The Waterboys - three day man live, 1984

"The Waterboys are an amazing band, with a sound that has changed quite a lot over the years. This pulls together their various sessions for the BBC, all in fantastic sound quality. The set mixes some of their well known hits, with lesser known tracks, some well chosen covers. For hardcore fans it's interesting to hear early versions of some tracks that went on to have quite different lyrics (check out This is the Sea). More casual fans should listen to some of their 'Big Music' - Don't Bang the Drum, Medicine Bow, Be My Enemy and This is the Sea."

The Zombies - the way i feel inside, 1965

"A charming, almost a cappella song, "The Way I Feel Inside" provided the Zombies a hit in - of all places - the Philippines. Written by Rod Argent during a tour with the Isley Brothers, the song has a wonderful vulnerability to it."

Au Revoir Simone - organised scenery bass clef remix, 2010

"We have a record that’s been reworked beyond all comprehension, barely displaying any similarities to its sister album, which is always a good sign that remixing has worked."

The Republic Of Wolves - a long december cover, 2023

"looking back on your life and seeing changes happening" while simultaneously looking forward to positive change in the future"

New Order - who's joe, 2005

"But, for sure, everybody now knows who Joe is. So what if the lyrics, clearly a companion song to Hey, Joe, don't fit the circumstances, never let that get in the way of a great song saluting a greater moment. And, if we disregard the main thrust of the words, and cherry pick the odd phrase, and disregard the new order New Order allegedly might have been celebrating with their name, yeah, it's an OK comment. Who listens to words anyway? And I can't really buy into conspiracy theories about Manchester pop groups."

The Radio Dept - you and me then, 2002

"You know those artist you listen to, and you only hear one song, then one year later you hear another and then decide to just listen to all they're songs, to only find out that all the other songs are just as good as the last two, next thing you know your waiting for they're next album and their isn't a doubt in your mind that what ever comes next will be greater than the last. There is no stopping these guys ... they just keep getting better."

The Beatles - long long long, 1968

"Long, Long, Long" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1968 album The Beatles (also known as "the White Album"). It was written by George Harrison, the group's lead guitarist, while he and his bandmates were attending Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation course in Rishikesh, India, in early 1968. Although Harrison later stated that he was addressing God in the lyrics, it is the first of his compositions that invites interpretation as both a standard love song and a paean to his deity.!

Sufjan Stevens - carrie and lowell, 2015

"Sufjan somehow takes in such a horrific aspect of his life, and delicately lays out it’s most beautiful aspects and then appreciates them. Having terrible parents is perhaps one of the most stress-inducing and heartbreaking situations someone can be placed into. It can sometimes feel as though loving them is a choice and hating them isn’t, but the opposite is true. For such a situation, Stevens goes on throughout this album searching for the remedy. His answer is to forgive and love them, regardless."

The Doors - touch me, 1969

"In the book A to X of Alternative Music, "Touch Me" was described as a "solid gold soul classic". Writing for AllMusic, critic Jason Elias wrote that the song has "the style of pop and pure lounge." Some critics suggested the track blends pop with psychedelic rock; a combination which was unique at the time. It has also been characterized, along with other album tracks, as an early attempt at progressive rock."

Lichen Slow - hobbies, 2023

"Many of us like a bit of grump now and then. With this in mind, Lichen Slow is a new project featuring Malcolm Middleton of Arab Strap collaborating with musician Joel Harries. It opens with the downbeat Hobbies, a bit like a poppier Arab Strap, featuring Middleton on lead with Harries on backing vocals."

Au Revoir Simone - another likely story aeroplane remix, 2009

"Some light research shows the original version of this Au Revoir Simone song appeared on Grey's Anatomy. The Aeroplane version might fit better on GREY'S ANATOMY PARTY HOUSE 3011 WHERE EVERYONE GETS FUNKY THE SEQUEL. YEAH DOG this is a freakum jam if your name is McDreamy. Imagine some lady running her animatronic hands (Beyonce, holler at ABC) through his thick grey hair. He's a surgeon, you know. Aeroplane, our Belgian friends whose October mix we gushed over last week, have a habit of taking pretty-voiced women and icy-hotting their keys into igloo barnstormers."

The Band Of Holy Joy - because it was never resolved, 1990

"In the dark times Will there also be singing? Yes, there will also be singing. About the dark times.”

Steve Hackett - every day, 1979

"The album starts with "Every Day" which is an anti-drug song about Steve's own experiences of the drug culture when his first girlfriend fell victim to "Cleopatra's Needle", and it would become his signature song from his solo career with a guitar solo at the track's coda."

