of the Lost Chord (1968), begins: "Timothy Leary's dead. No, no, no, no, he's outside looking in". The second was "When You're a Free Man" on the Seventh Sojourn album."

Neil Young - la, 1973

"Young's is a pain-dominated, rather Old Testament sensibility, and nowhere is all this more obvious than in 'L.A.' Young's self-righteousness becomes absolute, and he depicts himself as some neo-Israelite prophet warning the unhearing masses of the inevitable apocalypse."

Nada Surf - always love, 2005

"The album was produced by Death Cab for Cutie guitarist Chris Walla and mixed by Geoff Sanoff, John Goodmanson, John Agnello and Ed Stasium. Tom Beaujour did some guitar overdubs. The album features vocals from the Long Winters frontman John Roderick."

Pet Shop Boys - left to my own devices live at the mermaid theatre, 2006

"Recorded at London's Mermaid Theatre for Radio 2 in May 2006, Concrete offers grandiose orchestral arrangements not just of songs from current studio album Fundamental but many of the duo's most memorable hits from their quarter-century spanning career too. The album's most striking characteristic is evident at the close of the first track. Tennant, already comfortable with the dual role of lyricist and vocalist, becomes narrator of his own career too with a range of plummy vignettes about each of the songs."

The Moody Blues - ride my see-saw live at red rocks, 1993

"Ride My See-Saw," originally written by bassist John Lodge and released as a single from the band's 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord, closes the concert as the explosive encore. The song's themes of life's ups and downs (using the see-saw metaphor) blend psychedelic rock with driving rhythms and the Moody Blues' signature spoken-word intro."

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."