It's Immaterial - an ordinary life, 1990

 

"The song "An Ordinary Life" draws inspiration from F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1920 short story Bernice Bobs Her Hair, telling a melancholic story of unrequited affection, loneliness, and routine existence. It's often praised as part of an understated, introspective record that's gained cult status over time (e.g., ranked in Uncut's top 200 albums of the 1990s in 2024). Despite critical acclaim for its poignant portrayals of ordinary lives, the album was a commercial disappointment."

Pink Floyd - see-saw, 1968

"It is the third Pink Floyd song written solely by Richard Wright, and features Wright on lead vocals and piano, Farfisa organ, xylophone and Mellotron. On the recording sheet, the song is listed as "The Most Boring Song I've Ever Heard Bar Two". It was recorded on the 25 and 26 January 1968 at EMI Studios. David Gilmour uses a wah-wah pedal on his electric guitar and possibly contributes backing vocals."

Pearl Jam - mankind, 1996

"The inspiration behind “Mankind” is often interpreted as Gossard’s commentary on authenticity in the mid-90s rock scene. Several sources describe the song as a “scathing put-down of imposter bands” that were flooding the music scene in the wake of Pearl Jam’s success (PEARL JAM - NO CODE (1996) - The Year Grunge Broke). By 1996, the grunge explosion had given rise to many imitators, and Gossard’s lyrics and attitude in “Mankind” reflect a frustration with trend-chasing and musical facades. One music review called the track a “riff-driven put-down of second-wave ‘grunge’ bands” (The Genius Of… No Code by Pearl Jam - Guitar.com). In tone, however, Gossard approached the subject with humor and irony rather than anger. He delivers the song in a tongue-in-cheek manner, once referring to his own rough lead vocals as a bit of fun within the album (No Code – More Than Ten). The band was aware that fans and radio listeners would be surprised to hear Stone on lead – indeed, its debut “took fans and radio stations by complete surprise in 1996” (No Code – More Than Ten). This willingness to subvert expectations was very much in line with Pearl Jam’s mindset during No Code, an album defined by experimentation and defying mainstream conventions."

Fazerdaze - shoulders, 2017

"‘Shoulders’ features a casio-like keyboard sound, that reminds this listener of the casio work of Chris Knox and Tall Dwarfs, and Amelia's layered mournful vocals. Another standout is ‘Friends’ with an intro of single bass notes leading to a vocal, then simple drum beats and finally a contrasting loud guitar. We were ready for a blast of colder air and this blows and mingles some of the traces of unease that have accumulated and now reside faintly beneath the surface of this album."

Paul McCartney - we can work it out paul is live, 1993

"Paul Is Live, Paul McCartney’s third solo live album, was recorded in 1993 during his New World Tour. The tour visited Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, and the USA, and was in support of McCartney’s Off The Ground album. The majority of the recordings on Paul Is Live were from the US leg of the tour, mainly from Boulder, Charlotte, and Kansas City. The title ‘Paul Is Live’ refers to the Paul Is Dead myth, which began shortly after the release of Abbey Road in 1969. McCartney and engineer Geoff Emerick began selecting songs for the album in June 1993, during a break in the New World Tour."

The Lightning Seeds - if only, 1999

"Occasionally, the Lightning Seeds sound like a warmer version of the Pet Shop Boys, especially on "If Only" and "Happy Satellite."

The Go-Betweens - dusty in here, 1983

"Forster rated the songs on the album as the best set he and McLennan had ever written, most flowing "in a gold rush over a warm English summer".

Neil Young - human highway hitchhiker, 2017

"Recorded over the course of one lazy, stoned day in Malibu in 1976, Hitchhiker was never bootlegged, unlike Homegrown and Chrome Dreams, its unreleased cousins from the mid-'70s. Neil Young first let its existence be known in 2014, when he mentioned a 1976 solo acoustic session recorded with longtime producer David Briggs that was "a complete piece."

Paul McCartney - hope of deliverance live, 1993

“‘Deliverance,’ to me, is a religious word, a biblical word that you hear in church, and I’m glad to be using it in a secular context — in the context of a love song, that’s to say. We want deliverance from all the darkness that surrounds us.”

