The Beatles - getting better, 1967

"One of the recording sessions for "Getting Better" is infamous for an incident involving Lennon. During the 21 March 1967 session in which producer George Martin added a piano solo to "Lovely Rita", Lennon complained that he did not feel well and could not focus. He had accidentally taken LSD when he meant to take an upper. Unaware of the mistake, Martin took him up to the roof of EMI Studios for some fresh air, and returned to Studio Two where McCartney and Harrison were waiting. They knew why Lennon was not well, and upon hearing where Lennon was, rushed to the roof to retrieve him and prevent a possible accident."

Easterhouse - whistling in the dark, 1986

"Ruminations on the contradictions inherent in a revolutionary communist band’s affiliation with a multinational entertainment megalith were put on hold when Easterhouse’s initial lineup fell apart not long after Contender‘s US release. Ivor Perry and drummer Gary Rostock briefly (one single on UK Rough Trade) reemerged in a new band called the Cradle, with ex-Aztec Camera/Smiths guitarist Craig Gannon."

The Digital Age - glow, 2013

"With such an atmosphere that brings together lovers of music from all sides of the musical genre spectrum, there is something for everyone, from songs with reflective worship, to others melodies that include sections of screamo and others that offer up great and powerful ballads."

The Innocence Mission - god is love, 2010

"Sufjan Stevens calls The Innocence Mission "moving and profound", adding, “What makes Karen Peris’ lyrics so remarkable is the economy of words, sensory language, concrete nouns – everyday objects take on tremendous meaning.”

U2 - you’re the best thing about me, 2017

"Lead vocalist Bono referred to the song as "defiant joy", something that he and the Edge said was more important than ever in the "difficult times" in which they were living."

The Smiths - panic, 1987

"The song begins with Morrissey mentioning chaos unravelling throughout Britain and Ireland (specifically mentioning London, Birmingham, Leeds, Grasmere, Carlisle, Dublin, Dundee, and Humberside). In the second part of the song, he reveals that the source of this chaos is pop music, which "says nothing to [him] about [his] life".

Dido - see the sun live, 2015

"Life for Rent is the second studio album by English singer Dido, released by Arista Records on 29 September 2003. The album was produced by her brother Rollo Armstrong and American songwriter Rick Nowels. Work on the album began in mid-2002. It was certified 9× Platinum by the BPI, and sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it the fourth best-selling album worldwide of 2003. The album became the seventh best-selling album of the 2000s in the United Kingdom, making Dido the only singer to have two albums in the top 10 list."

Guillemots - we're here, 2006

"We're Here' is special, majestic even, but also oddly provisional on first listens. As if, in an effort to push for the biggest possible dose yet of their customary last-day-on-earth mood, they somehow forgot to finish writing the song."

Fleet Foxes - he doesn't know why, 2008

"He Doesn’t Know Why is a beautiful single from Fleet Foxes’ self-titled album. On this track, lead singer Robin Pecknold delivers very intimate, poetic lyrics about feeling confused and hopeless when seeing the sad state of a family member’s life (most likely his brother). The song is not confirmed to be based in truth, but nonetheless Robin’s passionate singing sure makes it feel deeply personal. The song has a powerful, catchy melody backed by a great folky instrumental. I saw Fleet Foxes live last week and was blown away by the whole set. Admittedly, before that point I was much more familiar with Helplessness Blues and Crack-Up than their previous projects. However, the instant I heard this song I fell in love and I’ve constantly had the self-titled album on repeat since then."

Beirut - no no no, 2015

"Despite rhythmic vitality and the addition of optimistic trumpet and trombone, Condon's lyrics reveal a man still suffering from loss and longing. Although none of the nine songs exceed the four-minute mark, the lyrics for each are even shorter by comparison, and are often repeated for emphasis. Repetition as a rhetorical device is perhaps most evident on "Fener," on which Condon sings, "I had to know, I had to know, where you had gone," or the title track, when Condon repeats the same stanza twice over. Condon is at the heart of each song, so while a hopeful tone is central to both the music and lyrics, No No No is a portrait of a man putting on a brave face while piecing his life back together, and it's all the more engaging for it."

Johnny Cash - you'll never walk alone cover, 2003

"The now invisible Billy, who has been granted the chance to return to Earth for one day in order to redeem himself, watches the ceremony and is able to silently motivate Louise and Julie to join in with the song."

The Digital Age - break every chain cover, 2013

"Break Every Chain" is a song performed by American recording artist Tasha Cobbs from her major-label debut studio album Grace (2013). The song was composed by Will Reagan, produced by VaShawn Mitchell and released as the album's lead single. The songs features guest vocals performed by Timiney Figueroa from Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir. The song was originally written and performed by Will Reagan and the United Pursuit Band in 2009. The song was later covered by Jesus Culture in 2011. However, Cobbs' interpretation of the song is the first commercially successful and accepted within the gospel community, of the trio. The song topped the Billboard Gospel Songs chart in 2012, as well as the corresponding digital and airplay gospel charts. The song also managed to peak at number thirty-five on the Billboard Holiday Songs chart and twenty-nine on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. At the 56th Grammy Awards, the song won a Grammy for "Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance". Cobbs performed the song at the 44th GMA Dove Awards in October 2013. The Digital Age recorded a version of this song in 2013 off their debut album Evening:Morning."