Jamie xx - it's so good, 2024

"Jamie xx, the maestro of musical innovation, takes us on a thrilling ride with his latest track, “It’s So Good.” As a seasoned musician, DJ, and producer, Jamie xx effortlessly blends indie electronic elements into a captivating sound. It keeps us on the edge of our seats."

MGMT - nothing to declare, 2024

"Having grown up with no arms, I have been watched my whole life. In some respects, the Venus de Milo has always felt analogous to my life"

Coldplay - feelslikeimfallinginlove, 2024

"Coldplay generally doing what they do best: love songs with moody verses and blood-rush choruses that you can remember after a single listen."

The Beatles - nowhere man, 1965

"I'd spent five hours that morning trying to write a song that was meaningful and good, and I finally gave up and lay down. Then 'Nowhere Man' came, words and music, the whole damn thing as I lay down."

The Radio Dept - where damage isn't already done, 2002

"The Radio Dept. has mastered the art of creating waves of sound that evoke the everyday without sounding mundane – a captivating paradox that challenges our perceptions of normality and beauty."

Seapony - i never would, 2011

"The song's dreamy and melancholic melody complements the introspective lyrics, creating a poignant reflection on the intricacies of love and connection."

Swallow - peekaboo, 1992

"When Swallow split up, I didn't feel I could write songs without Mike's input, I think I believed I was only able to convey ideas through him as I didn't play any instruments. I just got on with other things, I studied Art History and got interested in creativity and why people have the desire to make things. I realised that what I loved about song writing was the whole process of creating sounds with melodies. During a painful relationship breakdown, I started writing songs as a way to get through it. Initially it was pure escapism, however it was when I got an electric guitar that the ideas really came out and it was immensely satisfying to thrash out emotions on it!"

REM - half a world away, 1991

"R.E.M. founding members Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe played their first show on April 5, 1980, at a friend’s birthday party in an abandoned church in Athens, Georgia. From that point forward until 2011 when they decided to call it a day, the band released fifteen albums, toured the world, won multiple Grammys, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and have left a lasting legacy of great songs that defined an era."

The Radio Dept - ewan, 2003

"A huge, rumbling rhythm section ripped from the corpse of New Order ploughs through the speakers. A melody so huge and yet so ethereal it’s impossible to decribe as anything other than ‘glacial’ sears through the middle of it like an ice pick to the cerebral cortex."

Sparklehorse - it will never stop, 2022

"When the family of Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous discovered his uncompleted fifth album in the archive of recordings he left behind after his death in 2010, they had a difficult decision to make: Should they leave it as-is, or finish and release it? They chose the latter, drafting producer Alan Weatherhead, mixer Joel Hamilton, and engineer Greg Calbi to tie up the musical loose ends and bringing on Grandaddy's Jason Lytle and Linkous' nephew Spencer to provide additional vocals. It was a wise choice. Not only is Bird Machine a chance for Linkous' family to celebrate his beautiful, empathetic music by sharing it with his fans, it's also one of Sparklehorse's finest albums."

The Housemartins - me and the farmer, 1987

"Me and the Farmer" is a single by British Indie rock band The Housemartins from the album The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death. It reached #15 in the UK singles chart the week of 12 September 1987. The song had been written some 18 months earlier, on 22 January 1986 (the same day as Happy Hour). The track "Step Outside", which appeared on the B-side of the 12" release was also included on the 1988 compilation Now That's What I Call Quite Good. The song is about how gentleman farmers treat their workers badly."

Bee Gees - someone belonging to someone, 1983

"In the liner notes to the 1990 box set, Tales from the Brothers Gibb, the Bee Gees describe the song as a "fair ballad from a silly film".

John Lennon - happy xmas war is over, 1971

"He conceived "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" as a means of elaborating upon the themes of social unity and peaceful change enacted through personal accountability and empowerment that served as the basis of the earlier billboard campaign, trying to convey optimism while avoiding the sentimentality that he felt often characterised Christmas songs."

Pink Floyd - comfortably numb, 1979

"The music was composed by the guitarist, David Gilmour, while the lyrics were written by the bassist, Roger Waters, who based them on his experience of being injected with tranquilisers before a performance in 1977. Waters and Gilmour argued during the recording, with Waters preferring an orchestral arrangement and Gilmour preferring a more stripped-down arrangement. They compromised by combining both versions. Gilmour said the song was the last time he and Waters were able to work together constructively."

