Cocteau Twins - rilkean heart, 1995

"Rilke supported the Russian Revolution in 1917 as well as the Bavarian Soviet Republic in 1919. He became friends with Ernst Toller and mourned the deaths of Rosa Luxemburg, Kurt Eisner, and Karl Liebknecht. He confided that of the five or six newspapers he read daily, those on the far left came closest to his own opinions. He developed a reputation for supporting left-wing causes"

The Postmarks - let go, 2007

"The sad and sunny Floridian classic pop trio Postmarks join the ranks of and the Women And Children and the Fiery Furnaces, with this hazily sylvan clip, rays of light pouring through green leaves, chem major Tim Yehezkely occasionally mouthing her happy/sad lyrics."

Marillion - script for a jester's tear, 1983

"Script For A Jester's Tear is a spontaneous feeling lyric; it seems to be set quite soon after a break-up, whereas The Web gives the feel of months wallowing in depression. It is for me quite the most beautiful expression of the pain of rejection."

The Radio Dept - messy enough, 2009

"Some people are weekend warriors, getting up and out early on Saturdays, taking the kids to soccer or swim lessons or karate, getting their grocery shopping out of the way, etc. That’s not us. When Saturday rolls around we all like to have slow, leisurely breakfasts at whatever time it is when we come down stairs, catch up on some reading, just take it easy. What’s the rush? To me Saturdays are like summer vacations; you have to appreciate them while you have them because they’re gone before you’re ready. Slow it down. The dishes can wait."

Barclay James Harvest - vanessa simmons, 1971

"Vanessa Simmons" is a simple but effective number with just acoustic guitars under the vocals."

Amy Macdonald - this is the life, 2007

"This Is the Life" is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Amy Macdonald from her 2007 debut album of the same name. It was released on 10 December 2007 in the United Kingdom and in 2008 in most European countries. It became Macdonald's most successful single to date, topping eight European singles charts and reaching the top 10 on nine other European music listings. Conversely, the song did not match the success of "Mr Rock & Roll" in the United Kingdom, stalling at number 28 on the UK Singles Chart. The music video consists of pictures of Macdonald and her friends' night out."

Pet Shop Boys - luna park, 2006

"if "Luna Park" is indeed the United States, then what does the line "It's always dark in Luna Park" suggest—aside, of course, from the historical fact that the original Luna Park was open only at night? In what ways is America an amusement park where it's always dark? That, in effect, is the subject of the song. To much of the rest of the world, rightly or wrongly, the United States must indeed seem like a vast national amusement park, an "unreal" place where people are devoted to entertainment and enjoyment, to keeping themselves amused, and to keeping themselves in the dark—though whether that darkness is merely a means to an end or an end unto itself is a matter of debate."

The Waterboys - the whole of the moon, 1985

"AllMusic instead suggests that its subject is a number of people who inspired Scott, including writer C. S. Lewis and the musician Prince. Scott himself says that he "couldn't have written" the song without having read Mark Helprin's novel Winter's Tale, but goes on to state that the song is not about Helprin. The official Waterboys website's Frequently Asked Questions clarifies that Scott has said that the song's subject is "a composite of many people", including C. S. Lewis, but explicitly states that it is not about Prince."

Aimee Mann - she really wants you, 2005

"For The Forgotten Arm, Mann hired a new (for her) cast of studio pros and had them play mid-’70s roots rock in the style of The Faces and Lynyrd Skynyrd (or in the album’s softer moments The Band and Tumbleweed Connection-era Elton John). For some of these players, this sort of meat-and-potatoes country rock was second nature; guitarist Jeff Trott, for example, who made his rep on Sheryl Crow’s second album. Others were slightly removed from their usual sphere; fellow guitarist Julian Coryell is more associated with jazz than cowboy-chord rock. At times the wailing guitar crosses the line from authentically 1970s into schlock, with the worst excesses come from Trott. On She Really Wants You, he sounds like a wind machine is blowing his hair. His solo on Dear John, which is similar in style, tone and technique, is even more stadium; the vibrato is so foot-on-the-monitor over the top you wonder whether Trott could possibly be being serious."

Azure Ray - safe and sound, 2001

"Azure Ray is an Athens, GA, duo composed of Orenda Fink and Maria Taylor; their self-titled debut album is a quiet, gentle set of lovely songs that doesn't fit neatly into any current pigeonhole. Both women have contributed to more well-known projects - both have played in the ever-changing Bright Eyes touring band and Fink has played with the interesting Japancakes instrumental ensemble (but she didn't hint at the sort of lovely and emotional soul-searching found on Azure Ray)."