Belle And Sebastian - i want the world to stop live, 2010

"Two tracks from the album were played by the band during their 2010 tour: "I Didn't See It Coming", a duet featuring Sarah Martin and Stuart Murdoch on vocals, and "I'm Not Living in the Real World", which features Stevie Jackson on lead vocals. On 16 August 2010, another track was announced, titled "I Want the World to Stop". Norah Jones is featured on the track "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John", which was also included on Jones' compilation album ...Featuring Norah Jones, released one month after Write About Love."

REM - fall on me, 1986

"The song was one of the band's early compositions about environmentalism, discussing acid rain. It also transitioned from their murky lyrics and jangling guitar of their first three albums to a more accessible sound influenced by producer Don Gehman."

William Fitzsimmons - o come o come emmanuel, 2018

"The hymn has its origins over 1,200 years ago in monastic life in the 8th or 9th century."

Father John Misty - chateau lobby four in c for two virgins, 2015

"It's one of a handful of songs I sometimes get tears upon hearing it. I think it's a near perfect love song, and the sentiment is beautifully expressed."

Ride - future love, 2019

"Sometimes, iconic bands get together, record one more album, and then drift off into the ether again. That’s not what’s happening here. Ride have just announced that they’ll release a new album called This Is Not A Safe Place this summer. And they’ve also shared the first single, a hazy and contemplative new song called “Future Love.”

Lambchop - grumpus, 2000

"The song is about a boy who is feeling restless and drinks to cope with his problems. He is going through a difficult time and is struggling to find hope. The lyrics suggest that the solution is to be kind to his friends and change his perspective by looking at things from a different angle."

Editors - ocean of night, 2015

"The song is the second track and the fourth single off of their fifth studio album, In Dream, and was released through PIAS Recordings on 20 April 2015. As of 2019, it is the band's second most streamed single of Spotify, amounting nearly 18.5 million streams."

Death Cab For Cutie - the new year, 2003

"I don't want to falsely believe in something solely so I can jump to the front of the line for whatever this awesome place is we go after we die. [...] The vastness of that idea is so beyond my comprehension that I feel like if there was a God, then that God would accept me saying I'm not able to believe because it's so outside of my ability to understand it. I understand that's where faith comes into play."

James - just like fred astaire, 1999

"Born in Bradford, Tim Booth was recruited by British rock band James while at Manchester University in the 1980s. With Booth as lead singer and lyricist, James went on to sell more than 12m albums worldwide. The band supported the Smiths on their 1985 tour and reached No 2 in the UK singles chart in 1991 with Sit Down. In 2001, Booth left the band to teach the movement meditation practice 5Rhythms, before releasing his first solo album, Bone, in 2004."

Belle And Sebastian - the model live, 2001

"it's the best example of why Fold Your Hands is an incredibly underrated album. Infact, alongside others like Womens Realm, Family Tree and Waiting for the Moon to Rise, it's got some of their finest work right before they started to really change their sound on Dear Catastrophe."

Manchester Orchestra - cope, 2014

"This is the sort of thing that used to be called “alternative rock” out of habit, and in 2014, it’s actually earned that name."

Aimee Mann - you do, 1999

“The attention I got in my family was negative attention. I equated that to: if somebody looks at you, it’s not good because you’re going to be criticised or yelled at or made fun of. I wanted to play music, but I didn’t like the idea of being in an airport and people looking at me. It’s that animal instinct – when another animal is staring at you, you physically experience it as a threat.”

The Moody Blues - the story in your eyes, 1971

"Still not convinced the Moodies can rock? Cue up this riffy Hayward number from the band's typically oh-so-mellow Mellotron days. No doubt on the strength of that guitar-focused attitude, "The Story in Your Eyes" soared to No. 23 in America – likely before anyone noticed its thrillingly weird coda." 

Such a great song!

Pink Floyd - green is the colour, 1969

“Green Is the Colour” comes from the band’s third album, More, which was the soundtrack for a 1969 movie of the same namely director Barbet Schroeder. It was Pink Floyd’s first album without founder Syd Barrett, whose mental illness led to his departure from the group. Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters recalled that Schroeder wanted the music for More to relate to what was occurring within its scenes. “So if the radio was switched on in the car for example, he wanted something to come out of the car,” Waters said. “I was sitting at the side of the studio writing lyrics while we were putting down the backing tracks. It was just a question of writing eight or nine instrumentals.”

The Shins - pink bullets, 2003

"Santa Barbara’s “rainy” weather has me digging through my Rainy Day playlist. A band that dominates this playlist is one of my all time favorites, The Shins. They are an American band who originated in 1996, but are still performing today. As much as I love mellow music like Bon Iver and other calm melodies, The Shins are my favorite, because although their music is very mellow, it is also exciting, and has rhythm. My all time favorite song by The Shins is Pink Bullets. It is the perfect song, because if you are happy, it sounds so good, that it makes you happier. However, if you are having one of those days where you need to put in your noise canceling headphones in hopes of canceling out more than just the noise of the outside world, this song will be the perfect escape. It will be the perfect soundtrack to your angst, without making you fall deeper into the darkness. All in all, great song."

