Damien Jurado - life away from the garden, 2012

"Maraqopa's first half is, indeed, cloaked in the long shadow of religion, with references to "golden crowns," stars aligning, and the spookiness of faith (and, at times, lack thereof). The spectre of belief literally haunts a few of these songs; "Life Away From the Garden" elicits chills via organ stabs and faded, childlike call-and-response backup singing, as Jurado exercises his sneaky lyrical talents with double-meaning ("There was a time/ When we were golden/ Like the sun/ We were lights in the world")."

Slowdive - blue skied an clear, 1995

"With a cascading guitar sound and ethereal vocals, Slowdive’s sonic debt to Cocteau Twins is instantly apparent, though they took the building blocks and made it their own. The band are admitted fans, especially guitarist Christian Savill who tells us his first exposure was single “Pearly Dewdrops Drops” which changed his life."

The Postal Service - sleeping in, 2003

"In August 2003, the United States Postal Service sent the band a cease and desist letter, citing the band's name as an infringement of its trademark on the phrase "postal service". After negotiations, the USPS relented, allowing the band use of the trademark in exchange for promotional efforts on behalf of the USPS and a performance at its annual National Executive Conference. Additionally, at one point the USPS website sold the band's CDs. In 2007, "Such Great Heights" appeared in the background of the "whiteboard" advertising campaign for one of the federal establishment's private competitors, the United Parcel Service."

Cal In Red - replay lounge, 2022

"Cal in Red is made up of brothers Connor and Kendall Wright who decided to name their musical project after their younger brother Cal and his obsession at one time with red t-shirts. Formed in 2019, the twosome have garnered acclaim with Spotify and Apple often being added to major playlists as well as touring across the country to a fervent fanbase."

Clube Naval - salva-vidas mistura muito rica, 1983

"Ricardo Camacho. Portuguese composer, keyboard player, guitarist and producer. He was also a clinical investigator in the AIDS area. Ricardo Camacho helped to found the label Fundação Atlântica in the 80's."

Laurent Voulzy - yesterday once more cover, 2006

"Now & Then, was named by the duo's mother, Agnes. It contained Sesame Street's signature song "Sing", featuring the Jimmy Joice Children's Choir, which was released as a single, reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100. The album also included a Leon Russell composition, "This Masquerade", and the ambitious "Yesterday Once More", a side-long tribute to oldies radio which incorporated renditions of eight hit songs from previous decades into a faux oldies radio program. The single version of the latter became their biggest hit in the United Kingdom, holding the No. 2 spot for two weeks, and became the Carpenters' biggest worldwide hit."

Neil Young And Crazy Horse - psychedelic pill, 2012

"Some of the songs are edited down from their full performances. Young describes the process in his book, Special Deluxe: "I did a lot of work on these tracks with Johnny Hausmann and Jeff Pinn, my two engineers. Work went on for over a month to make the tracks as great as they could be. Most of the time was spent on editing the long instrumental passages, balancing the numerous vocal parts, and preserving the feeling and vibe of each song. Part of the process called for my co-producer, John Hanlon, to come in and do a final pass of all the mixes with fresh ears. Sometimes this can greatly improve the original passes."

Kitchens Of Distinction - i wish it would snow, 2013

"Fitzgerald is as direct as can be on the poppy “I Wish It Would Snow”, giving voice to a sentiment we all understand (“I wish it would snow / And close the roads / So I couldn’t go / And we could stay in bed all day”) over shimmering guitars and tambourines."

Tall Ships - road not taken, 2017

"Impressions is an album about choices. It presents you on that scenario that has you wonder what the right path is to travel down on your journey through life. The slowburning starting track 'Road Not Taken' explores the path you don't take and all its possibilities. The song slowly becomes more and more energetic, becoming more graceful at the end as the full band kicks in, the lyrics reassuring that every decision you've made has built you own unique experience and life that makes its worth living. The possibilities may be daunting, but the ones you've made are yours to own."

The Mountain Goats - younger, 2019

"So I started basing the song using my present-day skill set on this old riff. And then the lyrics were informed by the fact that I was dredging something up from when I lived in a studio apartment in employee housing at a state psychiatric hospital."

Peter Bjorn And John - do-si-do, 2016

"Peter, Bjorn & John had a major hit in 2006 with their song 'Young Folks', a perky little indie-folk ditty that has since been used on tonnes of TV ads. The trio released three albums after they scored their biggest hit - the most recent being 2011's 'Gimme Some' - although none have replicated the success of the catchy whistle-led number."

Johnny Nash - i can see clearly now, 1972

"After Nash wrote and composed the original version, he recorded it in London with members of the Fabulous Five Inc., and produced it himself. The song's arrangements and style are both heavily laced with reggae influences, as Nash had earlier collaborated with Bob Marley and his approach drew strongly from Marley's reggae style."