Memoryhouse - caregiver, 2010

"We’ve all felt like ghosts at one time or another."

Genesis - one day, 1969

"From the abundantly pleasant pastoral opening, the song transitions into a verse of lovely backing music that the boys forgot to put a melody on. Really, the verses of this one might as well just be William Shatner doing spoken word; they wouldn’t lose anything from the switch. But then the horns pick up, and we enter a fairly effective chorus."

Indochine - sweet dreams, 2005

"When watching a show about albums on French TV, I came across a very interesting band I had never heard before, Indochine, pronounced Ondo-sheen. In the video, they were playing to a packed out arena with a lot of fans, mostly female, screaming their appreciation of the band. I came to the conclusion they were a huge sensation in their native country, which my good buddy, The Vintage Toy Adviser, has since confirmed."

Devine And Statton - crestfallen, 1990

"There was always something so exotic about Les Disques du Crepuscule, the Belgian label and European cousin (in essence) of Factory Records. Thus it was perfectly suited for the sophisticated pop music that Alison Statton came to be associated with. She had already been involved in two bands that had reached cult status overnight (Young Marble Giants and Weekend), so it is only fitting that her third musical venture ended up being held in equally high regard. Partnering with Ian Devine (who was part of forgotten Mancunian band Ludus), they continued in a similar vein to Statton’s work with Weekend: light, jazzy pop music that was reminiscent of early Everything But the Girl. Their first release, 1989’s The Prince of Wales, was a glorious showcase for Statton’s exquisite voice and the pair’s devotion to Welsh nationalism, even if it was done in a subtle, melodic way. 1990’s Cardiffians followed a similar template to its predecessor but in this case, more of the same was a very welcome thing. It featured a more substantial band (including New Order’s Peter Hook), although it is hardly noticeable, yet the under-riding Welsh theme is still evident."

Saint Etienne - woodcabin, 1998

"Good Humor generally opts for a live band sound, which stands in direct contrast to their past studio-centric output. Opener “Woodcabin” eases into this style with an isolated, mechanical-like rhythm that may or may not be a drum machine. Then, a funk bassline kicks in, followed by jazzy Fender Rhodes electric piano, acoustic guitar and muted trumpet filigrees. However, it no longer resembles a Cardigans song once Cracknell’s inimitable vocals appear."

Of Monsters And Men - lakehouse, 2012

"A close contender for the album’s emotional climax shows up here, in the second-to-last slot where such things are usually appropriate. If “Your Bones” was Raggi’s big, weepy anthem, then this is Nanna’s. It’s got a warm hint of nostalgia to it, but also a slightly haunted feeling, her clear, youthful voice hinting at a loss of innocence as she begs, “Can you chase this fire away?” Beyond that and her reminiscence about a special house she used to visit in her younger days, this one’s abstract enough that I’m not quite sure what it’s about. Whatever the subject matter, it would certainly make a fine concert closer for the band, as it doesn’t take long for everyone to come crashing in at the same time, with brazen electric guitar chords, loud and proud accordion, and rolling snare drums, turning the song into an up-tempo march that work together with another spirited round of “la la la”s to make the song feel like it could be played at the world’s happiest funeral. Admittedly, if you’re not a big fan of groups filling space with stuff like “la la la”, then you might find some of these bigger, more climactic songs near the end of the album to be a bit repetitive. But I’ll give them a pass for that since even without everyone singing in unison at the end, the musicians are playing their hearts out and the whole thing is rattle-the-rafters exhilirating."

Pet Shop Boys - liberation, 1993

"an ex-cynic who suddenly discovers the joy of love after a lifetime of dismissing it. Though he had always feared that falling in love would be constricting, he has found, on the contrary, that love has given him a sense of freedom he's never felt before."

The Golden Dregs - the company of strangers, 2025

“The Company of Strangers is a business empire into which one might invest their best life years, best health, best thoughts, every last hour of daylight in the winter months, to expire, become surplus to requirement, served notice, redundant. The Company doesn’t care about you but you are better than that. Godspeed The Company.”

The Waterboys - glastonbury song, 1993

"Glastonbury's a holy centre, a place of great spiritual power, and there are lots of spiritual legends associated with it, among them that Jesus came here when he was a boy. And Joseph of Arimathea – Jesus' uncle – brought the chalice, in which he'd collected Jesus' blood from the cross, and he buried it at Glastonbury and that's the legend of the Holy Grail. And when you go there, the place does have a power. You can really feel it."

Enya - someone said goodbye, 2005

"Everywhere life happens to everyone. Sometimes, when the day is over, reflection might bring saddest times to mind. This song is about those feelings."