U2 - sunday bloody sunday live, 1983

"Sunday Bloody Sunday" is noted for its militaristic drumbeat, harsh guitar, and melodic harmonies. One of U2's most overtly political songs, its lyrics describe the horror felt by an observer of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, mainly focusing on the 1972 Bloody Sunday incident in Derry where British troops shot and killed unarmed civil rights protesters. Along with "New Year's Day", the song helped U2 reach a wider listening audience. It was generally well received by critics on the album's release."

Father John Misty - strange encounter live, 2015

"the beauty of lyrics is that the listener can interpret what the song means for themselves, and those interpretations can often be more personally resonant and beautiful than what the artist may have originally had in mind while writing it."

Neil Young - i'm the ocean, 1995

"I was listening to the Pearl Jam channel on Sirius and I heard I'm the Ocean. I loved it the first time I heard it. The lyrics are amazing. It's a 7 minute song full of verses and he never repeats one line until the title line at the very end of the song. Every line works too and musically it is amazing as well. I wish I could find another Neil Young song as good as this one. I've listened to other more popular Neil Young songs and I don't think they compare. I wonder why I'm the Ocean isn't considered a top 5 Neil Young song by it's true fans."

Death Cab For Cutie - i will follow you into the dark, 2006

"I Will Follow You into the Dark" is a song by American rock band Death Cab for Cutie, the third single from their fifth album, Plans, released in 2005. Written and performed by Ben Gibbard, it is an acoustic solo ballad, and was recorded in monaural with a single microphone and little editing. The single was released on Atlantic Records, becoming one of Death Cab for Cutie's lowest-charting singles, peaking number 28 on the Modern Rock Tracks, number 66 on the UK Singles Chart and failing to chart on the Billboard Hot 100; however, "I Will Follow You into the Dark" was certified as double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, and is the band's best-selling single to date. Despite charting lower than other singles, the single is still one of the band's most played songs on commercial radio stations. The song's popularity has led it to be featured in a various television shows and movies, and has been covered by numerous artists."

The Haunted Youth - teen rebel, 2021

"For most of us here, our teen years seems like ancient history or something out of another lifetime. But whether young, old, or somewhere in the middle, we can still pinpoint what made those days so powerful: that feeling of pure invincibility. And that the whole world was right there for the taking. More than a decade later, the future doesn’t exactly look as bright as we’d hoped, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn to nostalgia as a means of escapism. Enter Belgium’s aptly named The Haunted Youth, a new indie rock outfit whose debut single captures the essence of being young, hungry, and hopeful. Their first-ever release is called “Teen Rebel”, and it paints scenes that are all too familiar — even for this 33-year-old oldie. “Sweet teen rebel, you’re walking to the door, teen rebel/ You pass out on the floor, teen rebel/ Always wanted something more,” frontman Joachim Liebens sings."

New Order - touched by the hand of god, 1987

"The song was originally recorded for the soundtrack to the film Salvation! and the version released as a single was remixed by Arthur Baker. The B-side was a dub remix, titled "Touched by the Hand of Dub", and the release had the catalogue number FAC 193; its production is credited to New Order."

Belle And Sebastian - the party line, 2015

"somebody trying to make a political record is somebody making a boring record. It's what people do when they've given up on life and romance. But I think I have become more aware of the outside world – you start looking around you a bit more when you're older. I was interested in similar characters, but perhaps considering how the political world affects them."

REM - supernatural superserious, 2008

"It is the first single and third track from the band's fourteenth album Accelerate and premiered on now defunct New York City radio station WRXP on February 5, 2008, without the consent of Warner Bros. Records. The single was first released on February 11, 2008 as an MP3, and February 25, 2008 on CD. Michael Stipe considers the song to be "one of the best things we've ever wrote."

The Digital Age - all the poor and powerless, 2013

"At The Christian Manifesto, Calvin Moore told that the release "isn't a bad effort", and felt that the album "ends up being a more fanciful worship project than anticipated, but it works well and offers a fresh direction for the genre." Louder Than the Music's Dave Wood noted that "There's plenty of variation in the style of songs on this album, and music lovers will find more than enough to keep them entertained." At All About Worship, Matthew Reames evoked that the album "was masterful in how each song allowed the guitars to fit in without overpowering the song itself." Christian Music Review's Daniel Edgeman rated the release a 4.9-out-of-five, and called the album "a breath of fresh air." At CM Addict, David Bunce affirmed that "This is a great album!"

Robert Forster - demon days, 2008

"Forster truly challenges himself over the course of the record, most notably on “Demon Days.” Forster’s songwriting has always tended toward a high-minded, almost literary style, while McLennan’s far more direct approach provided a real sense of balance. Completing the lyrics for “Demon Days,” then, required Forster to attempt to adopt his friend’s voice. The song’s final lines, “But something’s not right/Something’s gone wrong,” capture both McLennan’s straightforwardness and Forster’s tendency to make specific allusions."

Simon And Garfunkel - mrs robinson, 1968

"Paul had been working on what is now 'Mrs. Robinson', but there was no name in it and we'd just fill in with any three-syllable name. And because of the character in the picture we just began using the name 'Mrs. Robinson' to fit […] and one day we were sitting around with Mike talking about ideas for another song. And I said 'What about Mrs. Robinson.' Mike shot to his feet. 'You have a song called "Mrs. Robinson" and you haven't even shown it to me?' So we explained the working title and sang it for him. And then Mike froze it for the picture as 'Mrs. Robinson'."