Hotel Decor - grand theft auto, 2022

"The energy is beautiful and it’s one of the best projects we’ve heard in months. Hotel Decor’s musical style is different, he has an amazing passion for his music and masters this art perfectly. The atmosphere of this project is unique and the production style is creative, distinctive and brought this EP to a whole new level. We listened to these tracks several times, and we still can’t find the right words to describe them. The atmosphere is unique and the melodies are beautifully catchy. The lyrics are original, well written and will get stuck in your head for a long time. You may find yourself singing them by the next morning. Hotel Decor has impressive musical skills and his vocal performance is always captivating. He has one of the richest voices we’ve heard in months and this project shows off all the melodic tones of his stunning voice and shows how talented he is in writing songs. The instrumentals of these tracks are amazing and really some good stuff to listen to all day long."

Living Hour - seagull, 2016

"Living Hour is a dream pop quintet from Winnipeg. They got together and started writing songs that were inspired by the frost-bitten Canadian prairies and the expansive Manitoban sky. In April of this year, they released a very limited edition self-titled cassette album via the Indiana label Tree Machine Records. That album will get a proper release on February 19, 2016 via Lefse Records. I don’t know anything else about this band, but I got something in the mailbag about this, and it’s been getting a lot of press elsewhere. I immediately loved this song, and everything else I’ve heard from them. This song is certainly very heavy on the dreamgaze vibe, while other songs have just a hint of country twang mixed in. And that’s fine, too."

Commercial Pop Machine - accidental dose, 2022

"soft rock tape loop cut copy vocal songs inspired by karen carpenter and the pop music genre"

Caraml - chasing a sound, 2022

"They are a duo formed from “opposites sides of the earth:” South Africa (Stephan Kreussel) and Lithuania (Dominykas Morkūnas), but their collaboration is seamless; when it came to creating Seasons, Kreussel and Morkunas rented a house next to a lake and set up a recording studio, where they were inspired by solitude and nature."

The Feelies - make it clear, 2017

“The songs seemed to require that approach but that also stemmed from the demos we made. We liked the feel and that inspired us to record at my place. We really wanted to get the same feel from those sessions onto the record. Part of it’s the technique and part of it’s the vibe of being in a room you’re familiar with. We’ve rehearsed here since the late ‘80s, so we’re not looking at the clock, thinking, ‘Oh, we just spent $100 just working on this one part.'”

Bee Gees - first of may, 1969

"First of May" is a song by the Bee Gees with lead vocals by Barry Gibb, released as a single from their 1969 double album Odessa. Its B-side was "Lamplight". It also featured as the B-side of "Melody Fair" when that song was released as a single in the Far East in 1971 as well as in 1976 and 1980 on RSO Records. It was the first Bee Gees single to be released after lead guitarist Vince Melouney had left the group."

Mint Julep - daydream, 2022

"Daydream came together like a dream. Keith was rearranging his drums in the basement, and I asked if he would start a new song, even though we already have several MJ songs in mid-progress – some dating back as far as a few years ago (and that one that we somehow misplaced and can’t locate, even though it was almost done and which I still hope to recreate someday!!)."

Sea Power - open the door, 2008

"Sea Power, previously known as British Sea Power and initially as British Air Powers, are an English alternative rock band. The group's original lineup consisted of Jan Scott Wilkinson, known as Yan; Martin Noble, known as Noble; and Alison Cotton. By the time the band had begun its recording career, Cotton had departed, and two new members had joined: Neil Hamilton Wilkinson, known as Hamilton, and Matthew Wood, known as Woody. Eamon Hamilton joined the band in autumn 2002. He left in 2006 and was replaced by Phil Sumner, with Abi Fry joining the band in 2008."

REM - texarkana, 1991

"Easily a top 10 REM song for me. Maybe top 5."

Belle And Sebastian - another sunny day, 2006

"Belle and Sebastian had been toying with R&B, glam, and funk for much of their existence, but by the time the group recorded The Life Pursuit, their musical chops had finally caught up with the quality and ambition of Stuart Murdoch’s songwriting."

Black Box Recorder - seasons in the sun cover, 1998

"Seasons in the Sun" is an English-language adaptation of the 1961 Belgian song "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man") by singer-songwriter Jacques Brel with lyrics rewritten in 1963 by singer-poet Rod McKuen portraying a dying man's farewell to his loved ones. It became a worldwide hit in 1974 for singer Terry Jacks and became a Christmas number one in the UK in 1999 for Westlife."

Johnny Marr - walk into the sea, 2018

“It’s set in the not-too-distant future and is mostly concerned with the idea of an alternative society. The characters in the songs are searching for a new idealism, although there are some personal songs in there too. It’s something that people like me can relate to.”

Damien Jurado - birds tricked into the trees, 2020

“I got rid of almost everything I owned. It was almost like I had died, honestly. You know that feeling when someone dies and you have to clear out their apartment or their house? That’s what I did. It was as if I had died, even though I was still living. I donated five of my guitars to a thrift shop.”

Roger Waters - hello in there cover, 2015

"Since the great songwriter John Prine died in April — and even since before Prine’s death, when the news came out that he was suffering from COVID-19 — other musicians have been showing their appreciation by covering his songs. Among Prine’s many songs, “Hello In There” has taken on a special weight. Prine wrote the song from the perspective of an old man who’s longing for any kind of connection, and he included it on his self-titled debut album in 1971. Jason Isbell coincidentally released his “Hello In There” cover just before the news of Prine’s diagnosis came out. Joan Baez, who’d released her cover of “Hello In There” in 1975, shared a video of herself singing “Hello In There” before Prine’s death. And now Roger Waters has covered it too."