The Smile - friend of a friend, 2023

"Friend of a Friend" has Yorke singing over a "meandering" bassline, before he is joined by Jonny Greenwood on piano and Tom Skinner on drums. The song also features saxophone by the American jazz composer Robert Stillman and strings performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra. The lyrics were inspired by footage of Italians singing on their balconies during the COVID-19 lockdowns, and criticise cronyism in the British Conservative Party."

Au Revoir Simone - only you can make you happy, 2009

"In 2009, they released their third studio album, Still Night, Still Light, and although it lacked the cohesiveness the first two albums had, "Only You Can Make You Happy" definitely stood out as one of the best tracks. For a very mellow band who has personified "ethereal" to another level, the intro was what impressed me. The beats dug a little deeper and the keyboard riffs tremendously sparkled - even for them."

Damien Jurado - south live, 2019

"For more than two decades, Damien Jurado has sung folk songs brimming with prophetic imagination. Whether singing ballads about killers, wounded lovers, UFO cults, or the phantoms of departed friends, he’s populated his work with eerie foretelling, the sense that he’s divining something just on the verge of happening."

The Jesus And Mary Chain - head on live, 1989

"The Jesus and Mary Chain (henceforth “JAMC”) was the musical project of Jim and William Reid, who were (a) Scottish, (b) brothers, and (c) the foremost technological and scientific innovators of the modern rock era. Before they came along, many people still assumed that in order to make aggressive, energetic noises, the members of rock bands had to actually move around, do guitar windmills, and look engaged. The JAMC did not like this situation, because those poses tended to be either uncool or boring, and often made one look like a complete twat."

Billy Bragg And Wilco - california stars, 1998

"Mermaid Avenue is a 1998 album of previously unheard lyrics written by American folk singer Woody Guthrie, put to music written and performed by British singer Billy Bragg and the American band Wilco."

Liam Gallagher And John Squire - just another rainbow, 2024

"Liam Gallagher John Squire (also referred to as Liam Gallagher & John Squire[a]) is a collaborative studio album by English singer-songwriter Liam Gallagher and guitarist John Squire, released on 1 March 2024 through Warner Music UK. The album was preceded by the singles "Just Another Rainbow" and "Mars to Liverpool". It marks Squire's first album of material under his own name in twenty years since Marshall's House (2004)."

The New Pornographers - firework in the falling snow live, 2023

"I've listened to this album multiple times now and I am not hesitant to say that it might be one of their best. It's a bit of a grower but once you've grown into it, there is just so much there to be rediscovered."

Cameron Sonnier - anytime, 2024

"Houston-based artist Cameron Sonnier reveals the debut single from his upcoming sophomore album, Synchronicity. “Anytime” shows a gorgeous, contemplative folk sound with twangy guitars and warming underlying acoustics, complementing a warming vocal presence ruminating on “friends we used to know,” and other retrospective musings. Co-produced with Jordan Lawlor (formerly of M83), Sonnier describes the single as “about the fleeting nature of life, how we overcome hard times with a smile and move on, but are haunted by memories, places we’ve been and people we used to know, while creating more memories until we die.”

Jan Garbarek - molde canticle, 1991

"I Took Up the Runes is an album by Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek recorded August 1990 and released on ECM later that year. The quintet features pianist Rainer Brüninghaus, bassist Eberhard Weber, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos and drummer Manu Katché, with keyboardist Bugge Wesseltoft and singer Ingor Ánte Áilo Gaup."

Bee Gees - juliet live, 1989

"The Bee Gee with the highest profile in Europe, Robin enjoyed solo success with "Saved By The Bell" in 1969, the electropop of "Juliet" (1983), co-written and co-produced by Maurice, and "Please" in 2002."

Suzanne Vega - in liverpool, 1992

"Liverpool, of course, is now best known as the home of The Beatles. However, it is also a city where other things happen, and I don't see another reference to them in the song. The other reference that is in the song is to a "hunchback," since the best-known church-bell ringer is Quasimodo, the fictioanl Hunchback of Notre Dame (and if someone can explain to me why a college with the French name of "Notre Dame" ["Our Lady," i.e. the Virgin Mary] is home to the Fightin' Irish and not the Fightin' French, I'd be much obliged, as I've always wondered.) Not that it is relevant to the song... in which a church-bell ringer appears prominently. The song, because of that bell-ringer, is one of Vega's most enigmatic. So we will leave the bell-ringer aside for a moment"