The Flaming Lips - we a famly, 2017

"... at first this song was intended to be part of the Miley Cyrus and Her Dead Petz record.. Then we (her and us) lost interest in it... It was, back then, very slow and serious... But after speeding it up (a lot) and adding the galloping “We A Famly” sing-a-long bit we thought it was dorky enough and fun enough to present to the world. And... We (Cyrus and us) really do say to each other, all the time, “We A Famly.”

The Shins - girl sailor, 2007

"Wincing the Night Away is The Shins' most musically diverse and experimental album yet, ranging from hip hop loops to psychedelic to Hawaiian folk to new wave and post-punk elements"

James - destiny calling, 1998

"Destiny Calling is a James single released in March 1998 as a new track ahead of The Best Of. It is a lighthearted dig at the music business with references in the lyrics to both the Spice Girls and the Monkees. The video features the debut appearance of Graham, the voice over man off 90s TV show Blind Date. Saul described the writing process for Destiny as “whacking on a capo and playing She’s A Star at twice the speed.”

The Digital Age - your name we shout, 2013

"You know when you get a bunch of people together and start to sing to God, it’s supposed to be a communal thing. We wanted to do everything we could to foster that environment."

Muzz - everything like it used to be, 2020

"Interpol frontman Paul Banks has formed a new band with Matt Barrick (of the Walkmen and Fleet Foxes) and Josh Kaufman (of Bonny Light Horseman and Day of the Dead)."

Sufjan Stevens - no shade in the shadow of the cross, 2015

"I was so emotionally lost and desperate for what I could no longer pursue in regard to my mother, so I was looking for that in other places. At the time, part of me felt that I was possessed by her spirit and that there were certain destructive behaviors that were manifestations of her possession."

Counting Crows - daylight fading, 1996

"For their second album, Recovering the Satellites, Counting Crows crafted a self-consciously challenging response to their unexpected success. Throughout the record, Adam Duritz contemplates his loss of privacy and sudden change of fortunes, among other angst-ridden subjects. In one sense, it's no different from the subjects that dominated August and Everything After, yet his outlook is lacking the muted joy that made "Mr. Jones" into a hit."

Steve Harley And Cockney Rebel - make me smile come up and see me, 1975

"It was sad to read over the weekend of the death of Steve Harley"

Saint Etienne - spring instrumental, 2020

"Saint Etienne exclusive edition – Spring b/w Spring (instrumental). Spring is taken from Saint Etienne’s debut LP, Foxbase Alpha. It is the first time it has been released as a single. The instrumental on the flip side is previously unreleased."

Such a great song!

Mojave 3 - breaking the ice, 2006

"Puzzles Like You is the fifth and final studio album by the British country rock-folk group Mojave 3, released on 19 June 2006. The album was regarded as taking the band away from their old sound and leading into a more uptempo style."

The Digital Age - overcome, 2013

"This would be the weepy piano ballad about God’s grace and love that seems to be tailor-made for someone to post a cheesy “lyric video” of it on YouTube with still images of sunsets and people raising their hands and stuff in the background, and using the wrong “Your” at every possible opportunity when trying to transcribe the lyrics."

U2 - ultra violet light my way live, 2009

"It is the tenth track from their eighth studio album Achtung Baby. Ostensibly about love and dependency, the song also lends itself to religious interpretations, with listeners finding allusions to the Book of Job and writers finding spiritual meaning in its invocation of the light spectrum."

The Beatles - fixing a hole, 1967

"In his 2021 book The Lyrics, McCartney revealed that the most important influence for the song was a "little blue hole" he saw while under the influence of LSD. According to McCartney, "the most important influence here was not even the metaphysical idea of a hole… but this absolutely physical phenomenon – something that first appeared after I took acid. I still see it occasionally, and I know exactly what it is. I know exactly what size it is"."

The Charlatans - impossible, 1999

"Impossible" set the standard for the remainder of the album of "impeccably arranged '60s pop songs rich in pedigree and bankrupt in R&D"

Neil Young - big green country, 1995

"It's kind of like a bunch of flashes of things going on all at the same time or something. So you get kind of the feeling that your life is flashing before you. So that makes you think you're floating up on the ceiling somewhere watching. I just got caught up in this thing where everything just kept happening and all I could do was write it down."

Thomas Dybdahl - call me by your name, 2020

"According to Dybdahl, a chief reason his music turns out as it does is because of his experience with his initial instrument. “I see myself first and foremost as a guitarist,” he says. “That’s where my musicality started. There’s just no getting away from how if one is a guitarist then one thinks musically as a guitarist. As you evolve, you may go on, as I did, to singing as well, however you have started as a guitarist. You’re still approaching music through the guitar, and that has to carry some weight. It makes for some interesting choices along the way, melodically and structurally, because whatever you approach - singing, other instruments, songwriting - the work continues to come from the mind of a guitarist. That is controlling.”

Ride - lannoy point, 2017

“‘Lannoy Point’ is the result of going synth shopping in the States. I found an old Poly 61 exactly the same the as one I had when I was very young and the backing track is sound of my bank account emptying as I shipped it back to London.”

