The National - nobody else will be there live, 2017

"Extremists are going to eat the Republican party alive....They're losing their moderate people."

The Beatles - long tall sally cover, 1964

"The Beatles were admirers of Little Richard, and regularly performed his songs during their live act. "Long Tall Sally" was the most durable song in their live repertoire, lasting from their earliest days as the Quarrymen in 1957 through to their last public concert in August 1966. As with the majority of their Little Richard remakes, Paul McCartney sang lead vocals, as he could closely imitate Richard's vocal style."

REM - you are the everything, 1988

"Falling asleep while voices are talking somewhere in the house brings to mind the total trust and feeling of safety we lose as children."

The Smith Street Band – death to the lads, 2017

"I'm not hiding from anything, I said some incredibly hurtful things that I completely regret. I ask that you make up your own minds based on what has actually been said rather than form an opinion based on someone else's version."

Beirut - august holland live, 2015

"Despite rhythmic vitality and the addition of optimistic trumpet and trombone, Condon's lyrics reveal a man still suffering from loss and longing."

Sufjan Stevens - tonya harding, 2017

"Tonya Harding's dramatic rise and fall was fiercely followed by the media, and she very quickly became the brunt of jokes, the subject of tabloid headlines and public outcry. She was a reality TV star before such a thing even existed. But she was also simply un-categorical: American's sweetheart with a dark twist. But I believe this is what made her so interesting, and a true American hero. In the face of outrage and defeat, Tonya bolstered shameless resolve and succeeded again and again with all manners of re-invention and self-determination. Tonya shines bright in the pantheon of American history simply because she never stopped trying her hardest. She fought classism, sexism, physical abuse and public rebuke to become an incomparable American legend."

Surf Rock Is Dead - tough love, 2022

“Tough Love” is a nice bit of sunny respite from the harsh cold of winter, with a bright-minded vibrant spirited, and jangly dream pop sound that sees the band pick right up from where they left off."

The Mountain Goats - get famous live, 2021

"Whereas it seems to mess with people really bad, it seems like the younger you get famous, the worse it is for you. So the song is a curse, right, the song is, I just thought, that’s the worst thing you can wish on somebody."

Pope Francis - wake up go go forward, 2015

"Wake Up! Music Album with His Words and Prayers is a progressive rock album by Pope Francis released on 27 November 2015 on Believe Digital. The album is formed of speeches by Pope Francis recorded in numerous locations worldwide between 2013 and 2015 with accompanying music tracks of prayers and hymns by various Italian artists and producers."

The Cure - lovesong, 1989

"Speaking of its simplicity and unusually upbeat nature compared to the other tracks on Disintegration, Robert Smith stated, "It's an open show of emotion. It's not trying to be clever. It's taken me ten years to reach the point where I feel comfortable singing a very straightforward love song."

U2 - i will follow live, 1983

"Bono has said that he wrote the lyrics from the perspective of his mother Iris, who died in 1974 when he was 14 years old, and that they were about the unconditional love a mother has for her child."

Belle And Sebastian - jonathan david, 2005

"isn't just guitarist Stevie Jackson's most triumphant non-album contribution to the Belle and Sebastian canon, it might be the best example of what his songwriting is capable of. [It] impeccably blends in with his band's MO, with its dense '70s-ish melody and pitch-perfect orchestration. Thematically, it fits with Belle and Sebastian's underdog narrative too."

Fleet Foxes - third of may odaigahara live, 2017

"This is, in my opinion, THE magnum opus—the greatest song that FF has ever produced and one of the greatest songs in the history of the genre. This is the only perfect score I have given and I will give on these posts. 10/10. I have listened to this song hundreds of times, and upon each listen I find new details and new layers of complexity. This song is so good, in fact, that I feel like Robin tried to copy the formula on a few songs on Shore, without the same level of success. Every note of Third of May seems so carefully placed and finely tuned. The two-note snare at 5:32 is, for some reason, the most satisfying, spine-tingling sensation I can find in most all of music. I am overjoyed that this song even exists."

Pet Shop Boys - the pop kids, 2016

"Despite the bouncy, seemingly carefree music, there's a strong undercurrent of melancholy conveyed through a preponderance of minor chords and Neil's slightly stiff, wooden vocal. It sounds almost as if he knows something that we don't. Or is he simply trying to express a sense of the vague sadness that so often accompanies nostalgia—a bittersweet awareness of lost youth and "good old days" now long past? Then again, there's that little matter of lost love ("I loved you"), which in and of itself is more than enough to justify that melancholy."

REM - world leader pretend live, 2013

"While it was never released as a single, “World Leader Pretend” is a very important song in the R.E.M. canon for a couple of different reasons. For one thing, it’s the first set of lyrics that Michael Stipe was comfortable with printing on an album sleeve. This felt like a huge deal at the time, putting the spotlight on “World Leader Pretend” in the same way that Led Zeppelin had put the spotlight on “Stairway To Heaven” 17 years previously. Which, of course, was on purpose, though the two songs couldn’t be more far apart on pretty much every level. But given that Peter Buck played a mandolin on three of the Green songs and “The Battle of Evermore” was on that fourth Led Zeppelin album, there’s no way it was a coincidence."

Prefab Sprout - bonny, 1985

"I grew up in Witton Gilbert in County Durham and started Prefab Sprout with my brother [Martin, bass] and Michael Salmon, who lived down the street. Michael borrowed a drum kit and Martin and I shared an amplifier. We rehearsed in my dad’s run-down wooden-framed petrol station. We were as rough as can be, but we sounded like a band, at least to ourselves."

Father John Misty - total entertainment forever, 2017

“Human civilizations have been entertaining themselves in disgusting ways all through human history”

New Order - regret, 1993

"The central puzzle is that with New Order you have lyrics that most songwriters would look at as senseless knock-offs, and a voice that most singers would call insultingly blank, and when you put the two together you sometimes get records which turn your stomach upside down with their brilliance. Actually, that’s not a puzzle at all: that’s just how pop music has always worked, but still New Order remain a frustrating band to write about because their quality is so slippery but so undeniable."

Neil Young - after the gold rush, 1970

"After The Gold Rush is an environmental song... I recognize in it now this thread that goes through a lotta my songs that’s this time-travel thing... When I look out the window, the first thing that comes to my mind is the way this place looked a hundred years ago."

The National - day i die, 2017

“Day I Die” makes nice use of the organ at the onset. It’s great to hear a song with a quicker pace from The National. Up until this point, most of the singles have been slower. In addition to the tempo, there’s more of a rock-oriented sensibility, which is a pro. The tone of the guitars, particularly when they ascend to their upper register, stands out. Also, there’s an exuberance about this particular song, at least in regards to sound. It also helps that it’s set in a major key. Even with the exuberance, the lyrics showcases pessimism."

The Flaming Lips - a day in the life cover, 2014

"With a Little Help from My Fwends is the second main album of the "Fwends" series by American rock band the Flaming Lips. It is a track-for-track tribute to the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, with guest performers appearing on each song. It was released on October 27, 2014, through Warner Bros. Records. All proceeds from record sales went to the Bella Foundation, an organization in Oklahoma City that helps provide veterinary care to pet owners in need."

The Cure - catch, 1987

"Catch" is a song by English rock band The Cure released on 22 June 1987 as the second single from their album Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987). It was only released as a single in the UK, where it charted at No. 27, and Europe."

The Charlatans - with no shoes, 1997

"Discussing the opening song "With No Shoes", Burgess said he and Mark Collins wanted to make something between Solid Air (1973) by John Martyn, which was owned by the former, and Smash Hits (1968) by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, which was owned by the latter. The song's title was taken from Kung Fu, where the character Kwai Chang Caine refrained from wearing shoes. "North Country Boy" discusses a man attempting to cheer himself up; Burgess said this person was himself, explaining that he remade "Girl from the North Country" (1963) by Dylan from a man's perspective. For it, Burgess said he and Collins tried to mix the work of the Rolling Stones and Simon & Garfunkel. "Tellin' Stories" was initially named "Laughing Gravy", a reference to Laurel and Hardy, with some of the lyrics being influenced by John Wesley Harding (1967) by Dylan. It is a neo-psychedelia song that evokes This Is the Sea (1985)-era the Waterboys. Rob Collins did not like the initial version of the song done at Windermere, suggesting they rework the melody, which eventually happened. This alteration prompted Burgess to re-do the lyrics. Collins also proposed adding a drum-and-guitar break between each verse and chorus section. Rowlands' contribution to the track saw the addition of a countdown during the introduction; it was originally from 1 to 10, but was edited to only include 1, 2, and 9."

Le Canal - falling tide, 2019

"The song was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2018. Musicians on the track is: Daniel Blomqvist - guitars and vocals, Olle Nilsson - drums, Anders ”Enda Barnet” Göransson - keys and production and Totte Nydén - bass."

U2 - beautiful day, 2000

"Like many tracks from All That You Can't Leave Behind, "Beautiful Day" harkens back to the group's past sound. The tone of the Edge's guitar was a subject of debate among the band members, as they disagreed on whether he should use a sound similar to that from their early career in the 1980s. The band's lead vocalist Bono explained that the upbeat track is about losing everything but still finding joy in what one has."

Sufjan Stevens - fourth of july, 2015

“Fourth of July”, is a reflection on the night his mother died. Sufjan quietly cries and croons his love for the woman who bore him, the woman who weaved in and out of his life until her death. The words feel close, **like a private conversation occurring with the listener eavesdropping."

Belle And Sebastian - electronic renaissance live, 2018

"Actually when the band started, when it was Stuart teaching people songs he'd written on an acoustic guitar or the piano, I guess people hadn't necessarily found their place in things. You maybe didn't know what people are into, and i think eventually you start to draw from other people."

The Mary Onettes - ruins, 2015

"Last summer I basically lost every song I've ever recorded with the Mary Onettes. My hard drive with all my music was stolen in my car one fine afternoon in Stockholm, the very same fine afternoon we came home from our US tour, the very same day I was feeling thrilled to come home and start the process of finishing our new album. Of course I had made a backup copy on my computer at home. But for some reason a power failure in the building made that hard drive collapse too. Unbelievable. I was speechless for days."

The New Pornographers - colossus of rhodes, 2019

"the hooks and the lyrics are as sharp as ever, too, the latter functioning as part anxious messages-in-bottles, part baroque bubblegum life preservers. It’s panic-attack pop, fretting its way through vintage good-time chord changes, and letting us know we’re not alone."

Pet Shop Boys - the sodom and gomorrah show, 2006

"Neil told interviewer Jacqui Swift of the online Sun that when he wrote the lyrics he was "thinking about 24-hour news channels" because of the way they present the world—in particular, its horrors ("death and destruction")—as entertainment. Another source of inspiration is the French author Marcel Proust (1871-1922), the fourth volume of whose great novel À la recherche du temps perdu is titled Sodome et Gomorrhe (often translated as Cities of the Plain). A major theme of Proust's work is the way in which distractions, often of a technological nature, all too often serve to alienate people from themselves and each other. So is "The Sodom and Gomorrah Show" a distraction from reality or reality itself? Perhaps both. That is, television news indeed presents reality—or at least one version of it—but in such a way as often to make it somewhat unreal to us."

Belle And Sebastian - i didn't see it coming, 2010

"my story went on for seven years, and everything happened really, really slowly"

REM - shiny happy people, 1991

"Pierson interpreted the line "throw your love around" to mean "to share your love and grow your love with others. It's not mindless at all. It's a song about spreading love."

Beirut - east harlem live, 2011

"the stately backing is what we've come to expect from Beirut, with swaying accordion, rich brass, lively piano, and trebly strums, all in all more like a 2010 Williamsburg performance. By the time Condon switches things up, repeating, "Oh, the sound will bring me home again," over wordless backing vocals, he might as well be describing the warm, cozy but still distinctive feeling "East Harlem" has achieved."

Purple Mountains - darkness and cold, 2019

"Lyrics from "Darkness and Cold" appear on the album We Will Always Love You (2020) by The Avalanches. The lyrics appear on the track "Dial D for Devotion", sung by Karen O, and on the track "Running Red Lights", sung by Pink Siifu. Berman first collaborated with The Avalanches in 2012, on their track "A Cowboy Overflow of the Heart", which featured Berman reading a poem he composed over music by the group. Berman later appeared as a vocalist on The Avalanches' album Wildflower (2016), reading a poem on the album's closing track "Saturday Night Inside Out".

Saint Etienne - avenue, 1992

"The eclectic sense of rhythm that has revitalized British pop through raves, techno and other aural experiments allows Wiggs and Stanley to make "Avenue" one of the most breathtaking set pieces since Roxy Music's "Amazona"." Peter Stanton from Smash Hits declared the song, along with "You're in a Bad Way", as "classic pop beauties"."

The Beatles - a day in the life, 1967

"‘A Day In The Life’ – that was something. I dug it. It was a good piece of work between Paul and me. I had the ‘I read the news today’ bit, and it turned Paul on. Now and then we really turn each other on with a bit of song, and he just said ‘yeah’ – bang, bang, like that. It just sort of happened beautifully."

Rosie Thomas - say hello, 2006

"These Friends of Mine is the fourth album by American singer-songwriter Rosie Thomas, released in 2006. Jeremy Enigk, Sufjan Stevens (who also co-produced), David Bazan, Damien Jurado, and Denison Witmer also appear on this album. The album was initially only available for purchase at online music stores."

Headlights - your old street, 2006

"Headlights are able to keep up their fun, summertime power pop without too many problems, until, a little more than halfway through the record, they decide to explore those indie electronica influences they had been hinting at. "Words Make You Tired" is a startling, and utterly forgettable, Killers-esque dance-pop track, "I Love, You Laugh" is sparse and sad and machine-driven, and while "Hi-Ya" is actually pretty fun, it comes as such a contrast to the rest of the album that it's almost hard to enjoy it. The Headlights had done such a good job with setting themselves up as perhaps the preeminent indie pop band of 2006 that their departure into the "dance" realm is puzzling at best. Maybe by the time their next album rolls around they will be able to tame their influences into a more coherent-sounding body of work that will more fully represent their abilities."

Bonnie Prince Billy - in good faith, 2020

"Oldham first performed and recorded under various permutations of the Palace name, including Palace Brothers, Palace Songs, Palace Music, and simply Palace. Regarding the name changes during this period (1993–1997), Oldham said: 'I guess the idea is that when you have a name of a group or an artist, then you expect that the next record, if it has the same name, should be the same group of people playing on it. And I just thought we were making a different kind of record each time, with different people, and different themes, and different sounds. So I thought it was important to call it something different so that people would be aware of the differences.' Will stated in a 1995 interview with KCRW that the name Palace Flophouse was inspired by reading John Steinbeck's Cannery Row."

Sufjan Stevens - the greatest gift, 2017

"The highlight of the collection is easily the remixes, which tease out the compact stems of the original songs and let them flourish in open, flowing space. Helado Negro helms two remixes, of “Death With Dignity” and “All of Me Wants All of You,” and the way he unwinds previously buried vocal harmonies is enough to make you want a full-blown, album-length collaboration between the two artists. Stevens’ own remix of “Drawn to the Blood” hews close enough to the version on Carrie & Lowell Live, but with crisper vocals, while Doveman’s gentle take on the 2015 tour single “Exploding Whale” lends as much gravitas as possible to a song that contains the words “epic fail.” Though too scattered to stand alone, The Greatest Gift adds new dimension to Carrie & Lowell. It’s easy enough to read albums, especially those as moving as Stevens’, as ironclad cultural objects, produced once and then immutable. The Greatest Gift contextualizes the work more as a living document. It exposes shadows of the album’s past and future, and for that, it’s exquisitely generous."

