The Cranberries - go your own way cover, 1996

"Lindsey was beating his acoustic guitar as hard as he could and screaming his lungs out. The first time I heard it, I thought, What the heck is going on? It sounded so non-musical. I didn’t know if anything would come from it."

Elton John - the fox, 1981

"I can sit through this whole album without flinching once - there's some really nice material here, and whilst it's a far cry from classic Elton John, it's decent enough. The thundering opener "Breaking Down Barriers" is excellent, making the album seem rather promising when I first put it on. And I'm also pretty fond of "Just Like Belgium", which has perhaps the album's best pop hooks, although the nothing-instrumentation doesn't do it any favors. Then there's "Elton's Song", a complex but pleasant ballad that seems to be just the right length."

Beach House - walk in the park, 2010

"a walk in the park is a metaphor for something being easy, but the song doesn't seem like that at all."

Cliff Richard - the young ones, 1962

"‘The Young Ones’ does have its moments. I love the beat-band drum fills, while the guitars are very reminiscent of Buddy Holly’s mid-tempo hits – ‘Heartbeat’, ‘Maybe Baby’ and the like. Yet it’s far from perfect – corny couplets like: Oh I need you, And you need me, Oh my darlin’, Can’t you see…? make sure of that."

Youth Lagoon - bobby, 2011

"Bobby" is a somber and pretty cut that appears on the digital release as a bonus track and on a bonus 7" that comes along with the vinyl LP"

Saint Etienne - conchita martinez, 1993

"So Tough takes its title from the Beach Boys album Carl and the Passions – "So Tough". "Conchita Martinez" is named after the Grand Slam-winning Spanish tennis player Conchita Martínez, who later went on to win the Wimbledon singles title."

El Perro Del Mar - l is for love, 2009

"Death, taxes, and life's other inevitability: break-up records. Sad-eyed Swede Sarah Assbring already has one under her belt, if you count 2005 Scandinavian release Look! It's El Perro Del Mar! (later refashioned with a slightly different tracklisting in the UK and North America as the self-titled El Perro Del Mar). But that's the thing about break-ups and, by extension, break-up records: At the time each feels like a cataclysm to end all cataclysms, the definitive statement on cessation. Yet in light of the next one-- and, God help us, chances are there will be a next one-- all the ones before can seem quaint, trite, overblown, and anything but definitive. So it makes sense that Assbring should craft another ode to getting over it, just as it makes a certain sad kind of sense that the gal who sang of being sad all day long (and thinking about being sad all night long) and suggested loneliness can be pretty would again find herself in a position to make such a record. Refreshingly, Love Is Not Pop does indeed make what came before it seem quaint, representing a significant maturation for El Perro Del Mar both in sonics and sentiments. If Look!/ El Perro Del Mar was Assbring rebounding from a failed high school romance to the tune of a candy bender and the familiar, comforting sounds of 1960s pop music, Love documents a more complicated, post-collegiate parting of ways against the more sophisticated sounds of late nights and dancefloors, courtesy of co-producer (and Studio half) Rasmus Hägg."

A-ha - barely hanging on, 2000

"After reforming in 1998 to perform two songs together at the Nobel Peace Prize concert, a-ha decided to make it more than a one-time thing. The resulting album reached platinum sales and spawned four #1 hits, "Minor Earth Major Sky," "Velvet," "The Sun Never Shone That Day" and "Summer Moved On." The latter went to #1 in an astonishing 17 countries and features a world record 20-second vocal note by Morten."

Renaissance - kindness at the end, 1978

"Given its date of release, “A Song For All Seasons” must be considered as a considerable triumph. If “A Song For All Seasons” isn’t quite as good as their previous albums, at least has the distinction of coming very close. Renaissance seemed to be immune from the onrushes of punk and AOR. If there was a capitulation, on this album, it was a minor capitulation involved, because it was more in the direction of the Euro-pop than anything else, which is to say, that this “capitulation” still allowed the group to operate within their normal parameters, in a way, at least on this album."

U2 - original of the species, 2004

"Bono dedicates it to his two daughters. The image of Bono singing this song from the live recording in Chicago was used as the icon Apple used for the artist tab in the music app on their devices until 2015. Bono has also said he believes this to be the best song on How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb."