The Radio Dept - why won't you talk about it, 2002

"It would be difficult for me to imagine liking this record any more than I actually do right at this very moment. Call me a sentimental old Susan, but whenever I hear a guitar getting overloaded and strangled to the point where it begins screaming in tortured agony, all I hear is the most sublime, beautiful noise. As it was with The Jesus And Mary Chain and, more pertinently, the deeply wonderful Flying Saucer Attack, so it is with The Radio Dept. As for the song, it sounds to me like someone’s had a barney with their squeeze and has retreated to a nearby barn to make a noise like a backfiring combine harvester while griping away about how she doesn’t understand him. This is, in all honesty, heroic behaviour and actually the only real reason there is to listen to pop music in the first place. If it weren’t for infuriating partners we’d all have to pack up and go home as there’d be nothing left to say. Luckily, the world is full of them, so there’s no danger on that score. Anyhow, imagine ‘Why Won’t You Talk About It?’ as a sturdy tin bucket and picture the squalling feedback and dreamily melodic – although barely there – vocals slopping about inside. Watch it, some’s going over the edge! Now imagine tipping the whole lot over your own head and feeling the contents cover you completely. Feels good, yes? What do you mean, no? Are you some sort of pervert? The Radio Dept, from Malmo if you’re interested, are the sort of band who you wish you were in as soon as you hear them, which is a good start. That the other four tracks on this single are as good as the first makes me want to expire with joy."

Johnny Tillotson - poetry in motion, 1960

"The song was written by Paul Kaufman (1930–1999) and Mike Anthony (born 1930), who said that the inspiration for it came from looking up from their work and seeing a procession of young ladies from a nearby school pass by on the sidewalk outside each afternoon."

Elton John - sacrifice, 1989

"It's a simple lyric, but it's an intelligent adult lyric. It's basically about the rigors of adult love, and it's a million miles away from 'Your Song.' Elton came up with a brilliant melody, and his performance on it gives it a lot of integrity and meaning. It's not a surface song, and I think you'll probably see that one in the coming months becoming a big, big hit."

Warpaint - melting, 2022

“I was saying the other day that we should’ve called this album “Exquisite Corpse”, but it was already taken”

Counting Crows - round here live, 2013

"Round Here is everything I love about the band right there in the opening number. It’s probably everything the bands many detractors hate about them too. It’s overly earnest, it’s a slow build of poetic metaphors and atmospheric guitars. It’s heart on sleeve emotional and it has big ideas about the minutia of feelings."

The Moody Blues - the afternoon, 1967

"This album was constructed like a lot of albums back then to take you on a trip. A lot of people never hear it that way now. The world is just a pile of singles shoveled out in random order."

Real Estate - haunted world, 2024

"a picture of a person navigating through a world that was once welcoming but has now been transformed into something unsettling. Throughout the song, there is a recurring theme of feeling trapped and isolated in this haunted world."

The Band Of Holy Joy - a revivalist impulse, 2017

"For three decades now, Johny Brown has managed to find beauty and poetry in the most unlikely places, beautifully articulating careworn lives in a manner that has few peers."

Black Pumas - hello, 2024

"On “Hello,” Black Pumas creates an otherworldly sound, casting a powerful spell with the track’s sublime synth tones and celestial harmonies"

Dexys Midnight Runners - come on eileen, 1982

"Come On Eileen" is a song by the English group Dexys Midnight Runners (credited to Dexys Midnight Runners and the Emerald Express), released in the United Kingdom in June 1982 as a single from their second studio album Too-Rye-Ay. It reached number one in the United States and was their second number one hit in the UK, following 1980's "Geno". The song was produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley and was initially claimed to be written by Kevin Rowland, Jim Paterson and Billy Adams, although Rowland later stated that the essence of the tune should be attributed to Kevin Archer."

Neil Young - amber jean live, 1984

"Amber Jean Young is an American artist and also the daughter of Neil Young. Amber Jean Young’s father is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. His guitar work, deeply personal lyrics, and signature high-tenor singing voice define his long career. The singer’s distorted electric guitar playing, especially with Crazy Horse, earned him the nickname “Godfather of Grunge” "Young was born Margaret Mary Morton in San Mateo, California, on December 1, 1952 to Thomas and Margaret Jean (Foley) Morton. Young met future husband Neil Young in 1974 when she was working as a waitress at a diner near his ranch, a story he tells in the 1992 song "Unknown Legend". They married in August 1978 and had two children, Ben and Amber, in addition to her becoming stepmother to his first child, Zeke. Both Ben and Zeke were diagnosed with cerebral palsy, and Amber with epilepsy. In July 2014, Neil filed for divorce in California. Young died of cancer on January 1, 2019, aged 66, in Mountain View, California." "there is no studio (non-live) recording of "Amber Jean" by Neil Young that has been officially released.The song, written as a tribute to his daughter Amber Jean Young (born in 1984), was first performed live shortly after her birth during his 1984–1985 tours with the International Harvesters. All official releases are live recordings:The primary version appears on the 2011 archival live album A Treasure (recorded during a September 20, 1984, appearance on the TV show Nashville Now in Nashville)."

