AC Newman - the ballad of wallace and chantry, 2014

"for the most part, feels cozy and lived in, and unlike some soundtracks with a quirky, rom-com indie pop pedigree, it manages to convey some of the melancholy and not just the exhilaration of love, which is something that Newman has been championing (quite melodiously) for years."

Wild Nothing - our composition book, 2010

"Second to last on the album comes the song “Our Composition Book”, which is a glamorous, picture-perfect pop song complete with shimmering sound effects and some excellent guitar playing by none other than Mr. Tatum himself."

Stars - trap door live, 2015

"Pumping up the audience with his high energy level, Campbell promptly encouraged everybody to flock to the stage, and with equal gusto from the band, would keep fans on their feet for the remainder of the evening."

The Embassy - everything i ever wanted, 2013

"Sweet Sensation is the third album by Swedish band the Embassy. It was released February 26, 2013 on International. The album clearly showcases the groups influences of club music while still keeping their distinct sound. During their following tour, the band collaborated with the lighting artist Thomas Hämén. They had previously experimented with light by turning on the light over the audience and keeping the stage in the dark."

Saint Etienne - afraid to go home, 1998

"All you need is some sparkling, uplifting pop music to get you in the mood for the fun ahead. And who better to provide it than Saint Etienne? I saw them this week at Kägelbanan and was transported away by their career-spanning cavalcade of magnificent bittersweet pop. The new songs from new album Home Counties stood up very well against all my old favourites."

The Legends - right on, 2003

"Johan Angergård always stays busy, what with running Swedish label Labrador Records (which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year), and making music in such acts as Acid House Kings, Club 8, and Pallers."

Elton John - solar prestige a gammon, 1974

"Elton and Bernie were annoyed by fans who over analyzed the band’s lyrics for hidden meanings. So they made the nonsensical Solar Prestige to mess with those fans in particular. But it isn’t all gibberish. There are several ocean life names hidden in the song."

Enya - tea-house moon, 1995

"It has been told that the path to the tea-house was one of a copse of summer trees, a wave of the sea, the pale evening moon. The trees, the sea, the moon evoked old dreams and the tea-house represented an oasis where the traveller could find peace. On entering through the low door, one could hear the song of water echo the distant sea or the sound of the rain in a bamboo forest. The tea-house was a place of repose and one in which the harmony of nature pervaded."

Stars - trap door, 2014

"Stars were a pretty big deal throughout the 2000s and into this current decade in the Canadian indie pop scene. For this record, they went rollerskate paradise retro in pink neon and full of hope in its title, while knowing full well that in reality, we are lost. It’s a good record with some excellent tracks, definitely worth your time if you haven’t yet given it its due."

The Embassy - the great indoors people, 2002

"The group's debut album Futile Crimes was released in 2002, preceded by the three singles "Sneaky Feelings EP", "It Never Entered My Mind" and "The Pointer/Make me sad". The album consists of 10 songs recorded by Björn Olsson in Sehr Schöön studios. The group sparked controversy during this time for using instruments made of cardboard while performing live, along with utilizing playback."

AC Newman - the troubadour, 2012

“This record was written during a very heavy time in my life. I was right in that in-between space where I’d just lost somebody that’s amazingly important to me, and I was also anticipating the arrival of somebody incredibly important, too. It made me think a lot about family, life and death, happiness and sadness, and how to reconcile them all.”

Gerry Rafferty - baker street, 1978

"Rafferty's daughter Martha suggested in 2012 that he could also have taken inspiration from a book he was reading while travelling, Colin Wilson's The Outsider (1956), which explores ideas of alienation and creativity and a longing to be connected."

Camel - flight of the snow goose, 1975

"Because it’s based on a novel, then it’s obvious that The Snow Goose tells a story and is a complete saga. As one would suspect, then, there is a flow that goes from happy and sweet on “Rhayader goes to Town” and “Snow Goose” to more melancholy and sullen on “Rhayader Alone,” while being dark and almost evil at times on “Dunkirk” and “Epitaph,” as the saga reaches its climax. All of these feelings are portrayed expertly with some of the better musical performances and composition I’ve ever heard from a rock band. Camel feels distinctly more advanced and smart compared to their very talented peers because of their intelligent use of character themes in the music. Arguably, this record is similar to a suite or a “symphony” of sorts in its arrangement and presentation."

Del Amitri - ceasefire, 1985

"I felt real loss that for now at least there are no more ahead, and there’s nothing much else that could replace the feeling you get from them. Nights like these are incredible. I cannot wait to see some more dates announced whenever that may be so that I might soar above the mundane like this again. Thank you Justin for this beautiful uplifting music that makes life better, and proves the inspirational power of art."

The Cranberries - will you remember, 1996

“One day I went to the airport to meet my husband and I was wondering if he’d remember all those little tricks I’d done: lipstick, hair dresses, blah blah blah, things that men don’t remember. Guys don’t take much notice of lipstick colour…”

James - gaudi, 2001

"Due to Gaudí's profoundly religious and ascetic lifestyle, the archbishop of Barcelona, Ricard Maria Carles proposed Gaudí's beatification in 1998."

Moscow Olympics - ocean sign, 2007

"Shoegazers from Philippines"

Wild Nothing - gemini, 2010

"The sweetness of Tatum’s exquisite melodies, often wrapped tight in a comforting blanket of distortion and propelled on their way by simple but effective percussion, is consistently tempered by his lyrical predilection for pessimism. Track four here is even titled Pessimist, and opens with the line: “Boys don’t cry, they just want to die”. Hopefully Tatum is not actually writing from a position of irreversible bleakness – after all, it’d be tragic if the enjoyment experienced by the audience came at a cost to the artist."

Demis Roussos - we shall dance, 1971

"We Shall Dance" is a song by Greek singer Demis Roussos. It was released as a single in 1971. The song was included on Roussos' 1971 album On the Greek Side of My Mind (originally titled Fire and Ice)."

Pet Shop Boys - somewhere cover, 1997

"Somewhere", sometimes referred to as "Somewhere (There's a Place for Us)" or simply "There's a Place for Us", is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story that was made into films in 1961 and 2021. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim."