• Themes/Playlists
  • New Songs
  • Albums
  • Word!
  • Index
  • Donate!
  • Animals
  • About/FAQs
  • Contact
Menu

Song Bar

Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Music, words, playlists

Your Custom Text Here

Song Bar

  • Themes/Playlists
  • New Songs
  • Albums
  • Word!
  • Index
  • Donate!
  • Animals
  • About/FAQs
  • Contact

Playlists voting results: songs about popularity

October 8, 2025 Peter Kimpton

The following songs will teach us a few things about popularity, but this film has nothing to do with any of them …

Nominations came, and votes were cast. It’s something dreamed about in school, but can also bite back at you. Love, being in a band, to local or global fame, and its paradoxes, here are the results in playlist form …

Read more
In blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, easy listening, electronica, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, rock, showtime, songs, soundtracks, soul, traditional Tags popularity, playlists, songs, fame, relationships, love songs, The Boswell Sisters, Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee, Lloyd Price, William Bell, John Lennon, Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings, The Carpenters, Karen Carpenter, Kirsty MacColl, fiona apple, Sparks, Franz Ferdinand, The Kinks, The Byrds, The Stone Roses, Dobie Gray, Nina Simone, Doris Day, Ariana Grande, Johnny Cash, Jake Thackray, The Move, The Beatles, Colin Blunstone, The Undertones, Living Colour, Skee-Lo, Wham!, George Michael, Bros
Comment

Playlists: songs about fountains

August 27, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Songs pour out …

A fluid topic, fountains strike a deep emotional chord, while sometimes reflective and philosophical, cover a range from loneliness and sorrow to exaltation and celebration. Marco den Ouden turns on the the tap, inspired by the past week’s nominations

Read more
In African, blues, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, samba, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, music, fountains, water, Jackie Wilson, Peter Perrett, Al Green, Echo and the Bunnymen, Jackson Browne, Alec Benjamin, Tracy Chapman, Lady Gaga, Grandmaster Melle Mel, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Indigo Girls, Jackie Leven, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Charlotte Church, Judikay, Playing For Change, Frank Sinatra, The Sweet, Arrested Development, Buffalo Tom, Doll By Doll, Georges Brassens, Elvis Presley, Leon Ware, Janis Siegel, Sufjan Stevens, King Crimson, Kate Rusby, Joe Bonamassa, The Byrds, Black Uhuru, Carl Perkins, PJ Harvey, Fleetwood Mac, Clamavi de Profundis, Jorge Ben, Jah9, Rolf Stimson, Gran-Lee Phillips, Tom Harrell, Carol Rosenberger, Duke Ellington, Los Pekenikes, Paco de Lucia, Cyrus Chestnut, Lyle Lovett, Laurence Juber, Mad Unity, Lloyd McNeil Quartet, Geffion, Franz Schubert, Shang Wen-Jie, The Choir Of Beijing Takah, Les Cailloux, Camille, Marco den Ouden, Marconius
Comment

Playlists: songs about percussion and percussionists

June 3, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Hit it …

It’s the heartbeat of so much music, but what about songs that lyrically pay tribute to the striking of these instruments? Inspired by last week’s topic, Uncleben’s resulting playlists and writeup are nothing short of top whack!

Read more
In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, exotica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, RnB, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, percussion, Cindy Blackman Santana, Pavement, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Bob Marley, Bill Nelson, El Gran Combo, Slapp Happy, liars, Liars, Joao Bosco, The Fisherman's Friends, The Nightingales, Rodd, Rodd Teri & The M.S.R Singers, African Head Charge, Young Fathers, The Ting Tings, Tonight, Spirit, The Mills Brothers, Devon Russell, Ray Barretto, The Breeders, T Rex, The Byrds, The Stone Poneys, Vijay Iyer, Linda May Han Oh, Tyshawn Sorey, Red Guitars, Richard Shindell, Uncleben
Comment

Playlists: songs about trucks and trucking

March 26, 2025 Peter Kimpton

The art of trucking …

It’s a subject dominated by the country & western style, but this nomadic road freight culture is also soundtracked by other styles. Inspired by last week’s topic, Big Wheeled Marco den Ouden takes us on an international truck trip