Violens - when to let go, 2012

"We realize it’s something many artists have done in the past – singing softly to deliver a brutal message – but when we started Violens that was one of the main ideas behind it, violence and violins."

Edward II - miles away, 1991

"Some ideas lead you to wonder why nobody thought of them before, while you wonder why anybody thought of other ideas at all. Edward II's fusion of British folk dance and Morris music with reggae is definitely in the latter category, but the result is genuinely fun. Rees Wesson's accordion and Jon Moore's fiddle fit right in with Alton Zebby's slapped reggae percussion and the lively brass section. As with Edward II's other releases, there are some intermittently interesting straightforward reggae cuts on Wicked Men, but things only get really interesting when the band starts playing with folk influences. The last two cuts, the Morris dance tune "Shepherd's Hey" and the rocked-up folk lament "List for a Sailor," are the best tracks on the album, and both received limited airplay when the album was released."

Sarah Cracknell - ready or not, 1997

"When bandmates Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley took time out in 1996 to set up their own label, Cracknell took the opportunity to record her solo debut Lipslide (which came out in Britain in 1997, albeit with slightly different tracks). As Cracknell commented in an interview in the English press, this project was in part motivated by being tired of "people assuming that I was just a frontperson for Bob and Pete, that I was a puppet, that I didn't do any of the real work."

A-ha - thought that it was you, 2000

"Over the years his versatile and adaptable voice has lent itself to several musical genres, including synth-pop, Christian pop, rock, jazz, folk and even drum ‘n’ bass; while his interest in theology, nature, environmental issues and politics has frequently seeped into his recordings, giving much of the material a spiritual – and often philosophical – slant. With his chiselled, boyish looks and distinctive vocals, Harket was certainly the most marketable member of a-ha – but the transition to a successful solo career, following the band’s hiatus in the 1990s, wasn’t without its challenges…"

Renaissance - face of yesterday, 1971

"Following an American tour to support their first album, the band returned to the studio in the spring of 1970 to begin work on their second. The band recorded "Love Goes On", "Golden Thread", "Love Is All", and "Face of Yesterday" before they began to fall apart. Keith Relf and Jim McCarty were the first to leave, deciding to cease as performing members but remain involved with production and composition for the band. John Hawken recruited singer Terry Crowe and guitarist Michael Dunford (both from Hawken's previous band The Nashville Teens), as well as session drummer Terry Slade to replace Relf and McCarty. Louis Cennamo left shortly afterwards to join Colosseum. Bassist Neil Korner, another former member of The Nashville Teens, replaced him."

My Morning Jacket - hopefully, 2001

"This beautiful, reverb-soaked acoustic ballad is, to me, one of their best love songs. Like much of At Dawn, "Hopefully" is empty yet full of much emotion. I love this song for its simplicity and its ability to evoke strong feelings."

Cat Stevens – morning has broken cover, 1971

"Morning Has Broken" is a Christian hymn first published in 1931. It has words by English author Eleanor Farjeon and was inspired by the village of Alfriston in East Sussex, then set to a traditional Scottish Gaelic tune, "Bunessan". English pop musician and folk singer Cat Stevens included a version on his album Teaser and the Firecat (1971). The song became identified with Stevens due to the popularity of this recording. It reached number six on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, number one on the U.S. easy listening chart in 1972, and number four on the Canadian RPM magazine charts."

The Beatles - what you're doing, 1964

"What You're Doing" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their album Beatles for Sale, released in December 1964. It was written by Paul McCartney, although credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song was one of eight original compositions on Beatles for Sale. In North America, where Capitol Records typically altered the content of the band's albums, "What You're Doing" instead appeared on the 1965 US release Beatles VI."

Fanfarlo - the beginning and the end, 2014

"There is gold beneath the ashes," sings Simon Balthazar on ‘The Beginning and the End’, the penultimate track on Fanfarlo’s excellent if flawed third album. "We have mouths to feed and Utopia to reach." These are fine, optimistic sentiments on an album that is generally thoughtful, uplifting and musically engaging, packed with deceptively complex, melodic songs that stimulate the mind and the senses alike. Yet, as indicated by its title, it’s a record that also seems sadly on the verge of giving up entirely."