Beirut - gallipoli, 2019

"We were seeing signs for a city called Gallipoli. We get out of the car and we just decided to go for a walk and in that moment we happened to hit a procession. We happened to walk in at the exact moment as the Saint was leaving the church, carried by a bunch of priests. Behind them was this frenetic kind of brass band. Sound was bouncing off the walls, and simultaneously every church bell in town was ringing, which just made for utter chaos. And the city is just claustrophobic, streets winding — you would have to live there your whole life to know where you're going."

Green Day - worry rock, 1997

"I think my parents were into alt-rock in the '90s, because this 1997 release was probably the first record I remember hearing. And when I was 11, it was the first record I formed a bond with. Nimrod will alway hold a place in my heart as the record that brings me back to being 11, living care free and sitting in my first house's big tree with my Diskman. Plus, listening to a "punk rock" record gave me mad cred (not really) in grade school."

Luke Sital-Singh - almost home, 2020

"Luke co-wrote ‘Almost Home’ with his friend, fellow songwriter Steve Aeillo (Lana Del Ray, Mumford & Sons, Thirty Seconds To Mars). Explains Luke: “We made this during the first ever session I did after moving out to LA last year. I was opening my world to a whole new set of collaborators in a whole new place, whilst always questioning what it means to be at home.”

Sufjan Stevens - to the workers, 2005

"The varied instrumentation and experimental songwriting on the album invoked comparisons to work by Steve Reich, Neil Young, and the Cure. Besides numerous references to Illinois, Stevens continued a theme of his songwriting career by including multiple references to his Christian faith."

The Style Council - wanted or waiter there's some soup in my flies, 1987

"In their lyrics, the Style Council took a more overtly political approach than the Jam, with tracks such as "Walls Come Tumbling Down!", "The Lodgers" and "Come to Milton Keynes" being deliberate attacks on 'middle England' and the Thatcherite policies of the UK government during the 1980s. In 1985, Weller was persuaded by Billy Bragg to let the Style Council play a leading role in Red Wedge, a youth-orientated political campaign associated with the British Labour Party. Although his views at the time have since been described as those of a "traditional British socialist", in 2014 Weller admitted the experience had left him feeling "exploited" by politicians, noting further that: "Before the Wedge, the Style Council had done a lot independently, raised a lot of money in benefits. But after the Wedge we were so disillusioned it all stopped. We were totally cynical about all of it."[35] In a previous interview, whilst asserting that there was still "a place for outspokenness" in popular music, Weller had pointed out he was "first and foremost" a musician, and stated: "In the '80s, in the Style Council, we were involved with a lot of political things going on at that time. I think after a while that overshadowed the music a bit."

Isobel Campbell And Mark Lanegan - honey child what can i do, 2006

"On the first couple of times I saw Isobel Campbell perform Ballad of The Broken Seas, Eugene Kelly did a sterling job of filling in for Mark Lanegan and we were treated to a rather fine version of Son of A Gun by The Vaselines. I say that Kelly did a great job that was until the first time I saw Lanegan with Campbell which changed my opinion completely not by anything Eugene Kelly had down, it was just that he wasn't Mark Lanegan who although saying very little and moving even less filled the stage with his presence and you had the impression that Campbell was in awe of him."

Matt Berninger - serpentine prison, 2020

"Berninger’s sentimentality usually pushes back against the National’s reputation for self-serious art rock, but it doesn’t hold up as well on its own. “One More Second” was conceived as a response to “I Will Always Love You,” but the lyrics are so boilerplate (“The way we talked last night/It felt like a different kind of fight”) that it could be a response to just about anything. When Berninger ambles about, barely stringing together melodies on “Oh Dearie” as Andrew Bird’s violin soars and Mickey Raphael’s bass harmonica drones, he feels like the least talented person on his own album. He’s most at home revisiting familiar themes of intimacy and projection on the title track: “I feel like an impersonation of you/Or am I doing another version of you doing me?” It’s not that the emperor has no clothes, it’s that these don’t fit."

Sufjan Stevens - that was the worst christmas ever, 2006

"Something about Sufjan’s voice paired with the sparse acoustic arrangements really gets across the barrenness of a Midwestern winter, when everything is blanked out by snow. Christmas is supposed to be a colorful light in the middle of that, but sometimes it isn’t, and amid the celebrations represented elsewhere in the world and on these albums, Sufjan makes sure to make a place for those Christmases."

Kraftwerk - kometenmelodie two, 1974

"Autobahn is the fourth studio album by German electronic music band Kraftwerk, released in November 1974 by Philips Records. The album marked several personnel changes in the band, which was initially a duo consisting of Florian Schneider and Ralf Hütter; later, the group added Klaus Röder on guitar and flute, and Wolfgang Flür on percussion. The album also completed the group's transition from the experimental krautrock style of their earlier work to an electronic pop sound consisting mostly of synthesizers and drum machines. Recording started at the group's own Kling Klang facility, but was predominantly made at Conny Plank's studio. Autobahn also includes lyrics and a new look for the group that was suggested by Emil Schult, an associate of Schneider and Hütter."

Father John Misty - hollywood forever cemetery sings, 2012

"Songwriting for me had always only been interesting and necessary because I saw it as this vehicle for truth, but I had this realization that all I had really done with it was lick my wounds for years and years, and become more and more isolated from people and experiences. I don’t even like wound-licking music, I want to listen to someone rip their arm off and beat themselves with it. I don’t believe that until now I’ve ever put anything at risk in my music. I was hell-bent on putting my preciousness at stake in order to find something worth singing about."