Darksoft - you never know, 2023

"Darksoft is a singer-songwriter that makes dreamy alternative rock."

Arab Strap - bliss, 2024

"Vocalist and drummer Aidan Moffat and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Middleton grew up in Falkirk, Scotland, and bonded over their mutual love for Drag City recording artists such as Will Oldham (who at the time recorded under the name Palace Brothers) and Smog. They began collaborating in 1995, and their debut album, The Week Never Starts Round Here, was released the following year. At this point Gary Miller and David Gow joined the band and became the rhythm section, creating a more dynamic live experience when the band started touring."

New Order - your silent face, 1983

"Your Silent Face is the fifth track of Power, Corruption & Lies by New Order. And also the first song off its second side. It is one of the most iconic songs from the album, in part from heavily featuring the melodica. It is still currently performed in New Order sets since the band reformed in 2011."

The Moody Blues - twilight time bbc dave symonds session, 1967

"Twilight Time" is a song from the Moody Blues' 1967 album Days of Future Passed. It is the final of three songs on the album representing the evening, along with "(Evening) Time to Get Away" (which is actually on "The Afternoon" track), and "The Sunset." Written by the Moody Blues' flautist Ray Thomas, "Twilight Time" primarily describes the scene in the sky after the sun has set. It is one of the more upbeat songs on the album (along with "Peak Hour"), played in a brooding minor key, and also has a heavy psychedelic rock sound to it."

Electronic - twisted tenderness, 1999

"Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner have a unique musical companionship. Both artists bred the '80s British music scene into pop candy delight thanks to Marr's charming guitar hooks while fronting the Smiths, and Sumner, whose ingenuous lyrical poetry pushed New Order's dance-oriented sound into the new wave mainstream. But since their musical collaboration began back in 1991, the duo continues to make music for themselves, uninhibited by current norms and marketing success. Twisted Tenderness, the band's third album, is certainly a vast improvement over their sophomore effort, 1996's Raise the Pressure. Twisted Tenderness steps back into Marr's talented guitar work: carefree, a bit rollicking at times, but in classic Electronic fashion."

The Lightning Seeds - green eyes, 2022

“I had six songs done and everyone was getting frustrated. I was told unless I finish the album in three weeks, it’d be another year before it could come out. Emotionally, that prospect felt a real drag. For the last four songs on the album, I finished off writing them and recorded them at home on my own, in the way I had in Lightning Seeds’ early days. People might think I’ve spent all these years doing final touches on everything and taking forever to write, but the last four songs were done in a fortnight. Maybe they’d been percolating in my head for a long time.”

The Decemberists - billy liar, 2003

"Billy Liar" is the debut single by the Decemberists. Deriving its title from the English novel Billy Liar, the song also references "Nogood Boyo" of Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood and appears to generally talk about a young man's boredom during long summer days."

Outros olhares: meia-noite em Tallinn, Junho de 2023

The Beatles - baby you're a rich man, 1967

"Lennon wrote his portion of the song after attending the 14 Hour Technicolor Dream, an all-night festival held at London's Alexandra Palace that served as a key event in the emergence of the counterculture in the UK. His lyrics address the "beautiful people" of the 1960s hippie movement and combine with the chorus to present a statement on the universality of non-material wealth. The lyrics have also invited interpretation as a message to the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, and alternatively as a comment on fame. George Harrison performed the song during his visit to San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district in August 1967, at the height of the Summer of Love. The track later appeared on the Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour album. Parts of it were used in their 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine."

The The - cognitive dissident, 2024

"Cognitive Dissident" by The The delves into themes of surveillance, censorship, manipulation of reality, and the inversion of truth. The song portrays a world where individuals are constantly monitored, restricted, and controlled, leading to a state of cognitive dissonance."