Barclay James Harvest - poor boy blues, 1974

"The album ends with a trilogy of tracks which join together to form a single piece. "Poor boy blues" and "Mill Boys" cleverly reverse 2 themes between their vocal and instrumental sections. These almost folk like songs give way to one of BJH's great powerful tracks, "For no one" (no relation to the Beatle song). The track crashes in, in similar fashion to "After the day" from "..and other short stories", with John Lees pleading vocals lifting the song to an impassioned climax. "Everyone's a loner till he needs a helping hand, everyone is everybody else".

America - lonely people, 1974

"Peek spent much of the 1990s in semi-retirement, occasionally recording music at his home in Bodden Town, Grand Cayman Island. He released several solo projects and collaborated with Ken Marvin and Brian Gentry as "Peace" on three albums. In the years before his death, Peek released music via his website. His last musical collaboration was performing lead vocal on a track on the 2011 album Steps on the Water by Etcetera. He published An American Band, an autobiography based on America's most successful period, and his own spiritual journey."

The Postmarks - three little birds cover, 2008

"Bob got inspired by a lot of things around him, he observed life. I remember the three little birds. They were pretty birds, canaries, who would come by the windowsill at Hope Road."

Etienne Daho - week-end à rome, 1984

"The only song on my playlist not by a female artist was by colossal French superstar Étienne Daho and it is called Week-end à Rome, and if you haven’t heard it before you might want to sit down round about now."

Wild Nothing - only heather, 2012

"the introverted musicians those fans loved and identified with found their own solace in the Cocteau Twins’ and the Cure’s limpid eddies of pedal-pulled guitars."

Fleet Foxes - your protector, 2008

"I love how it starts really small and gets to be this huge expanse of sound with a great chorus melody. Pecknold's vocals in the beginning are great and somehow eerie."

Belle And Sebastian - the cat with the cream, 2015

"The only way to describe this song is that its Belle and Sebastian at their finest, their twee-est, and it makes us want to go home and order greasy food and cuddle something or someone in this time of polar freeze."

Sarah Cracknell - desert baby, 1997

"Preceded by the single "Anymore" in 1996, Cracknell released a solo album, Lipslide, in May 1997. Originally released in the UK only by Gut Records, the album featured dance, indie and pop tunes and received good reviews from critics."

A-ha - stay on these roads, 1988

"Life is sad and so is Pal Waaktaar. Pal, writer or co-writer of all these songs, seems over-run by melancholy. His lyrics are about crying, going away and yearning, and even the happier songs seem riddled with resignation rather than out-and-out pop joy"

Micheál And Eilish - cliffs of dooneen cover, 1990

"The late Liam Buckley who was born in the cottage immediately adjacent to the Cliffs of Dooneen has stated the poem was penned by Jack McAuliffe who had travelled from Lixnaw to Beale to visit his sister. Jack had spent time with locals in the fields above and shore below the cliffs. He then visited Bill and Nell Buckley's cottage, known as "99" a few hundred metres away - for tea and scones. Liam was told by his mother (Jack's host) that the poem was written at the kitchen window of the cottage. Liam says the poem was put to music years later by a local musician. Liam did not know the date the poem was written but he remembers it from the 1930s."

Paul Weller - down In the seine live, 2001

“My Best Friend’s Coat” is such a French-sounding song. I suppose there are touches of the Style Council’s “A Paris” EP and Cafe Bleu: “Down In The Seine”, “The Paris Match”, all that stuff. My lyrics were trying to tap into that vibe, get into that mindset of strolling down the Champs Elysee, hanging out down by the Seine."

Neil Young - my boy, 1985

"Of all the obsessions that live on the thousand acres of his ranch, the family is the one that enables all the rest"

Marillion - lavender, 1985

"Lavender" is a song by the British neo-prog band Marillion. It was released as the second single from their 1985 UK number one concept album Misplaced Childhood. The follow-up to the UK number two hit "Kayleigh", the song was their second Top Five UK hit, entering the chart on 7 September 1985, reaching number five and staying on the chart for nine weeks."