Foreign Fields - don't give up, 2020

"Don't Give Up" features a bewitching melting pot of electronic beats, tender guitars, lush strings, haunting piano, and lyrics that expose our sometimes-flawed attempts at bringing hope and recognition to those we hold close. A lead vocal performance that feels both understated and deeply personal lays the foundation for a gorgeous homage to the fast bonds of friendship, and the realization that sometimes solidarity is everything. This endearing nugget of sonic encouragement underscores the idea that eventually, everyone will need a moment to be vulnerable. Both Hillman and Holl are seasoned producers, and have between them produced albums by artists such as Matthew and the Atlas, Hembree, Joel Porter and Boom Forest as well as various soundtracks and video games."

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - falling thunder, 2020

"Sideways to New Italy was met with universal acclaim through critics' reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 80, based on 17 reviews."

Mojave 3 - bluebird of happiness, 2003

"Mojave 3 were a British rock band consisting of former Slowdive members Neil Halstead (vocals, guitar), Rachel Goswell (vocals, guitar) and Ian McCutcheon (drums) alongside keyboardist Alan Forrester and former Chapterhouse guitarist Simon Rowe. The band formed as a trio shortly after Slowdive's breakup in 1995, with Forrester and Rowe joining after the release of their debut album. Mojave 3 released five albums before going on a hiatus and returning to live performances in 2011, but have been inactive since."

The Digital Age - oceans where feet may fail, 2014

"A couple of months back a friend of mine shared a video on social media - a band doing a cover of All Sons and Daughters’ “All the Poor & Powerless”. Loving the song, and being the curious type, I gave it a look and proceeded to sit glued to the screen for the duration. Ironically, the video was shared by one of my American friends, somewhat proving the band’s rationale for their calling - friends no longer have to be in your own town, we are all connected in The Digital Age. Formed of the “band” element of the former David Crowder Band (DC*B), here we have the newly-formed band’s debut EP Rehearsals Vol.1. Let’s take a closer look."

Cold Hart - tammy and the t-rex, 2020

"Cold Hart has shared his new single “Tammy and the T-Rex,” a bright and hook-laden track, with signature hi-hats and driving guitar. A love song for the new age, co-written and produced by YAWNS, the song takes inspiration from the 90s cult classic film of the same name."

Oh Wonder - ultralife, 2017

"Anthony West and Josephine Vander Gucht of Oh Wonder began the writing process with a month in an Airbnb in Brooklyn, New York in April 2016. Later in the year, they returned to their hometown of London after a year of touring the world, and wrote the second half of the record. The twelve songs were recorded over a 10-day period at The Pool Studio, Bermondsey in December 2016 and finished at their home studio at the start of 2017. The duo wrote, recorded, produced and mixed the record themselves. The first single "Ultralife" was released on 31 March 2017 and hailed by the NME as "bright-eyed" and "dazzling".

Neil Young And Willie Nelson - heart of gold live, 1995

"The only time it bothered me that someone sounded like me was when I was living in Phoenix, Arizona, in about '72 and the big song at the time was "Heart of Gold". I used to hate it when it came on the radio. I always liked Neil Young, but it bothered me every time I listened to "Heart of Gold." I think it was up at number one for a long time, and I'd say, "Shit, that's me. If it sounds like me, it should as well be me."

Stars - backlines, 2012

"Backlines" sizzles, pops and fades out quickly like a summertime sparkler: With a running time that barely exceeds two minutes, it hardly bothers to clear its throat before bursting to alternately woozy and spiky life. Stars' music isn't often ambiguous — there's a song on The North called "Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It," lest the mission statement get lost — but "Backlines" is instead content to get by on fizzy energy, vague references to romantic unease, and its own considerable charm."

Paul McCartney - uncle albert admiral halsey, 1971

"Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" is composed of several unfinished song fragments that Norwegian engineer Eirik Wangberg stitched together in a similar manner to the medleys from the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road. The orchestral arrangements by George Martin were recorded in New York at A & R Recording, along with other instruments by McCartney and his new band. The project was moved to Los Angeles where vocals were added by Paul and Linda McCartney—her first experience of recording in a professional studio. The song is notable for its thunderstorm and environmental sound effects added by Wangberg in Los Angeles; he had been invited by McCartney to mix and sequence the Ram album in any way he saw fit, and he copied the thunder from a monaural film soundtrack, then fashioned an artificial stereo version of it for the song. McCartney stated that "Uncle Albert" was based on his uncle: "He's someone I recall fondly, and when the song was coming it was like a nostalgia thing." He also stated: "I had an uncle – Albert Kendall – who was a lot of fun, and when I came to write 'Uncle Albert'/'Admiral Halsey' it was loosely about addressing that older generation, half thinking, What would they think of the way my generation does things? That's why I wrote the line 'We're so sorry, Uncle Albert.'" McCartney also told an American journalist, "As for Admiral Halsey, he's one of yours, an American admiral", referring to Fleet Admiral William "Bull" Halsey (1882–1959). McCartney has described the "Uncle Albert" section of the song as an apology from his generation to the older generation, and Admiral Halsey as an authoritarian figure who ought to be ignored. McCartney additionally explained: "'Hands across the water/Heads across the sky' refers to Linda and me being American and British."