Read more
In blues, comedy, country, dance, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, metal, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, trucks, trucking, motor vehciles, film soundtrack, CW McCall, Dave Dudley, The Dandy Warhols, Hoodoo Gurus, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, George Thorogood, Henry Allen, Linda Ronstadt, Junior Brown, Ned & Chris LeDoux, Taj Mahal, Black Uhuru, Not The Nine O'Clock News, Rowan Atkinson, The Wurzels, Denim, Mark Knopfler, Kohei Otomo, Lucky Star, Slim Dusty, Cold Chisel, The Black Sorrows, Slim Newton, Henk Wijngaard, Fred Eaglesmith, Pharis, Jason Romero, Corb Lund, Jonathan Byrd, Commander Cody, The Byrds, Johnny Cash, Mary Gauthier, bread, Blind Boy Fuller, Tom Waits, Jerry Reed, Lil Johnson, Alabama, Red Simpson, Sammy Johns, Merle Haggard, Kathy Mattea, Kip Moore, Hank Snow, The Little Willies, Stompin' Tom Connors, Blondie, Red Sorvine, Marco den Ouden
Comment

Playlists: songs about thinking

January 7, 2025 Peter Kimpton

Descending deeper into the swirling vortex of our over-stimulated minds: Girls In Synthesis

Scratching your head? What makes the inner language and patterns of thought? Is there an art to thinking, of not thinking too much, or even dethinking? Guest writer Uncleben brings clarity and wonderfully crafted playlists inspired by last week’s topic

Read more
In African, avant-garde, blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, easy listening, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, krautrock, lounge, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, showtime, ska, soul, songs, soundtracks, traditional, trip hop Tags songs, playlists, thinking, psychology, Lyn Collins, X, Seun Kuti, Fela Kuti, Fela's Egypt 80, John Moreland, Ralph Myerz, Jack Herren Band, Roky Erickson, Ron Moody, Lionel Bart, paul simon, Avett Brothers, Girls In Synthesis, Pere Ubu, Mclusky, Swans, The Beatles, The Charlatans, The Lemon Twigs, Londonbeat, UB40, The Smiths, Albert Collins, Parliament, Aretha Franklin, Robert Glasper, Talib Kweli, Beck, Kevin Ayers, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Boards of Canada, Uncleben
Comment

Playlist: songs about markets and fairs

February 21, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Take a world tour of music that captures market culture here under one roof

Apples, ackee, okra, all odds and sods are for sale from Africa to South America, Turkey to Vietnam, Jamaica and more, a vibrant, tasty, colourful selection of world markets and genres are all here under one roof, expertly picked by guest Suzi from last week’s topic

Read more
In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, experimental, electronica, folk, funk, indie, hip hop, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, traditional Tags songs, playlists, markets, fairs, selling, The Byrds, Olu Dara, Ian Dury, Yusuf, Cat Stevens, Marlene Dietrich, Paxti Andión, Les Primitifs du Futur, Robert Crumb, Orchestra Boabab, Abdullah Ibrahim, Les Baxter, Anne Dudley, Jaz Coleman, Selim Sesler, Ilkay Akkaya, Duong Hong, Lê Sang, Shokichi Kina, Fruka & Orquestra, Johnny More, Clara Nunes, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Walsh, Carrie Newcomer, Louise Bennett, Suzi
Comment

Playlists: songs about rare events

February 7, 2023 Peter Kimpton

Rare, and always on the move: Halley and Billie

From celestial to historical, the fictional to the emotional, while rarities are exactly as described, there’s a huge variety, and many songs about them. Picking from last week’s huge range of nominations, guest Marco den Ouden makes heavenly choices

Read more
In African, avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rocksteady, rock, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags songs, playlists, Space, comets, rare events, Processory, Billie Eilish, Jim Moray, Tasmin Archer, Seth Lakeman, The Polecats, Mance Lipscomb, Albert King, Pop Staples, Steve Cropper, Rod Macdonald, Donovan, Cleo Laine, Cigarettes After Sex, Cowboy Junkies, Barenaked Ladies, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Byrds, Nanci Griffith, The Velvelettes, Bonnie Dobson, Charly Bliss, Don McLean, String Cheese Incident, Billie Holiday, Bill & Boyd, The Abyssinians, Bob Dylan, Lightnin' Hopkins, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Van Morrison, Mitski, Paranoid Visions, Randy Newman, Kraftwerk, Pete Moore, Michael Lowenstern, Sven Libaek, The Comet Is Coming, Al Cohn Quintet, The Monks, Lenny White, Journey, Armin Van Burren, Cannonball Adderley, Snarky Puppy, Wayne Krantz, Michael Nyman, JP Saxe, Julia Michaels, Ray Stevens, Marco den Ouden
Comment

Playlists: songs about space travel

November 23, 2022 Peter Kimpton

After the many posts … vintage posters

When last week’s topic launched, it went off like a rocket - with hundreds of nominations. Now, out of this musical astral shower, guest playlister Shiv Sidecar has mapped out a song constellation that’s out of this world …

Read more
In avant-garde, blues, calypso, classical, comedy, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, psychedelia, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, showtime, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags Space, space travel, playlists, The Byrds, Ray Anderson & The Home Folks, Public Service Broadcasting, Labrinth, Pharoah Sanders, Judee Sill, Elton John, Brett Smiley, The Imagined Village, Hen Ogledd, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, The Mekons, The Honeymoon Killers, The Blue Men, Chris Kenner, Spiritualized, Broadcast, Lothar and the Hand People, Weather Report, Janelle Monae, Peter Gabriel, Shudder To Think, Automatic Man, Fu Manchu, Blink-182, Teenage Fanclub, Chungking, Pearls Before Swine, Curt Boettcher, Wonky Alice, Children Collide, Soundhog, T.P. Orchestre Poly Rhythmo De Colonou, Rezillos, PJ Harvey, XTC, Amon Düül II, Kendra Smith, Game Theory, The Kaleidoscope, ShivSidecar
Comment

Playlists: songs about cetaceans

April 19, 2022 Peter Kimpton

Tails of the unexpected: whale dive

Tales of tragedy and adversity, death, survival and joy, from folk, rock, experimental and beyond, this week’s guest captain George Boyland steers us on a fabulous music journey, a deep dive to follow tales of whales and dolphins

Read more
In avant-garde, blues, classical, country, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, psychedelia, prog, rock, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags whales, dolphins, porpoises, cetaceans, marine biology, Sting, Lou Reed, Jim Capaldi, Tulku, J.B. Lenoir, Tom Waits, Eddi Reader, Dennis Wilson, Connan Mockasin, Massive Attack, Bronski Beat, Seth Lakeman, The Byrds, Jeff Beal, paul simon, Elton John, Leon Russell, Crosby Stills & Nash, Gordon Lightfoot, Adrian Belew, Louis Armstrong, Billy Bragg, Country Joe McDonald, The Pogues, Nic Jones, George Boyland
Comment

Playlists: songs about tomorrow

November 24, 2021 Peter Kimpton

She’ll wait, but it finally brings her turn: Rhiannon Giddens

When is it coming? When do you want it? Now? After waves of nominations, tomorrow comes in many parties and parts, in imagination, on the clock, in emotions, and more, in a mammoth collection of clever categories chosen by guest playlister Nicko

Read more
In African, avant-garde, blues, country, dance, disco, drone, dub, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, jazz, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul, soundtracks, traditional Tags tomorrow, songs, playlists, The Cure, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rhiannon Giddens, Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Mitski, Southwest F.O.B., The Beatles, Roger Whittaker, Spacemen 3, Love And Rockets, The Durutti Column, Hendrickson Road House, Screaming Blue Stars, McDonald & Giles, The Vibrators, Tindersticks, The WordD, Definition of Sound, Lou Pride, Bill Wells, Aidan Moffat, Al Green, Radio Tarifa, Rokia Traoré, William Onyeabor, Soko, Takashi Shimura, Icehouse, Barrington Levy, Gabriel Omolo & His Apollo Komesha, Junior Wells, Nicko
Comment

Playlists: songs about indifference

April 6, 2021 Peter Kimpton
Honey badger: ‘Yeah? And? So what?’

Honey badger: ‘Yeah? And? So what?’

As independent and tough as the honey badger, these playlists rise above any concerns. They don’t care what anyone else thinks. How come? They are brilliantly compiled by guest AmyLee, picked from hundreds of nominations

Read more
In blues, country, dance, disco, electronica, experimental, folk, funk, gospel, indie, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, punk, reggae, rock, songs, soul, traditional, soundtracks Tags songs, playlists, indifference, Irma Thomas, Frank Zappa, The Lyrics, The Byrds, Kirsty MacColl, Smokey Robinson, bread, Alison Krauss, Union Station, John Prine, Morrissey, Green Day, Nirvana, Sick On The Bus, The Stooges, Graham Parker, The Leisure Society, The Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, The Grateful Dead, Hank Mobley, Steely Dan, Candi Staton, George Jones, America, Elliott Smith, Velvet Underground, Belle & Sebastian, Snog, Fiona Apple, Dead Can Dance, Everything But The Girl, The Go-Betweens, Primitive Radio Gods, The Folk Implosion, Transvision Vamp, Liam Lynch's Lynchland, Chicago, Ten Years After, Courtney Barnett, The Cure, Sleaford Mods, Alternative TV, The Defects, The White Stripes, The Rolling Stones, Leonard Cohen, The Smiths, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Anti-Nowhere League, AmyLee
Comment