The Durutti Column - menina ao pé duma piscina, 1983

"Initially a three-chord venting unit that sounded a lot like its peers, the Durutti Column is perhaps the weirdest boy-band of all time. I say that because the band was formed on the Factory label founder Tony Wilson's whim, around guitarist Vini Reilly (who was previously in The Nosebleeds, another famous Manchester punk band; which at one point was fronted by Morrissey; a seed that would flower in the late 80's with Moz' first solo album)."

Sarah Cracknell - goldie, 1997

“London’s like a magnet, I could never wait to get there. I remember when I was about 13 getting the train from Egham to go to school in Clapham. I’d hop on the Northern Line to make the last leg of the journey, which was actually quite scary at that time. I used to go ice skating in Richmond, browsing around Kensington Market and up the Kings Road with my friend as soon as we were able to really."

Lily Allen - chinese, 2009

"‘Chinese’ is one of my favorite tracks from Lily Allen’s 2009 album It’s Not Me, It’s You. I like it even more after learning, just now, that it’s about her mother. I always assumed it was about a romantic relationship, but the lyrics about returning home to a comforting meal, relaxing, and being lovingly reassured make a lot more sense when you know she’s writing about a parent."

A-ha - you are the one remix, 1988

"When you look at the sleeve of the 7" single of 'You are the one' and compare it with this one from the 12" single, you'll see that a different photograph was used from the same photo session. You'd wish this was done more often, because all too often the sleeve of the 12" single is an exact replica, if only a bigger one, of the 7" single. Another attractive feature of this 12" single was the inclusion of an extended remix of 'You are the one', plus the instrumental version. Which in turn makes you wonder why these were never released on cd."

Neil Young - out on the weekend, 1972

"the music has a "searching, yearning melody that has the element of infinity and journey" that perfectly reflects the theme of the lyrics."

Passion Pit - hideaway, 2012

"Gossamer commands its listener directly through some precise and unambiguous emotional corridors, Angelakos’ lyrics often high and centre in the mix, frequently delivered with a more conventional vocal performance for clarity."

Bee Gees - turn of the century, 1967

"I did more stuff with Ossie Byrne without the Bee Gees than I did with the Bee Gees. Ossie had a knack of keeping quiet and letting people get on, and then he went adrift a bit and got some bands that weren't quite so good. I had a lot of time for Ossie, he was a nice chap… he didn't have much talent as a producer I have to say, but he had enough talent to see the band. He had this talent of keeping people together and making them productive."

America - never be lonely, 1982

"View from the Ground is the tenth studio album by British-American folk rock duo America, released by Capitol Records in August 1982. This album marked a comeback for a group that had been generally written off since Dan Peek's departure five years before. It was a modest hit in the US, reaching number 41 on the Billboard album chart, and produced two hit singles: "You Can Do Magic" reached number eight on the Billboard singles chart and number five on the adult contemporary chart, and "Right Before Your Eyes" (also popularly known as "Rudolph Valentino") peaked at 45 on the Billboard singles chart and 16 on the adult contemporary chart. "You Can Do Magic" spent more time on the charts, 20 weeks, than any other America single. The song "Inspector Mills" was a hit in the Philippines in the '80s and remains one of the band's best-known songs in the country to date."

James - van gogh's dog, 1997

"Van Gogh’s Dog actually opens with a great deal of promise. A slow number with a bit of noodly synth music in the background… something a bit different appears to be coming our way."

Keane - disconnected, 2012

"Disconnected" is a song by English alternative rock band Keane from their fourth studio album Strangeland. It was released as the album's second single on 27 April 2012 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The band played the song for first time during the Night Train Tour in 2010. It was released officially, worldwide, on 8 October 2012."

Kavinsky - nightcall dustin nguyen remix, 2010

"Nightcall" is a song by French electro house artist Kavinsky, released as a single in 2010. It was produced with Daft Punk's Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and mixed by electronic artist Sebastian. It features Lovefoxxx, lead singer of Brazilian band CSS, on vocals and includes remixes by Xavier de Rosnay, Jackson and His Computerband and Breakbot."