Simon And Garfunkel - the sounds of silence, 1964

"The Sound of Silence" (originally "The Sounds of Silence") is a song by the American music-duo Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon. The duo's studio audition of the song led to a record deal with Columbia Records, and the original acoustic version was recorded in March 1964 at Columbia's 7th Avenue Recording Studios in New York City for their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., released that October to disappointing sales."

Mount Eerie - real death, 2017

“She died at home with me and her parents holding her, hopefully having reached some last minute peace. It’s all very sad and surreal. So much is left unfinished for her. She was a firehose of brilliant ideas that never turned off. We loved her and everything is weird now.”

Morrissey - speedway, 1994

"Speedway: One of the songs that got me through high school. Spoke to me on every level in my mid-teens."

Purple Mountains - all my happiness is gone, 2019

"The warning signs were all over Purple Mountains"

Father John Misty - two wildly different perspectives, 2017

"It doesn't tell you what to think, it gives you a view in a window of the world, and will likely make you start to think about what you are seeing."

U2 - city of blinding lights live, 2005

"The earliest incarnation of the song was developed during sessions for the band's 1997 album, Pop. The lyrics were written by the band's lead vocalist Bono, taking partial inspiration from his recollection of his first trip to London, and from the band's experience playing in New York City in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks during their Elevation Tour in 2001. Other lyrics refer to Bono's relationship with his wife Ali. The song's underlying theme reflects lost innocence and was inspired by an image Bono saw of himself from the early 1980s. The sound has been compared to the tone of U2's 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire and their 1987 single "Where the Streets Have No Name"."

Belle And Sebastian - my wandering days are over live, 2015

"What to Look for in Summer has time for more moody offerings, with "Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John" from Write About Love being a real down-tempo gem here, and an oddly crowd-pleasing one, enough that a listener almost wishes there was less audience noise on this one. "The Fox in the Snow" from If You're Feeling Sinister is elegantly peformed here, with Stuart Murdoch's vocals adding a kind of maturity and world-weariness to the tune that it may have been lacking in its earlier versions. Similarly, his performance on "My Wandering Days are Over" is just as warm and engaing."

The Smiths - ask, 1987

"Its lyrics discuss shyness and encourage listeners to overcome their inhibitions. Its multiple guitar parts and complex production led to disagreements regarding its final mix. Craig Gannon, who at the time was rhythm guitarist for the group, has claimed he wrote – and was denied credit for – the song's chord structure."

REM - every day is yours to win live, 2011

"they discover the glow of middle age, warmly acknowledging the past — hello again, Peter Buck’s mandolin — while realizing that the present can feel just as comforting. The sober, pretty “Uberlin” sounds like a happier cousin to “Drive.” Twinkling ballad “Every Day Is Yours to Win” updates “Everybody Hurts” for the other side of despair, when optimism seeps back in. “Discoverer” and “All the Best” deliver sexy crunch for Monster fans. It’s R.E.M.’s many faces, collapsing into now."

Father John Misty - so i'm growing old on magic mountain, 2017

"I’m someone who struggles daily with an overwhelming fear of death and I’ve never heard anything capture exactly what that feeling is like other than this song. “That was the last New Year I’ll ever see” feels pretty unambiguous to me - the protagonist will die this year. Either that or it’s the last time he is celebrating it, but I lean towards the former interpretation."

Billy Bragg - why we build the wall cover, 2017

“I first heard Anais Mitchell sing ‘Why We Build The Wall’ at Occupy London in November 2011, standing on the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral. The power of the lyrics struck me then and, in the intervening years, the song has become even more powerful as the mass movement of people from Africa and Asia into Europe, North America and Australia has forced migration onto the political agenda. In 2016, matters came to a head when anti-immigrant sentiment was identified as a prime mover in Britain’s vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump was elected president after promising to build a wall along the Mexican border. In the coming years, driven by climatic changes in their home countries, more and more people are going to be on the move, looking for a better life for their families. Our children and our grandchildren will judge us on our response to those who come to our door looking for shelter.”

Beirut - landslide live, 2019

"Surround that by bright and uplifting harmonies – like ones from No No No – and what is created is a gorgeous combination of new and old, showcasing a maturation of sound that one would be hard-pressed not to have chills when listening to."

Del Amitri - spit in the rain, 1990

"Del Amitri's founding member and main songwriter, Justin Currie, explained in 2010 that the band's name "was invented to be meaningless – basically a corruption of the Greek name 'Dimitri'." In 2018, Currie clarified that 'Del Amitri' is a bastardisation of the name of a film producer who appeared in the closing credits of a film he saw in 1979: "probably Dimitri-something, but we couldn't remember... so eventually through osmosis or maybe Chinese Whispers 'Dimitri' became 'Del Amitri'." Many sources have repeated a claim that the name was chosen because it is Greek for "from the womb", but this is untrue."