Au Revoir Simone - another likely story neon indian remix, 2007

"The group's musical inspirations were compared by the band's European label, Moshi Moshi Records, to "a dutifully mined musical thrift store"; these diverse influences include Modest Mouse, Stereolab, the Mountain Goats, Louis Prima, Pavement, the Beach Boys, Björk, Broadcast, Belle & Sebastian, David Bowie, Bee Gees and Billie Holiday."

Pulsar - apaisement, 1975

"One of the best debut's to come out of any band; and a virtually unknown band!! Pollen's certainly the most experimental to come out of Pulsar's discography. Super spacey, rocking in some parts (when needed), eerily beautiful, emotional vocals (many will have to grow accustomed to his strong French voice), but the strongest aspect of this album is the hypnotic effect. Pulsar drags you into their hauntingly beautiful world with its slow, powerful beat. Though repetitive after some time, it never grows tiresome."

Fukushima Dolphin - space lift, 2022

"I first photographed the fantastic band Fukushima Dolphin in Brighton in September. It was on the 27th September 2020 to be precise. At first I didn’t know who these guys were."

Sufjan Stevens - goodbye evergreen, 2023

"Javelin is an album about the need to be loved, agape and philia, and Stevens shows that he can write about both without trivializing or minimizing the importance of either. That's a commendable achievement in any creative medium, and the fact that he's done so while creating some of the best music of his life makes this essential listening."

Neil Young - quit don't say you love me, 2002

"Everything just kept evolving, and the songs came back and they were where they need to be to really happen. So it all just fell together as easily as you could imagine: I just let it go, I just let it happen. I knew what was making me feel good, and I knew that I wanted to play my guitar more like a saxophone this time. And I felt more like a horn player while I was playing my guitar."

The Radio Dept - deliverance, 2005

"Today was really dark and gloomy, which seems to have put me into the mood for The Radio Dept. Their music is quite befitting of this weather... it's shoegazey, melancholy, a bit subdued, but also lush and really well-layered between the vocals, guitar, keyboard, samples, and drum machine. The Radio Dept. comes from Sweden, and formed in 1995. Interestingly, I've never seen their name written as "The Radio Department", it's always abbreviated as "The Radio Dept." Anyway, they apparently took their name from a gas station/radio repair shop they saw called Radioavdelningen, or "the radio department" in Swedish. They've had many band members come and go, and now consist of Johan (original member), Martin, and Daniel. They've released several singles and E.P.s, and two full-length albums: Lesser Matters (2003) and Pet Grief (2006). If you've read my last post you might know how much I love a good B-side... so the song I'm featuring here is "Deliverance", a B-side from the "This Past Week" E.P. (2005)."

The Moody Blues - eyes of a child part one, 1969

"I really thought if you were out there what would you expect, what would you see if you were on the spaceship going out. And I suddenly realized if you went up there with all preconceived ideas and preprogrammed ideas in your mind you'd probably miss everything. And I realized then, that's how a child works."

Indochine - ladyboy, 2005

"Ladyboy" by Indochine delves into the complexities of human emotions, resilience in the face of loss, and the search for meaning and happiness in the midst of life's challenges."

Black Sabbath - laguna sunrise, 1972

"Raise your hand if, somewhere around age sixteen, you went through a metal phase. Come on, admit it…you grew your hair out, you bought a ring with a skull on it, maybe even went to a Megadeth concert. Well, no matter what the details of your metal phase were, it probably included the basic principle that Ozzy Osbourne was God, and Black Sabbath was the precursor to every band worth listening to."

Cage The Elephant - neon pill, 2024

"Cage The Elephant are one of those bands cursed with an anthem. You might argue that having a huge, timeless hit could never be a disadvantage, but the issue comes when a band is left desperately attempting to get out of their own shadow. How can they ever escape ‘Cigarette Daydream’, or free themselves from the shackles that come with soundtracking the distinct indie heyday of the 2010s?"

First Breath After Coma - salty eyes, 2020

"Let me guess... One of their biggest influences is Explosions in the Sky."

The Beatles - can't buy me love live, 1964

“The idea behind it was that all these material possessions are all very well, but they won’t buy me what I really want.” However, he was to comment later: “It should have been ‘Can Buy Me Love’ ” when reflecting on the perks that money and fame had brought him."

The Moody Blues - survival, 1978

"The sitar is very, very easy, as long as you tune it up right! 1 string. Once you tune up the other 18 strings right, it will resonate. But the time things that they play… we did a gig in London with a band called the Indo-Jazz Fusions with John McLaughlin and Ravi Shankar in the same band."