Sambassadeur - marie, 2006

"I grew up in a quite small town called Lidköping. It’s around 150 kilometers from Göteborg, and after that I moved to Stockholm and eventually to Göteborg. And about my musical influences growing up, it was from Marianne Faithful, Velvet Underground and Nico, and this kind of oldies, in a way. I always listened a lot to that. But also bands like Guided by Voices and the more lo-fi bands."

Tracey Thorn - small town girl, 1982

"Has there been a female singer in the last twenty years with a voice as sad, distinctive, unaffected and English as Tracey Thorn's?"

The Avett Brothers - live and die, 2012

"In terms of introductions, The Carpenter is the band's strongest effort. This song begins with one of my all-time favorite banjo lines. It's so damn infectious. It introduces the chord progression in a very intriguing way. Seth enters with a walk-up to the tonic and a repetition of the progression, and we're off."

Editors - smokers outside the hospital doors, 2007

"at 5 minutes long it's worth every second."

Moby - beautiful, 2005

"Beautiful" is a song by American electronica musician Moby. It was released as the fifth single from his seventh studio album Hotel exclusively in mainland Europe on September 12, 2005. Its music video revolves around a swinger party featuring patrons in animal costumes. The song was later used in the soundtrack of David Frankel's movie The Devil Wears Prada (2006)."

Neil Young - lotta love, 1978

"I got that song off a tape I found lying on the floor of Neil's car. I popped it in the tape player and commented on what a great song it was. Neil said: 'You want it? It's yours.'"

Barclay James Harvest - taking me higher, 1977

"The atmospheric Taking Me Higher is his other high spot, lifted by Woolly's massed keys, John's guitars and lush unvoiced harmonies. Sadly it fades out just when you expect a searing guitar solo to crash in"

The Mary Onettes - puzzles, 2009

"Despite its woeful key, “Puzzles” has unbearably catchy melodies, from the vocal hooks to the massive synth lines and backing percussion. It may very well be their greatest and most accomplished tune thus far"

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - dollar girl, 1993

"I may not specifically enjoy the Beatleish styling of “The Moon And The Sun” but as a song it is miles above “Stand Above Me” not to mention “Dollar Girl.” I have to admit that it still got stuck in my cranium, which counts for something."

Beach House - lover of mine, 2010

“Each song has its own story, each song has its own emotion. That’s what’s beautiful about songs or songwriting, and you get to make your own little universe, and then your album is a collection of universes that take a listener to some place, and each listener is a completely unique and different person from the next, and will have their own interpretation.”

Postiljonen - lie, 2016

"Postiljonen have constantly wowed listeners with their infectious synth pop and the euphoria they invest into their retro electronic style."

Cat Stevens - can't keep it in, 1972

"In the late 80s, when the Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or death sentence, against author Salman Rushdie for his novel The Satanic Verses, Stevens, known since the 70s as Yusef Islam, praised the Ayatollah–and brought down the wrath of radio stations across the country, which swiftly pulled his records from the air."

The Radio Dept - every time, 2006

"The trilogy of Radio Dept's first few albums have no skips, no songs worth forgetting and consistently surprising turns that I can't get enough of. In my eyes, Lesser Matters, is their main masterpiece, their heart and soul at its most ethereal, detailed, interior and intimate. It feels like a concept album of a love that Johan can't forget, from eight years ago..., 2003-8, ie 1995. A song about love both present and past. Someone present he can't connect with, "where damage isn't done," "Keen On Boys," and someone he was in love with back then that he can't let go of, "your father," "lost and found," "strange things will happen," etc."

The Shadows - moonlight shadow cover, 1986

"Moonlight Shadow" is a song written and performed by English multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, released as a single in May 1983 by Virgin Records, and included on his eighth album, Crises, of the same year. The vocals were performed by Scottish vocalist Maggie Reilly, who had collaborated with Mike Oldfield since 1980. It is Oldfield's most successful single, reaching number one on numerous charts around Europe. In the UK, it reached number four during a nineteen week chart run and was subsequently listed by the Official Charts Company as the 29th best-selling single of 1983."

The Legends - make it all right, 2003

"The Legends are a Swedish pop band whose music is distributed by Lakeshore Records in the US, by Labrador in Sweden, and by Little Teddy in Germany. The band was formed in January 2003, and a week later, a gig was booked, supporting The Radio Dept. in Stockholm."

Mike Oldfield - women of ireland, 1996

"Women of Ireland" is an instrumental piece by musician Mike Oldfield, originally released in 1996. It is a version of the folk song, "Mná na hÉireann" (Women of Ireland), credited as traditional but actually written by Seán Ó Riada."

America - these brown eyes, 1977

"Harbor is the seventh studio album by American folk rock trio America, released by Warner Bros. Records in February 1977. It was the last to feature Dan Peek, who embarked on a solo Christian career shortly after the album's release. The album was produced by longtime Beatles producer George Martin, the fifth of seven consecutive albums he produced with America."

Mar de Sintra, hoje 17 de Novembro de 2024

Enya - watermark, 1988

"Watermark opens with a same-titled track, a tradition that Enya would adopt on her next three albums. Its title derived from a poem Roma was writing at the time of recording, which inspired her to name the track accordingly. However, the track was kept as an instrumental and the poem was left unused."

Rilo Kiley - so long, 2002

“So Long” is the pinnacle of wistfulness. There’s no doubt that they loved and love each other very much, here and throughout their discography."

Pet Shop Boys - all the young dudes cover, 2024

"All the Young Dudes" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie, originally recorded and released as a single by the English rock band Mott the Hoople in 1972 by Columbia Records. Bowie produced the song, which he had given to the band after they rejected his "Suffragette City". Bowie would subsequently record the song himself. Regarded as an anthem of glam rock, the song has received acclaim and was a commercial success. In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked "All the Young Dudes" number 166 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It is also one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll."

Genesis - deep in the motherlode, 1978

"The song tells a fictional story of a man's travels during the Nevada gold rush and his family's urging for him to get as much gold as he can. A mother lode is a rich vein of valuable metal in a mine. The lyric "Go West, young man" is a reference to a famous phrase by Horace Greeley, who, in a 13 July 1865 editorial, advised: "Go West, young man, go West and grow up with the country."

Bruce Springsteen - no surrender, 1984

"No Surrender" is a song from Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A.. It was only included on the album at the insistence of Steven Van Zandt, but has since become a concert staple for Springsteen. Though it was not one of the seven top ten hits of the album, "No Surrender" nevertheless charted on the Mainstream Rock chart, peaking at No. 29. It returned to prominence during the 2004 United States presidential election when John Kerry, the Democratic candidate and a fan of Springsteen, used the song as the main theme song for his campaign."

Marillion - kayleigh, 1985

"Kayleigh" is a song by British neo-prog band Marillion. It was released as the first single from the concept album Misplaced Childhood. It is the band's most successful single in the UK, where it peaked at number two and stayed on the UK singles chart for 14 weeks. It also became the band's most successful single worldwide, reaching the top 10 in Ireland, Norway, and West Germany. In the United States, it gave the band their sole appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 74 in October 1985. The song popularised the name Kayleigh in the UK. It was later performed by the band's lead singer, Fish, at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute at Wembley Stadium, with Midge Ure on guitar and Phil Collins on drums."

Saint Etienne - half light, 2024

“We realized that it had been several years since we’d actually done that, sprawling out on the carpet, mugs of coffee in hand, sheets of lyrics and half ideas for titles lying around us."

The Go-Betweens - mrs morgan, 1993

"Bright Yellow Bright Orange returns to more familiar territory, consisting almost entirely of mid-tempo, semi-acoustic folk-rock. While this sounds like a step in the right direction, it’s not; it still lacks the lushness that characterised their best period late albums like 16 Lovers Lane and Oceans Apart."

Hooverphonic - sometimes, 2002

"There was more Cocteau Twins and Slowdive and My Bloody Valentine influences. But like I said earlier, we just like to evolve and every time we try quite different directions."

Gorillaz - el mañana, 2006

"El Mañana" (Spanish for "The Tomorrow Or The Morning") is a song by British alternative rock band Gorillaz. It was released on 10 April 2006 in the United Kingdom as a double A-side, and the fourth and final singles from their album Demon Days. "El Mañana", along with its other A-side "Kids with Guns", reached number 27 upon its release in the UK."