Pet Shop Boys - se a vida é that's the way life is, 1996

"Neil says that this song was written to cheer up a depressed friend. The melody, much of the arrangement, and even the title was adapted from a Brazilian song—"Estrada Da Paixão" by the group Olodum—that the Boys had encountered and enjoyed during their South American tour. Hence they properly gave that song's composers a co-writing credit. The intensely rhythmic percussion was provided by She-Boom, an all-woman drum corps. The words "se a vida é," meant to be translated "that's the way life is," actually means "If life is." It's therefore an instance of bad Portuguese and borders on nonsense within the context of the song. But Neil never claimed to be fluent in the language. Nevertheless, it sounds good. And the song itself has emerged as a latter-day PSB concert staple, never failing to spread its infectiously cheery air through a crowd."

Ride - clouds of saint marie, 2019

"More than any of the other new Ride songs, “Clouds Of Saint Marie” shoots for straight-up effervescence. It’s got a chiming, almost Byrds-ian guitar riff, a lead vocal that sounds like a sigh, and a central melody that’s triumphant and wistful in equal measures. It’s a song that seems custom-built for festivals, or for sunny afternoons."

Clouds of Saint Marie I see Clouds of Saint Marie She's over me A memory A remedy A melody Clouds of Saint Marie Make me feel Clouds of Saint Marie Nothing's real (deleted) A memory (is needed) A remedy (repeated) A melody She reigns over me

In Tall Buildings - curtain, 2018

"In Tall Buildings, the music project of Erik Hall is about to release his newest album Akinetic"

Spain - spiritual live, 2012

"Well singing and performing can be two different things. On stage there’s a level of adrenaline that just isn’t there in the studio. Also I’ve learned over the years there’s a obligation to be entertaining that isn’t so immediate in the studio."

The Moody Blues - to share our love, 1969

"On the Threshold of a Dream is the fourth album by The Moody Blues, released in April 1969 on the Deram label. The album reached the top of the album charts, the group's first No. 1 album in the UK. According to guitarist Justin Hayward, "I think Threshold is the defining album for the Moody Blues. And it's the one in the '60's that you would find in people's homes when you went, they would have that album."

Billy Bragg - the red flag, 2006

"Singing songs won’t change the world, no matter how much we might want it to. Music can bring us together in common cause, engage and inspire us, focus our anger, and raise funds and awareness, but ultimately the only people with the ability to bring about real change are in the audience, not on stage. Tomorrow, the singer will be gone, bringing his or her music to another town, but those who were in the audience will still be there."

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - forever live and die, 1986

"it "achieves [the Beatles'] Magical Mystery Tour spirit with '80s tech"

Nada Surf - cold to see clear, 2016

"Since 1992, Caws has fronted the indie/alt-rock band Nada Surf, which similarly saw the height of its commercial success in the ’90s. Their peak came with the single ‘Popular,’ which hit No. 11. Though the band hasn’t had a single chart in the U.S. since then, they’ve found a diehard, adoring indie fan base and received critical acclaim for their string of early-'00s albums. ‘Let Go’ (2002), in particular, is often cited as the band’s high-water mark and seen as one of the top indie albums of the era."

The Style Council - it's a very deep sea, 1988

"Therein, in 2019, Lee, her former husband and bandmate Paul Weller, keyboardist Mick Talbot and drummer Steve White reunited to play 1988 cut It’s A Very Deep Sea. “I’d forgotten how beautiful that track was,” says Lee, “and it was lovely to do it. It got the old juices going again."

Pink Floyd - stay, 1972

""Stay" is one of the most beautiful Pink Floyd ballads. Rick Wrights bittersweet lyrics, uplifting piano playing and tender vocal delivery makes this track easily one of the best on Obscured by Clouds, and one of the most underrated Floyd songs. Also, David Gilmour's guitar work is sublime."

Johnny Marr - getting away with it live, 2014

"Getting away with it happened because Pet Shop Boys and Bernard and I had some mutual friends. And the word kind of got around that Bernard was doing something aside from New Order, and he was doing it with me."

Neil Young - hitchhiker, 1975

"Hitchhiker" dates from 1975, from the sessions for Zuma. The song chronicles various life changes and drug experiences of Young's life up until that point. Young jokes in a contemporary interview that "if it was a TV show, it would be called The Drug Chronicles, T.M.I.", or too much information. Young memorably recalls performing the new song for Bob Dylan and hearing his reaction in Special Deluxe: "One night, Dylan came by and I played him a couple of new songs, "Hitchhiker" and "Cortez the Killer." When he heard "Hitchhiker," a confessional about the progressive history of drugs I had taken through my life, he told me, 'That's honest.' That moment still crosses my mind. It makes me laugh every time I think of it because Bob's humor is so wry. I think it was his way of saying kindly that the song was not very inventive as far as creating a story goes, just that I was following a history and not making up anything new. It's still funny to me, at any rate, the way he put it." Young would revise the song and add a new verse during the sessions. He explains in Waging Heavy Peace: "We hit a groove and recorded "Love and War" and "Peaceful Valley Boulevard," two songs written in Hawaii, and an older song called "Hitchhiker" that I hadn't cut yet. The previous night I had added a couple of new verses and changed some words to make it more relevant to me now, and it was "a good 'un," as Ben used to say. I did that song on Old Black through some amps Daniel had set up, and it sounded rockin'!" An acoustic take of the song from August 1976 would later be released in 2017 on Hitchhiker."

Jeff Tweedy - laminated cat, 2006

"Not for the Season works better. Laminated Cat is a novel reinterpretation but it lacks the punchiness of the original (which is more power pop) and becomes more of a stoner dirge."