The Smashing Pumpkins - we only come out at night, 1995

"The songs on Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness are intended to work together conceptually, with the two halves of the album representing day and night. Despite this, Corgan has rejected the term concept album to describe it, and it was at the time described as more "loose" and "vague" than were the band's previous records. He also said it is based on "the human condition of mortal sorrow". Corgan aimed the album's message at people between 14 and 24 years of age, hoping "to sum up all the things I felt as a youth but was never able to voice articulately. ... I'm waving goodbye to me in the rear view mirror, tying a knot around my youth and putting it under the bed."

Acid House Kings - wake up, 1997

"they released Advantage Acid House Kings in 1997 and the album proved to be a huge step forward to form their trademark sound of jangly, catchy guitar oriented indie-pop. The album featured Julia Lannerheim as guest vocalist on a couple of songs, who eventually joined the band officially as a full-time member in 2001. In 2002 they released their third album Mondays Are Like Tuesdays And Tuesdays Are Like Wednesdays."

Enya - oriel window, 1991

"Oriel Window" is a previously unreleased track and a piano instrumental song by Irish musician, songwriter and singer Enya. It was a B-Side track for the lead single from her third studio album, Shepherd Moons, "Caribbean Blue" at the first time, released on October 7, 1991 by WEA. In 2009, the song was contained in Japanese reissue and remastered edition of Shepherd Moons as a bonus fifteenth track of the album."

The Shadows - god only knows cover, 1975

"The song's musical sophistication is demonstrated by its three contrapuntal vocal parts and weak tonal center (competing between the keys of E and A)."

The Jesus And Mary Chain - between planets, 1989

"Automatic is the third studio album by Scottish alternative rock band the Jesus and Mary Chain, released on 9 October 1989 by Blanco y Negro Records. The group on this record consists of the core duo of brothers William and Jim Reid, with a drum machine providing percussion and synthesised bass."

Bee Gees - world, 1969

"'World' is one of those things we came up with in the studio, Everyone just having fun and saying, 'Let's just do something!' you know"

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - so in love, 1985

"How can you resist a song like 'So in Love'? A misty piece of McCluskey romance tinged with sadness before showing its true claws on the chorus."

Tame Impala - love paranoia, 2015

"Parker recorded the album on his own, only this time without Dave Fridmann's guiding hand and by mostly forsaking electric guitars in favor of a wealth of synthesizers, and with a much more relaxed, intimate approach. In addition to the soft rock of the '70s feel that permeates the sound, Parker adds elements of R&B and hip-hop to the mix, gets lyrically introspective in spots, and generally sounds like he's either on the verge of a long nap or just waking up from one."

The Radio Dept - lost and found, 2003

"Came here looking for Lost and Found"

Swallow - follow me down, 1992

"The song "Follow Me Down" by Swallow explores themes of love, devotion, and the fear of losing someone. The lyrics convey a strong desire for the listener to remain close and committed."

The Beatles - from us to you live, 1964

"The Beatles' song "From Us to You" is a lively and upbeat track that carries a message of love and support from the band to their fans. Although the song itself may seem simple and straightforward, it can take on deeper meanings when we delve into its lyrics and explore the underlying themes. Throughout the song, several standout lines help develop these imaginative themes, all of which ultimately tie back to the overarching message of love and connection."

James - heavens, 1992

"Heavens" by James explores themes of longing, loss, and seeking divine intervention or clarity in a confusing and uncertain world. The lyrics depict a sense of isolation and helplessness, with the singer feeling disconnected from those they love and searching for a higher power to guide them."

Bob Dylan - i threw it all away, 1969

"I Threw It All Away" was one of the first songs written for Nashville Skyline and one of only two new songs that were definitely written prior to the recording sessions ("Lay Lady Lay" being the other). Dylan played the song for George Harrison and his wife Pattie in November 1968, and Harrison was apparently impressed enough with the song to learn it himself."

Nada Surf - bizarre love triangle cover, 2012

"It actually may be safe to say that this version is more accessible than the original song, which opens with about a minute and thirty seconds of electronic music before any lyrics are added. Nada Surf jump right in, using only acoustic instruments and human beatboxing, making a really decent, very gentle version of the song."

The Housemartins - build, 1987

"Build" is a song released in November 1987 as the third single from the album The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death by British band The Housemartins. It follows the softer template of the group's later material and reached no. 15 in the UK Singles Chart. The song is notable amongst the Housemartins catalogue, as it features drummer Dave Hemingway on vocals during the choruses, whilst usual singer Paul Heaton sings the verses and bridge."

The Style Council - how she threw it all away, 1988

"As the brass bounces off the synth bass giving a lesson in how do late 80s production with elegance, the bitter Falklands winter of “But now I watch smoke leave my lips/And fill an empty room” is something Paul Weller may have considered to be a show of agency in the final hurrahs of The Jam, but with the cutting of that neurotic spectre he exorcised in a short burst of glory on The Style Council’s descent into schlock, he managed to set himself free from both the personal neuroticisms that plagued his laboured love ballads, and press in-jokes that presented him as the as the Ivan Lendl of pop/rock."

William Fitzsimmons - annie's song cover, 2022

"The first song I ever remember hearing is John Denver’s masterpiece ode to his wife, “Annie’s Song”. I can still picture the tattered double vinyl sitting on my parents record cabinet, John’s smiling face looking out while my mother would sing along with every word and I would sit on the living room floored, mesmerized and happy to just be still in these peaceful sensations. Years later, when I began teaching myself the guitar, I would fumble through the chords and sing the same song with my mother in the evening; the same feelings of peace and nostalgia filling the room many years later. If there was only one song I could play for the rest of my life, it’d be this."

Bee Gees - railroad, 1969

"another throwback to country-pop balladry"

Rose City Band - mariposa, 2023

"While Ripley and co. have long slowed down the air around cosmic country, embracing the humidity of languorous afternoons, “Mariposa” might capture this more than most in their catalog. The song saunters and sways, a ripple of those liquid strings underpinned by a slow crest of organ. The song stretches out, dips its hat over the eyes and lets the sun soak into every fiber of the listener."

Pink Floyd - lost for words, 1994

"Lost for Words" is a song recorded by English rock band Pink Floyd, focused on forgiveness, written by guitarist and lead singer David Gilmour and his spouse Polly Samson for the band's 14th studio album, The Division Bell. It appears as the penultimate track on the album. The lyrics, mostly penned by Samson, are a bitterly sarcastic reflection on Gilmour's then-strained relationship with former bandmate Roger Waters."

The Durutti Column - the missing boy, 1981

"The song "The Missing Boy" is a tribute to songwriter Vini Reilly's friend and label-mate Ian Curtis of Joy Division, who committed suicide in the previous year."

Rádio Macau - o anzol, 1987

"The song "O Anzol" by Rádio Macau appears to address feelings of stagnation and a lack of novelty in the speaker's life. The first verse describes a failed attempt to be original by painting the sky a different color, only to realize that someone else had the same idea before. This could be seen as a metaphor for the difficulty of finding genuinely new experiences or ideas in an already saturated world. The chorus presents a choice between "fleeing" or "biting the hook," both of which could represent different approaches to tackling this problem - either running away from it or confronting it directly."

The Moody Blues - house of four doors part two, 1968

"House of Four Doors" by The Moody Blues is a song that explores themes of mystery, self-discovery, and the search for meaning in life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey through four doors that symbolize different aspects of existence."

The Smiths - some girls are bigger than others, 1986

"the clipped, undulating frivolity of 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others', a hypnotic musical travelogue that verges on the transcendental [...] Again, the Morrissey muse and Marr's musical setting collide marvellously, the track illuminated by some lovely slide guitar from the latter. It would have made another classic Smiths single"

Jaguar Sun - i feel it, 2023

"Everyone in their twenties feels anxiety about the unstoppable passage of time, how it becomes a place you can’t return to. It’s easy to get caught up feeling homesick for an idealized past that may never have existed, or to be haunted by one that did."

Chumbawamba - scapegoat, 1997

"The only thing we really wanted to get across was feeling positive and having a good time. A lot of people wouldn’t call that political, but I would. One of the reasons behind that was, as anyone who knows us and knows our context knows, we were a “college radio band” with a small fanbase selling maybe 30,000 records if we were lucky. Everyone who knows our history sees us as a very somber, political band with lots of inadvertent comments and “important” things to say, so we wanted to make a record that was really positive."

Damien Jurado - qachina, 2016

"QACHINA" by Damien Jurado delves into themes of personal reflection, emotional turmoil, and introspection. The lyrics use symbolism, such as the colors yellow and blue, to represent different emotional states. The song's significance lies in the exploration of one's internal struggles, the desire for understanding, and the need for solace amidst confusion."

Genesis - fireside song, 1969

"The song "Fireside Song" by Genesis seems to reflect on the cyclical nature of life and the transformative power of hope. The lyrics depict a transition from a state of confusion, disappointment, fear, and disillusion to one of optimism and clarity."