Del Amitri - make it always be too late, 1997

"Make It Always Be Too Late" and "Sleep Instead Of Tears" are my favorite Del Amitri songs."

Pet Shop Boys - shameless, 1993

"One of the Pet Shop Boys most popular b-sides, this song shows Neil and Chris at their most outrageous and uninhibited—five minutes of sheer, unadulterated fun. Yet, as fun as it is, it's not without a serious point."

The Style Council - speak like a child, 1983

"Speak Like a Child" is the debut single by English pop band the Style Council, released on 11 March 1983 and was included on the mini-LP, Introducing The Style Council (1983). Backed with "Party Chambers", it became a hit, peaking at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. Band members Paul Weller and Mick Talbot were already well-known from their previous bands, the Jam and the Merton Parkas, respectively."

A-ha - the sun always shines on tv, 1985

"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is a song by Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, released as the third single from their debut studio album, Hunting High and Low (1985). The song was written by guitarist Pål Waaktaar. In some commercial markets the single was not as popular as their previous (debut) single "Take On Me", which had reached the top spot in the United States and several other countries around the world, but in the United Kingdom and Ireland it improved upon the number-two charting of "Take On Me", reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in January 1986, having been released there on 16 December 1985. Its success secured for the band the prestige of having number-one single status on both primary Anglo-American popular music charts on either side of the Atlantic."

The Beatles - ticket to ride, 1965

"Ticket to Ride" is a watershed single, the moment when the Beatles moved from cuddly mop-tops to strange and interesting sonic explorers. So it's fitting that it carries an enigma at its core [regarding the song's meaning] – the first Rosebud in a catalogue of many."

The Durutti Column - american view, 2003

"It’s easy to yearn these days for a label that’s releasing records because someone really just loves the music. Somehow it’s becoming increasingly rare to find that warm authenticity as the industry capitalises on our worst desires for nostalgia and consumer impulses. To be sure, so many new releases bear the earmarks of mere simulacra, reminding us of something sonic or visual we’ve encountered before but without sufficient substance to pay homage to the original. Lament no more. Kooky Records has new Durutti reissues planned on vinyl that will take you back to your love of the music and the truly distinctive sounds of the Manchester band."

Monaco - shine, 1997

"this opens with guitar that feels like it’s trying to sing the lyrics, but then Peter appears on the mic to show it how it’s done. This track doesn’t continue that catchiness, instead straying closer to the lovesick youth with a guitar and amp genre."

Damien Jurado - so on nevada live, 2012

"From the baroque pop of Life Away From The Garden to the desert country of the title track to the country and psychedelia-flecked So On, Nevada, this is a a record rich in softly-spoken classicism, quiet power and enough enigma to pull you in for repeated plays."

Simon And Garfunkel - leaves that are green, 1966

"A sprightly folk-pop tempo and feel highlight this song, which is one of the earliest tunes in the Simon & Garfunkel canon that shows the duo embracing the then-current folk-rock style. Buttressed by some inventive percussion and harpsichord, the shiny quality of the melody is highlighted throughout this fine pop confection. Lyrically, it's a sad, almost melancholy song of lost love that utilized the changing seasons to convey the feelings at the disintegration of a romance. This is indeed something that Paul Simon would utilize again in the very near future."

Beach House - darling, 2008

"the album "resonates with the same formless essence as its predecessor, but also far exceeds it in both composition and execution"

Cat Stevens - sitting, 1972

"Record World described "Sitting" as a "magnificently produced up tempo tune" that is "one of [Stevens'] best."

The Radio Dept - a token of gratitude, 2010

"This song brings back some very bittersweet memories. Such a good album."

Beirut - venice, 2009

"Venice is alil more lush and slower going than his Beirut music since he strips the track down to only him singing, a hypnotic synth melody, and muted horns."

The Lightning Seeds - marvellous, 1994

"This song is another great catchy number, and Marvellous is definitely far better than Perfect, even if UK chart placings say otherwise (#24 vs #18 respectively)."

The Stranglers - always the sun, 1986

"From bad-mannered yobs to purveyors of supreme pop delicacies, the group was responsible for music that may have been ugly and might have been crude – but it was never, ever boring."