The Postal Service - such great heights, 2003

“Such Great Heights” is a warm, tender love song wrapped inside cold, digital electronica; the meaning behind the lyrics evokes both tenderness and coldness. The narrator expresses his love onto an answering machine. From the outside, the relationship looks ideal. But the couple chooses to stay where they are—everything looks perfect from far away. Though distance may be an elixir for this relationship, with a partner on tour, the narrator is left feeling lonely. He misses her and hopes she hears the song on the radio—guiding her home."

Tracey Thorn - new opened eyes, 1982

"This record, musically understated as it is, provides a quiet and necessary counterpart to some of the choices of listening we’ve had. We’ve lived so long with melodrama that we’ve forgotten there are other ways of showing passion."

Coldplay - viva la vida live, 2017

"She went through a lot of pain, of course, and then she started a big painting in her house that said 'Viva la Vida', I just loved the boldness of it."

Belle And Sebastian - fiction, 2002

"It's a pleasant enough melody"

Sufjan Stevens - all of me wants all of you, 2015

"The love that throbs in Stevens’s soul as “All of Me Wants All of You” comes to a quiet finish can only come from one source: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Love is only able to triumph through brokenness if we are first loved by God. In many ways, Manelich the simple shepherd is a picture of Jesus. He came down from the mountain to be heart-broken, and though his bride remained distant and unwilling to believe that unconditional love could actually exist, he slew the worldly wolf who ravaged her every night. In the shadow of his love, the Church’s hope is rekindled. In a world where each of us is a crestfallen Manelich or an ashamed Marta, Christ’s cross demonstrates what it means to say, “All of me wants all of you…”

Paul McCartney - junior’s farm, 1974

"It was such a relief to get out of those business meetings with people in suits, who were so serious all the time, and go off to Scotland and be able just to sit around in a T-shirt and corduroys. I was very much in that mindset when I wrote this song. The basic message is, let’s get out of here. You might say it's my post-Beatles getting-out-of-town song."

The Chameleons - in answer, 1986

"...I'd forgotten how much this album meant to me. It came out in '86. I was 19!! I've been listening to it every day since and I have to say it's blown my mind...again! It must have influenced my early years as a song writer because I can hear ME in it everywhere!!..."

The Decemberists - the sporting life, 2005

"I spoke with Petra briefly while she was on the road with The Decemberists."

Belle And Sebastian - the power of three, 2015

"The doctrine of the Trinity was first formulated among the early Christians and fathers of the Church as they attempted to understand the relationship between Jesus and God in their scriptural documents and prior traditions."

The Moody Blues - twilight time alternate vocal mix, 1967

“Twilight Time (Alternate Vocal Mix)” by The Moody Blues was written by Ray Thomas."

D4RKSTAR - lead me astray live, 2022

"Live recording of Lead Me Astray, filmed in my living room."

Semiwestern - velvet sea, 2022

"In November 2022, like a delicate shot across the bow, California’s redoubtable Spirit Goth Records released “Velvet Sea.” I naturally believed this was new music. It was, in fact, a remix of a song recorded by Semiwestern’s members ten years earlier as The Vliets. Before we go any further, listen to the updated “Velvet Sea” to understand how I swooned over this atmospheric, Luna-inflected recording. It was my #1 or #2 favorite song of the entire year. Since, then, I have listened to “Velvet Sea” approximately one billion times."

Tall Ships - day by day, 2017

"From time to time it can be good to take time out, to sit back and claim a little perspective. It's important, though, not to let this linger; it's important to get back on route, to keep moving forwards. It's something that Tall Ships have learned, and learned well."

The Beatles - i'll be back take three, 1964

"The Beatles spent the first three days of June 1964 at Abbey Road, rounding off the non-soundtrack side of the album A Hard Day's Night and adding the two remaining tracks on to the EP Long Tall Sally, speedily issued, a fortnight later. I'll Be Back was recorded from start to finish in a single session. Take 16 was released but the unissued takes Two and Three are presented here. The former illuminates how John conceived his song as a waltz (the Beatles' fondness for waltz arrangements dated back to Cavern Club performances of James Ray's If You Gotta Make A Fool Of Somebody). Take 2 broke down, however, because, to use John's own words, it was "too hard to sing", and it is segued here into Take 3 in which the arrangement has been altered from 3/4, to the 4/4 tempo approaching the master version - proof of the speed with which the Beatles could switch their ideas."

The Mountain Goats - clemency for the wizard king, 2019

"It is a song about how if you are in the tribe that serves and worships the wizard king, and he gets taken prisoner by some evil-minded people who don't understand what he's all about, it's your job to go and demand that he be granted clemency."

Okkervil River - you can't hold the hand of a rock and roll man, 2007

“The Okkervil flows in a meandering course. The headwaters of the river are called Chernaya Rechka, whereas the name Okkervil originates from the 17th century after the name of Swedish colonel, who possessed a grange on the bank of the river. The water of the Okkervil is heavily polluted.”

Sufjan Stevens - john wayne gacy jr, 2005

"Gacy was close to his mother and two sisters, but had a difficult relationship with his father, an alcoholic who was verbally and physically abusive to his family. The elder Gacy frequently belittled his son, calling him "dumb and stupid" and comparing him unfavorably with his sisters. One of Gacy's earliest childhood memories was of his father beating him at age four for accidentally disarranging car engine components. His mother tried to shield her son from his father's abuse, which resulted in accusations that he was a "sissy" and a "mama's boy" who would "probably grow up queer". In 1949, Gacy's father whipped him after he and another boy were caught sexually fondling a young girl. The same year, a family friend began to occasionally molest Gacy.Gacy never told his father, afraid that his father would blame him. Despite their challenging relationship, Gacy loved his father, but felt he was "never good enough" in his father's eyes."

The Lightning Seeds - three lions football's coming home, 1996

"Three Lions", commonly referred to as "It's Coming Home" or "Football's Coming Home", is a song by the English comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner and the rock band the Lightning Seeds. It was released on 20 May 1996 to mark the England football team's participation in that year's UEFA European Championship, which England was hosting. The music was written by the Lightning Seeds singer Ian Broudie, while Baddiel and Skinner—presenters of the football comedy show Fantasy Football League—provided the lyrics. All three provided vocals. The title comes from the England team emblem."

Peter Bjorn And John - a long goodbye, 2016

"We broke down lots of producers during this album process. One mysteriously disappeared, another one ended up seeking mental care and a third one mostly talked about how much he missed smoking weed.We picked out people we thought could manage to over-ride the three of us in the band. No one could. But, we found some of the best, crafty producers for the specific songs that needed an extra layer of fresh paint. For the first time we wanted the music to sound expensive, it ended up with us turning bankrupt."

Mercury Rev - holes, 1998

"Holes" is the fourth single from Mercury Rev's fourth studio album, Deserter's Songs. The single was released in Australia only as a limited edition tour EP on July 7, 1999, although promotional CD singles were distributed to UK radio stations in 2006 (to coincide with the release of the Mercury Rev collection The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006). The tour single included a live cover of "Caroline Says Pt. II" (Lou Reed) and featured Robert Creeley reading his poem "I Dreamt" over a Mercury Rev soundtrack."

Francisco Fanhais - cantata da paz, 1970

"A 31 de dezembro de 1968, cerca de 150 católicos entraram na igreja de S. Domingos, em Lisboa, e nela permaneceram durante a noite, depois de o papa Paulo VI ter decidido, no mesmo mês, que 1 de janeiro passaria a ser assinalado pela Igreja como Dia Mundial da Paz. A iniciativa contra a guerra colonial, e de oposição ao regime ditatorial de então, foi vigiada pela polícia política, tendo terminado sem incidentes. Sophia de Mello Breyner escreveu propositadamente para essa vigília a "Cantata da Paz", que ficou conhecida pelos primeiros versos, «Vemos, ouvimos e lemos/ Não podemos ignorar». Quatro anos depois, nos últimos dias de 1972, ocorreu na Capela do Rato nova vigília de protesto contra o regime, que acabou com a invasão do templo por parte da polícia. Os participantes foram levados para a esquadra e a maioria foi presa. Cantata da paz, de Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen (poema) e Francisco Fernandes (música), por Francisco Fanhais – cantata gravada em 1970 pelo então padre Francisco Fanhais, foi uma das canções de intervenção que mais se cantaram em Portugal a partir desse ano e até 1974, ano da implantação da democracia."

The Mary Onettes - silence is a gun, 2014

"Slick Swedish synthpoppers the Mary Onettes released Hit The Waves, their last album, less than a year ago, but they’re already making plans to follow it up with a new release called Portico, which they’re saying is a “mini-album.” “Silence Is A Gun,” the first song they’ve shared from Portico, ripples prettily and follows closely in the path of Hit The Waves."

Tombstones In Their Eyes - heart, 2023

"Our songwriting process generally goes like this: I’ll sit down and open Logic. Choose a drum beat to play along to. Write a rhythm guitar part. Sing along to that part in a stream of consciousness fashion and see what comes out. If it’s a good song and the lyrics are good, sometimes I’ll keep them as is, or with minor tweaks. Then I’ll add melodies, solos, bass, sometimes keys."

Volleyball - hours, 2022

"The band of Londoners who thrive in creating timeless tracks of fuzzy melodies and diverse multi-media releases are back and harnessing the sunbeams of summers past in the most glorious fashion. Continuing their mission of manifestation, the band pulls you into their waves of swirling guitar, full bass and decisive vocals which warn of the passing of time. A release that expands far beyond the track itself, this single is paired with live isolation video, remixes, alt versions and even a videogame. Together, Volleyball prove that while the present moment may pass, this track will never escape your mind."

Bee Gees - spicks and specks richard hewson orchestra with the children from corona school, 1971

"Melody is the soundtrack album for the film Melody (or S.W.A.L.K., the name it was initially marketed under in the U.K.). It was released in 1971 and is performed by the Bee Gees, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Barry Howard (aka Al Barry) of The Aces, Desmond Dekker's backing group. It reached No. 1 on the Japanese charts. "In the Morning" was first recorded in 1965 by The Bee Gees, and was re-recorded in 1970 for the film; its title was changed to "Morning of My Life", though the song is credited under its original title on the album. The songs "Melody Fair", "First of May", and "Give Your Best" were originally released on The Bee Gees' 1969 album Odessa."

The Weather Station - robber, 2021

"The song begins with the light, dry tap of a drumstick on a cymbal, and from there blooms into the most dynamic and captivating music from her project as the Weather Station yet. A dagger of piano rings like an alarm, strings and a saxophone emphasize the intrigue and uncertainty. The double trap-kit percussion functions as both the rhythm and respiratory system for the song, cymbals splashing like the release of a held breath. This maximalist version of the band never once feels like overindulgence. Instead, it animates the emotional landscape that accompanies a crumbling worldview."

The Everly Brothers - lay lady lay cover, 1984

"Don Everly of the Everly Brothers recounted in a 1986 Rolling Stone interview that Dylan performed parts of the song for them after a late 1960s appearance by the duo in New York, as they were "looking for songs, and he was writing 'Lay Lady Lay' at the time." Despite a popular story that the Everly Brothers rejected the song due to misunderstanding the lyrics as sexual in nature, Everly continued "He sang parts of it, and we weren't quite sure whether he was offering it to us or not. It was one of those awestruck moments." In a 1994 interview Don Everly further explained the encounter, stating that "It really wasn't a business meeting ... It wasn't that kind of atmosphere." The Everly Brothers later covered the song on their EB 84 album, 15 years after Dylan's release."

António Macedo - canta amigo canta erguer a voz e cantar, 1974

"Um nome maior da Música Popular Portuguesa, hoje em dia um tanto esquecido do grande público, mas que compôs um tema dos mais emblemáticos associado à Revolução dos Cravos. Quem não se lembra de "Canta Amigo Canta - Erguer a Voz e Cantar", uma canção que era muitas vezes entoada nos comícios e em outras reuniões partidárias. Há muito que António Macedo merece a edição da sua obra no formato CD, não só as suas gravações registadas em vários 45 rpm, como as que musicou para outros artistas, e, entre eles estão as cantoras Helena Afonso e Lídia Rita."

Paul McCartney And Paul Simon - i've just seen a face live, 2015

"Paul McCartney and Paul Simon helped kick off the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. The duo appeared in the monologue and contributed a rendition of the Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen a Face.”

The Style Council - life at a top peoples health farm, 1988

"Jeremy Corbyn, politician - Your music has often been cited as an inspiration by those seeking positive social change. What or who most inspired you as a voice for change? - Hmm. The Beatles. They changed my life, the Beatles. They totally changed my thinking. I started to think outside of my little bubble in my little suburban town. I wanted to see the rest of the world. I wanted to see other things."

The Mamas And The Papas - look through my window, 1967

"The song was inspired by the fact that although John thought Michelle was out in California, she in fact was just blocks away in Greenwich Village."

Jessie Buckley And Bernard Butler - footnotes on the map live, 2022

"For All Our Days That Tear the Heart is a collaborative album by Irish actress Jessie Buckley and former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler. Released on 17 June 2022 by EMI Records, it was preceded by the release of the singles "The Eagle & the Dove", "Seven Red Rose Tattoos", the title track "For All Our Days That Tear the Heart", and "Footnotes on the Map"."

Bee Gees - if only i had my mind on something else, 1970

"Splendid ballad side that comes out fresh, rather than a parody of the original Bee Gees. This stunning performance, both vocal and instrumental, and a less obscure lyric should take the team back into the good graces of the teens with explosive sales results."

Work Wife - apathy, 2022

"This new single from Work Wife is a beautiful indie folk-pop song with catchy guitars and vocals that can get to you, deep down to your soul. I am enjoying it very much. It is Friday, a tough work week is almost over and this feels like balsam on my wounds. I sometimes wonder how my life would look like if there was no music in it. I guess it would be very sad and gloomy. Fortunately, there are songs like this that can make your days better."

Simon And Garfunkel - the sound of silence live, 1981

"Simon wrote "The Sound of Silence" when he was 21 years old, later explaining that the song was written in his bathroom, where he turned off the lights to better concentrate."

Pet Shop Boys - dancing star, 2024

"The synth-pop legends will release new album ‘Nonetheless’ on April 26th, revisiting their classic relationship with Parlophone in the process. New single ‘Dancing Star’ is out now, and it’s typically sublime – Pet Shop Boys have never let us down, but equally their current work contains much to adore. Infused with those decades of experience, there’s also a sense of shimmering light, and supple nuance. ‘Dancing Star’ twitches with energy and hope, the lyrics prompted by the life of the ballet dancer, Rudolf Nureyev. A true artist, the ballet icon defected from the Soviet Union, embracing freedom in both his life and practise to become a global icon. The song has a theatrical feel, with Pet Shop Boys yearning for the stage, for the rush of body movement."

REM - all i have to do is dream cover, 1987

"A cover of the Everly Brothers’ 1958 doo-wop lullaby, REM’s version of ‘All I Have To Do Is Dream’ sees the band at their most tender and – going by the footage below – their most adorable. Seriously, how cute is Michael Stipe here in with his dodgy bleach job and backwards postboy cap?"

The Flaming Lips - race for the prize, 1999

"The only Flaming Lips album I’ve listened to is The Soft Bulletin, but Race for the Prize is by far my favorite song on it. At first the drums caught my attention but I love pretty much every aspect of its production, and it has a lot of emotional weight for me (my interpretation is the cure for cancer, probably not what it actually is lol but it means a lot to me). Any similar songs, or is it kinda its own thing? Even if it is, I’d still appreciate a recommendation for the next album I should listen to :)"

Neil Young And Crazy Horse - psychedelic pill alternate mix, 2012

"it has the roiling honesty and brutal exuberance of their best records."

The Mary Onettes - juna, 2016

"Back in 2012, I stumbled across a song instantly That Became one of my all time favorites. It was mind-blowing. The track in question was Love’s Taking Strange Ways by indie-pop band The Mary Onettes. Already in those times, the Swedish four-piece were a cornerstone of Labrador Records and much they did also after the release of that Love Forever EP. But today they have returned with something really special: a collaboration with US label Cascine for their new single Juna, which serves also as the main theme of a major TV campaign, called Cool Robot, for Oxford here in Europe. More than anything else, Juna sounds as massive as expected, a sparkling synth-driven tune with a robust, delightful pop edge. Listen to the song and watch the campaign’s trailer below."

Sleep Radio - unfield, 2023

"Been waiting for this"

The Moody Blues - nights in white satin bbc live, 1967

“Nights in White Satin” evolved into an emotional tour de force, smoldering with the passion of young love and the excitement of a band on the precipice of new artistic peaks."

Junip - your life your call live, 2013

"Here’s a decidedly juicy piece of indie gossip: After enjoying a successful solo career, Swedish singer/songwriter José González has reunited with his old band Junip, comprised of himself, drummer Elias Araya, and keys player Tobias Winterkorn. They released a five-song EP back in 2005 called Black Refugee, but they’ve gotten back together to release a full-length album coming out “sometime this year,” presumably through their own Teme Shet label."

REM - yellow river cover, 2001

"The actual location of Yellow River in this song is not specified, although the author, Jeff Christie, is on record as saying that it was inspired by the idea of a soldier going home at the end of the American Civil War. As the song was released during the Vietnam War, it has been interpreted as being about a soldier leaving the U.S. Military at the end of his period of conscription."

Ultracrush - bruise, 2022

"Some of our influences are The Radio Dept, Sun Kil Moon, Pinegrove, Beach House, Alex G, DIIV, Snail Mail, and Tigers Jaw. We are attracted to strong songwriting and an authenticity more than any specific sound."

Guided By Voices - sport component national, 2018

"Why was the most prolific man in indie rock suddenly dialing down his workflow? Well, maybe he just wanted to concentrate on making one really good album for a change."

We Are Revolution - saved by animals, 2020

"Dminor and Falcon Chest, the two members of Sweden’s We Are Revolution, have dug into their parents record collections as well as exploring the record stores of their hometown to come up with an eclectic mix of the last 30 years of electronic pop music. Their debut single Saved By Animals speaks with its beautiful melodies and airy production of what to expect of their forthcoming album. Album out on Labrador in the fall of 2020."

The Velvet Underground - sunday morning, 1966

"Andy said, 'Why don't you just make it a song about paranoia?' I thought that was great so I came up with 'Watch out, the world's behind you, there's always someone around you who will call... It's nothing at all' which I feel is the ultimate paranoid statement in that the world cares enough to watch you."

The Feelies - in between, 2017

"If ever there was a band that was born to disappear, it was The Feelies. They are the cult band that, for over forty years, were not a band much more than they were a band. They average an album every five or six years. They retire, reconstitute and play under new names or assumed names, sometimes with the same members and sometimes with a tweak of the line-up. They prefer surprise shows on national holidays to well promoted tours. They write songs about nothing. And having nothing to say. And about waiting for something to happen but knowing that it will never actually happen. They seem completely disinterested in every single thing about being in a band except for the part where the band gets together and plays songs. And, for every single one of those reasons, and countless more, they were my absolute favorite band in the world for the better part of the 1990s."

The Smile - free in the knowledge, 2022

"It’s as if Thom Yorke decided about a decade ago to commit himself to releasing some of the most devastating music of his career — which is kind of like a Carolina Reaper deciding to be spicier, or the Mariana Trench deciding that it’s not quite deep enough. There’s “Dawn Chorus” from his 2019 solo record ANIMA, “Unmade” from the Suspiria soundtrack, and pretty much everything off of Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool. Yorke, three decades into his career, has proven to be no less melancholic, no less moving."

Cemeteries - can you hear them sing, 2015

"the album encapsulates the drowsy echoes of dream pop. Reverberated atmospherics might bring to mind Mazzy Star, and the nocturnal qualities fall right in line with contemporaries like Beach House and Bradford Cox's drearier, spacy output in Deerhunter or Atlas Sound"

Sufjan Stevens - the only thing, 2015

"The Only Thing is undoubtedly the most important song in my life. It’s not the most listened to but its meaning surpasses any other method of quantifying music. All throughout secondary school I had bouts of deep, deep depression. Skipping the details, simply put I couldn’t imagine a better future. Nothing else really gave me hope except for the smaller things. Maybe cliché, but sunsets, a beautiful painting, a mom laughing with her toddler on the bus, an adorable dog by the grocery store, reading in a bookstore, a kind smile exchanged with a stranger — small things would move me to tears but kindle that impossible to describe bittersweet hope and longing somewhere deep inside me. By God the world is beautiful, I would think. We are all so small but so significant to each other. It’s all so temporary and sorrowful, but full of wonder."

Paul McCartney - the man, 1983

"Pipes of Peace is the fourth solo studio album by English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney, released on 31 October 1983. As the follow-up to the popular Tug of War, the album came close to matching the commercial success of its predecessor in Britain but peaked only at number 15 on America's Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart."

The House Of Love - shine on, 1987

"Shine On" has been described as a "classic, full of dark glamour, shimmering, squalling, pre-shoegaze guitars and a massive chorus." It contains heavy use of reverb, with vocals sung by Guy Chadwick. The original version contained background harmonies by Andrea Heukamp, who left the band before the release of The House of Love's self-titled debut album. PopMatters listed "Shine On" as the 66th-best alternative rock single of the 1980s, praising the song for its "cinematic swirl of delicate beauty, with a thunderous rhythm and Terry Bickers' darkly shimmering guitar."

Redd Kross - yesterday once more cover, 1994

"This is a sad day, but at the same time a very special and beautiful day to my family and me. My only regret is that Karen is not physically here to share it with us, but I know that she is very much alive in our minds, and in our hearts"

Sufjan Stevens - drawn to the blood, 2015

"I was recording songs as a means of grieving, making sense of it. But the writing and recording wasn't the salve I expected. I fell deeper and deeper into doubt and misery. It was a year of real darkness. In the past my work had a real reciprocity of resources—I would put something in and get something from it. But not this time."

KLF - justified and ancient, 1991

"The KLF—King Boy D (Bill Drummond) and Rockman Rock (Jimmy Cauty)—began working together in 1987 as the Justified Ancients of Mu Mu (the JAMs). The song title "Justified & Ancient" refers to this pseudonym. The JAMs took their name from a fictional subversive cult from the 1970s conspiratorial novels The Illuminatus! Trilogy."

Small Forward - human emotion, 2022

"California and New Delhi-based trio Michael Stevenson, Campbell Scott and Rounak Maiti met and formed Small Forward in 2015 while attending college and crafting songs together in their home studios. A few EP's, scattered singles and debut-full length later, Small Forward continue to craft earnest 70's-pop and country inspired music."

Sufjan Stevens - should have known better, 2015

"Jeremy Gordon stated that, " 'Should Have Known Better' takes us back to the beginning he remembers, where Carrie leaves him in a video store at the age of 'three, maybe four.' In a hushed voice, he sings like he's clinging onto a blanket for warmth as he fixates on the black shroud that enveloped him in the wake of her absence, muting his ability to transparently express himself." Gordon continues, "But halfway through, an uplifting electric keyboard line kicks in; a subtle percussive note steadily taps out a reminder to keep going; his voice shakes off the ice and forms a chorus with itself, flowering into something hopeful. Sufjan flips the melody from the black shroud into a tender lyric about shoving aside his fear, discovering an oasis of perspective when he looks to his brother's newborn daughter and sees his mother in her face. When he sings 'nothing can be changed,' he doesn't sound resigned, but ready to look forward. It's the dawn at the end of a long night, a prayer that past traumas might be healed by a beautiful present."

Marillion - forgotten sons, 1983

"An old English nursery rhyme. It is popularly believed to have dated from the time of the Black Death in the 17th century. The rhyme is: Ring-a-ring-o-roses, A pocketful of posies, Atishoo! Atishoo! They all fall down! The rhyme supposedly developed out of the fact that sneezing was the first sign that death by plague was imminent; those who sneezed died! The rhyme is rarely perceived to be as nasty as it really is; it's about death!"

The Radio Dept - a window, 2006

"a perfect summer urban love song....as with everything else with the radio dept., how it sounds is half the story. it inhabits the half-awake driftspace, maybe just idle thoughts one thinks while looking out the window? or maybe just general frustration about not being able to get into the swing of things, which i'm sure everyone feels at one point or another. lovely, lovely."

Portugal The Man - waves, 2013

"To me, the waves are soldiers, and the bottom of the ocean is war. The military just sends more and more soldiers to die for no good reason, they don't care about them. The general public never really sees how horrible war can be up close, like how we haven't explored the bottom of the ocean as much as we should."

Pet Shop Boys - miracles, 2003

"an intense love song, although its wealth of minor chords gives it a pervasive air of melancholy, as if the narrator were aware, at least subconsciously, of the illusory nature of his current view of the world. It's this tension—the implicit tug-of-war between limerence and reality—that gives this song much of its power."

Damien Jurado - whatever happened to paul sand, 2022

“He is the gun, the purple anteater, the paper wings, the avalanche, the air show disaster, Ohio, the ghost of his best friend’s wife… You might go as far as to call it a religion, and your religion is a character in his religion.”

The National - sea of love, 2013

"It’s a shot of pure dopamine. Inject it straight into my veins. I love the way it explodes out of the blocks with its short intro and Bryan’s drums and just keeps that energy going all the way through. It pauses for breath once during the the “trouble will find me” section and then just doesn’t stop."

The Mary Onettes - century, 2009

"Islands is the second studio album from Swedish dream pop band the Mary Onettes. The album was released on 3 November 2009 in the United States, and a day later in Sweden. The album had to be re-recorded from scratch after lead singer Philip Ekström stated on the band's official website, "...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 band played the Primavera Sound Festival in Spain in May 2008, and reconvened in the studio to start the recording process again in September."

Sufjan Stevens - futile devices live, 2011

"“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve memorised your face”, croons Sufjers as piano and acoustic guitar dance with tippy-toed grace on ‘Futile Devices’, the surprisingly low-key opening track. Then things kick off spectacularly with the aptly named ‘Too Much’, a lover’s lament pitted bizarrely against sputtering, pixellated angles, like Autechre with added horn section. When the familiar flutes gust in like wind up God’s own skirt, the results are exhilarating – and more than a little sick-making."

The Limps - someone i can talk to, 1979

"An early punk band from over the Scottish Border in Annan. I had seen them play once in Carlisle possibly at the Bits Park punk gig or Micks…somewhere else! I remember the leather jackets, and in those early days leather was not the fashion of the day."

REM - e-bow the letter, 1996

"The song is about Stipe's friend, the actor and musician River Phoenix. The title refers to the EBow, an electromagnetic field-generating device that induces sustained vibration in an electric guitar string (creating a violin-like effect), and to a "letter never sent" by Michael Stipe. This device is present in the track and appears in the music video, and in live performances guitarist Peter Buck often used it. R.E.M. has also played the song live with artists including Thom Yorke singing Patti Smith's vocal part. Phoenix was going through difficult times in 1993 due to his excessive drug use, something that inspired Stipe to compose the lyrics for the song; the actor died on October 31 of that same year due to an overdose of cocaine and heroin."

Simon And Garfunkel - scarborough fair canticle, 1966

"Scarborough Fair" (Roud 12, Child 2) is a traditional English ballad. The song lists a number of impossible tasks given to a former lover who lives in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. The "Scarborough/Whittingham Fair" variant was most common in Yorkshire and Northumbria, where it was sung to various melodies, often using Dorian mode, with refrains resembling "parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme" and "Then she'll be a true love of mine." It appears in Traditional Tunes by Frank Kidson published in 1891, who claims to have collected it from Whitby. The famous melody was collected from Mark Anderson (1874–1953), a retired lead miner from Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, England, by Ewan MacColl in 1947. This version was recorded by a number of musicians in the 20th century, including the most iconic version by the 1960s folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, who learned it from Martin Carthy. However, a slightly different version (referred to as "The Cambric Shirt", or "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme") was recorded by John Lomax decades earlier in 1939 in the United States."

Sleep Radio - forms, 2020

"I love your voice and the way its mixed mate, whole track has such a heavy atmosphere"

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - enola gay, 1980

"The lyric to the song reflects on the decision to use the bomb and asks the listener to consider whether the bombings were necessary ("It shouldn't ever have to end this way"). The phrase "Is mother proud of Little Boy today?", is an allusion to both the nickname of the uranium bomb and pilot Paul Tibbets naming the aircraft after his mother. The phrase, "It's 8:15, and that's the time that it's always been", refers to the time of detonation over Hiroshima at 8:15 am JST; as many timepieces were "frozen" by the effects of the blast, it becomes "the time that it's always been". It is identified as an "anti-war" track, although McCluskey stated he "wasn't really politically motivated to write the song", which was informed by a fascination with World War II bombers. He hoped it "conveyed an ambivalence about whether it was the right or the wrong thing to do."

Electronic - disappointed, 1992

"Disappointed" is the fourth single released by English alternative dance group Electronic. Like their first single "Getting Away with It", it features Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys as well as founding members Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner. It was released on 22 June 1992 on Parlophone soon after the demise of Factory Records. The single was assigned the Factory catalogue number FAC 348, and the logo of the label remained on the artwork. Upon the song's release, it reached the top 20 in Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and it peaked within the top 10 on three US Billboard charts. In July 1992, the song was featured in the soundtrack of the live-action/animation hybrid mystery movie Cool World; its inclusion both in the film and on its soundtrack album was advertised on the US single release."

Mark Knopfler - wild theme, 1983

"In March 2024, Knopfler re-recorded the theme with fellow guitarists including Bruce Springsteen, Brian May and Jeff Beck (credited as 'Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes') in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. The track peaked at #18 on the UK singles chart."