Beirut - scenic world live, 2015

"When Beirut released Gulag Orkestar in 2006, its swaying horns and eclectic percussion treated music lovers to a sound that was relatively foreign to American music made west of the Atlantic Ocean. The record’s inventive use of Balkan melodies and triumphant brass garnered near-immediate critical praise. The feat was especially impressive, considering that—for the most part—one man is behind Beirut: Zach Condon. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Condon's debut at just 19 years old was a shock to anyone who thought they were listening to Brandenburg’s preeminent elder sing to the neighborhood as the children skipped stones in the street. But Condon never lived that life. He was a teenager so obsessed with rare instruments, world history, and Middle Eastern architecture that he could fabricate deep nostalgia in his music for a beautiful, European paradise that never existed."

The Digital Age - symphony of grace, 2013

"The album opens on a more-or-less unexpected note with the lead single "Captured." Unlike any of the Rehearsals songs, this song is poppier than pretty much anything the DC*B made. But as poppy as it is, it is so bright, deliciously joyful and irresistibly catchy (not dissimilar to Rend Collective Experiment) that I have no doubt it will win over even the biggest skeptics. "Symphony of Grace" follows the same vein as its predecessor, just as bright, joyful and poppy."

Low - always trying to work it out, 2018

"The band’s latest record on Sub Pop, Double Negative, only confuses the narrative more. Double Negative is Low’s noisiest and harshest album yet, but also one of their most undeniably beautiful works. For a group that’s always experimented with their sound, it’s still astonishing to see how far they’ve been able to push their dynamics a quarter century into their career."

Sparks - when do i get to sing my way, 1994

"When Do I Get to Sing 'My Way'" is a song by American band Sparks, released on 17 October 1994 by Logic Records as the first single from their sixteenth album, Gratuitous Sax & Senseless Violins (1994). Written and produced by brothers Russell and Ron Mael of Sparks, the song references Frank Sinatra's signature song "My Way" and was a number seven hit in Germany. In the United States, it reached number nine on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, and it was also a top 40 hit in the United Kingdom."

Jon Fosse

“God is so far away that no one can say anything about him and that’s why all ideas about God are wrong, and at the same time he is so close that we almost can’t notice him, because he is the foundation in a person, or the abyss, you can call it whatever you want.”

Jon Fosse, "A New Name: Septology VI-VII"

Electronic - feel every beat, 1991

"Feel Every Beat" was the third single by the English band Electronic. (...). The A-side is a combination of rock and house music, and is a favourite of both the two members Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner. Marr began an early version of "Feel Every Beat" with the intention of releasing it on a solo album. Sumner's lyrics are about the criminalisation of rave culture in Britain."

The Smashing Pumpkins - the tale of dusty and pistol pete, 1998

"The Smashing Pumpkins have been regarded as a cultural touchstone of Generation X and contributed greatly to the rise of the generation's prevalence in Western popular culture."

Mark Knopfler - the ceilidh louis favourite billys tune, 1983

"Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the lead guitarist, singer and songwriter of the rock band Dire Straits from 1977 to 1988, and from 1990 to 1995."

Thom Yorke - unmade, 2018

"Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the main vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. A multi-instrumentalist, he mainly plays guitar and keyboards and is noted for his falsetto. He has been described by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest and most influential singers of his generation."

The Goon Sax - make time four love, 2018

"Forster is the son of Robert Forster, co-founder of indie rock band the Go-Betweens. The band released their debut studio album, Up to Anything, in 2016 on the Chapter Music label. This was followed by We're Not Talking in 2018, and Mirror II in 2021. They have performed with Twerps, Blank Realm, U.S. Girls, and Crayon Fields, among other artists."

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."