The Style Council - sweet loving ways, 1993

"The Style Council also released an amazing list of B-sides like The Piccadilly Trail, It Just Came To Pieces In My Hands, Spin Drifting and Sweet Loving Ways, which I find flawless."

The Beatles - don't bother me, 1963

"Liverpool journalist Bill Harry claims that he encouraged Harrison to write a new song, and that Harrison's response of "Don't bother me" served as inspiration for the song's title."

The Shins - australia, 2007

"Still familiar and addictive, the song nevertheless turns the tried and true formula on its ear, coming off slightly like a New Wave dance anthem."

Editors - bones, 2007

"Bones" was the fifth and final single from An End Has a Start, the second album by Editors. It was only released in Continental Europe under the PIAS label as a download-only single. It was released to help promote the band during the festival run and their support of R.E.M. in July during their German shows. "Bones" was one of the first songs off An End Has a Start to be performed live, along with "The Weight Of The World" in 2006. It has since gone through many changes, most notably the bridge and outro of the song which was previewed via a short video made by the band months before the album came out."

REM - near wild heaven, 1991

"Near Wild Heaven" "already overdoes the contrast between dark-edged lyrics and a light-hearted melody by folding Mike Mills' lead vocal into a sugary arrangement. Adding strings to the recipe is like putting frosting on cherry pie."

Voxtrot - missing pieces, 2005

"When Voxtrot appeared in early 2004 with the single “The Start of Something”, fans and critics alike both made immediate comparisons to The Smiths, mainly due to the vocals of Ramesh Srivastava, a trait that often sounded remarkably similar to Morrissey himself. I certainly echoed their sentiment, though they sounded more like a Housemartins mold to me, as I wrote here about a year ago. The song eventually landed on the excellent Raised By Wolves EP, a debut which set the tone for their reputational growth and British jangle-pop comparisons. Despite the quick judgments, I also found several of Voxtrot’s songs to be quite unique."

Imagine Dragons - demons, 2012

"Demons" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was written by Alex da Kid, Ben McKee, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Josh Mosser and produced by Alex da Kid. The song appears on their major-label debut extended play, Continued Silence, and also makes an appearance on their debut studio album, Night Visions, as the fourth track. "Demons" was solicited to American triple-A radio stations on January 28, 2013, and to modern rock stations two months later, on April 1, 2013."

Fanfarlo - let's go extinct, 2014

"with Let’s Go Extinct, Fanfarlo have dodged the bullet fired by the Smith & Wesson revolver of irony (a rare model) by ensuring that the quality of their songwriting remains solid."

Barclay James Harvest - friend of mine, 1977

"a rarely seen country rock side to the group propelled by Holroyd. It is remarkably effective and, after the initial shock and several listens, actually works well in the surroundings of the more progressive numbers."

Azure Ray - silver sorrow, 2010

"‘Silver Sorrow’ succeeds on aesthetics alone, its layers of vocal adornments recalling Cocteau Twins’ sublime Liz Fraser."

The Durutti Column - tomorrow live, 1985

"I really don’t like my own music. I really enjoy doing it when I’m doing it, it gives me a great feeling of expression and fulfillment and pleasure – just the physicality of playing a guitar and putting a piece of music together. I just love all that. And for maybe half an hour after I’ve done it, it feels great. But it soon passes. And after that, I really don’t want to hear it again."

Pet Shop Boys - bright young things, 2012

"The PSB song bears in many ways a marked similarity to one of their other soundtrack numbers, "Nothing Has Been Proved" (from the film Scandal), most noticeably in the way that its lyrics refer cryptically (from the perspective of anyone who hasn't seen the movie) to various characters in the story, providing tantalizing "snapshots" of their attitudes and actions. It's obvious that these are people who lead lives of scarcely concealed desperation, partying ceaselessly to escape their troubles."

Neil Young - comes a time live, 1979

"The guitar always sounds like Young’s dipped the strings in a mixture of honey and carpet fluff just before coming onstage and his vocals are always out there."

Seapony - go away, 2011

"I expect this band to grow and provide its fans, which includes me, with good songs for a long time. But for the present, I doubt that fans of indie pop will find a more perfect summer album than this one."