Lee Scratch Perry - merry christmas happy new year, 1986

"The Jamaican legend kickstarted Bob Marley’s career, has worked with everyone from Paul McCartney to John Martyn to the Clash, and has racked up countless records as both artist and producer. Perry’s 1960s and 70s studio innovations were decades ahead of their time, and the godfather of dub’s incalculable influence is still reverberating through genres from hip-hop to grime to dubstep."

The Moody Blues - in the quiet of christmas morning bach one hundred forty-seven, 2003

"December is the sixteenth and final studio album by the Moody Blues and their only Christmas album. Though they decided against recording any further albums following its release,[2] the band continued to tour intermittently until 2018."

Mew - she came home for christmas, 1997

"She Came Home for Christmas is the second single by Danish alternative rock band Mew. The song was released after "I Should Have Been a Tsin-Tsi (For You)". The song originally appeared on the band's debut album A Triumph for Man in 1997, and was later included on Frengers, a compilation album of sorts, in 2003. The song was released as a single in both Denmark and the United Kingdom multiple times between 1997 and 2003."

The Flaming Lips - christmas at the zoo, 1995

"There are many beautifully-written efforts at capturing the season in musical form that fly under the radar. If you’re looking for something to add to your holiday playlist then Christmas at the Zoo by The Flaming Lips is a truly lovely example"

Lee Scratch Perry - santa claus, 2008

"The background of Lee 'Scratch' Perry's 54th studio album is the traditional reggae rhythms and chill-out vocals that have defined his sound over the years. But this time it is drenched in sharp electronic effects, fast driving beats and production by Perry's good friend Andrew W.K. The eclectic mix of influences keeps Perry pumping out tracks that are fresh and club ready."

Neil Young - powderfinger hitchhicker version, 2017

"Back then when we played this record for business folks, the reaction was that it was not a real record, but a collection of demos. I was advised to record the songs with a band, but the Hitchhicker versions are the true originals, recorded earlier than any versions you may have ever heard, and I always knew the original album would find its place and surface. That time is now."

Dumbo Gets Mad - thank you neil, 2015

"The Italian boy-girl duo Dumbo Gets Mad may harken back to the sounds of 70's soul and psychedelic rock, but their eyes are set towards the abyssal reaches of outer space. According to the band, their latest LP, Thank You Neil, is inspired by Cosmos: A Space Odyssey, a mind-blowing science show about the universe and its mysteries hosted by renowned astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson."

Sweet Unrest - sometimes, 2025

“This song started about a breakup, but I abandoned it because I couldn’t figure out the rest. Then two of my mates died in the same week, and the rest of the song just fell out of me. After their deaths, I realised how I wanted to live: to love better. If I could do that, they wouldn’t have died for nothing. Though inspired by different events, the song deals with one feeling – accepting loss in any form and celebrating the memory of people who aren’t here anymore. It starts with an aching heart, and explodes into a celebration of joy and life, working through grief in its own way. Every time we play it, I’m reminded that after sadness always comes joy.”

Crystal Castles - vanished, 2008

"an echoey tunnel of fuzzed-out synths and bouncy, cartoonish tones"

Elton John - hoop of fire, 1986

"Even the most ardent enthusiasts freely admit that Leather Jackets (1986) was nothing more or less than a final fulfillment of his six-album deal with Geffen Records."

Bob Dylan - hurricane, 1976

"Dylan had written topical ballads such as 'The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll' and Bob wasn't sure that he could write a song [about Carter]... He was just filled with all these feelings about Hurricane. He couldn't make the first step. I think the first step was putting the song in a total storytelling mode. I don't remember whose idea it was to do that. But really, the beginning of the song is like stage directions, like what you would read in a script: 'Pistol shots ring out in a barroom night.... Here comes the story of the Hurricane.' Boom! Titles. You know, Bob loves movies, and he can write these movies that take place in eight to ten minutes, yet seem as full or fuller than regular movies"