Playlists: songs featuring steel guitar

August 12, 2020 Peter Kimpton
Smooth liquid sound: a 1947 Rickenbacker

Smooth liquid sound: a 1947 Rickenbacker

Smoothly glidin’, slidin’, pickin’, these playlists with players from the US to India, Hawaii to Sweden picked by guest Marco den Ouden, are a treasure chest of beautiful sounds and genres spanning blues, rock, country and way more across the big neck

Read more
In avant-garde, blues, classical, country, folk, instrumentals, jazz, music, playlists, pop, rock, songs Tags songs, playlists, steel guitars, Sheryl Crow, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Judy Collins, Steely Dan, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Barbara Mandrell, Cindy Cashdollar, First Aid Kit, Jerry Garcia, Ricky King, Bob Brozman, Ledward Kaapana, Luke Vibert, B.J. Cole, Harry Manx, Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz, Lucky Oceans, Paul Kelly, Larkin Poe, Gaby Jogeix, Kimberly Murray, Junior Brown, George Harrison, Son Lux, Christopher Wray, Elmore James, Tammy Wynette, Pete Drake, John Hiatt, Ry Cooder, The Byrds, Lloyd Green, Susanne Sundfør, Taj Mahal, Sandy Denny, Sneaky Pete Kleimow, Juicy Lucy, Glen Ross Vampbell, Neil Young, Ben Keith, Jonathan Richman, Tom Brumley, Matthews Southern Comfort, Gordon Huntley, Alvino Rey & His Orchestra, Chris Rea, Bill Bottrell, Dave Stewart, Orianthi, Kacey Musgraves, Bucky Baxter, K.D. Lang, The Siss Boom Bang, Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers, Mudcrutch, Josh Jove, Julius Rucker, Dan Dugmore, Dr. Nico, L’African Fiesta Sukisa, The Notting Hillbillies, Nashville Chamber Orchestra, Gary Morse, Emily Burridge, Sneaky Pete Kleinow, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jerry Douglas, Doug Beaumier, Santo & Johnny, David Hartley, John Russell, Zane King, Brian Eno, David Rothon, The Waikikis, Convergence, Bob Dylan, Marty Rifkin
Comment

We're only human: songs using lyrical personification

March 14, 2019 Peter Kimpton
Faces in rock: Samples from Japan’s famous Rock Museum

Faces in rock: Samples from Japan’s famous Rock Museum

Rock face? This week we explore lyrics that attribute human characteristics to objects, concepts, natural forces and many other non-human things. Enjoy a few famous, inspiring examples in songs, poetry, literature and photography

Read more
In blues, comedy, country, dance, disco, electronica, dub, folk, gospel, hip hop, indie, instrumentals, metal, music, musical hall, musicals, playlists, pop, postpunk, prog, reggae, punk, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs, soul Tags songs, playlists, poetry, personification, metaphor, David Bowie, The Beatles, paul simon, Simon & Garfunkel, The Neville Brothers, Virgil, Flannery O'Connor, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, Shakespeare, The Byrds, Charles Dickens, TS Eliot, Emily Dickinson, Echo and the Bunnymen, Man Ray, photography, Carl Sagan, religion, Iggy Pop
Comment

Playlists: songs about cannabis / marijuana

June 13, 2018 Peter Kimpton
Peter Tosh. No need to ask which side of the fence he's on.

Peter Tosh. No need to ask which side of the fence he's on.

Bongs to the Byrds, ditch weed to Nick Drake, spliff to Steppenwolf and tea’n’tree to Peter Tosh, everybody must get stoned with a woozily wonderful playlists by guest writer megadom from last week’s theme

Read more
In blues, dance, electronica, folk, indie, jazz, music, playlists, pop, reggae, rock, rocksteady, ska, songs Tags Songs, playlists, marijuana, cannabis, drugs, medicine, Kevin Ayers, Flight of the Conchords, The Association, Nick Drake, Joe Boyd, Parquet Courts, Culture, Steppenwolf, Eek-a-Mouse, Fraternity of Man, The Stairs, Peter Tosh, The Wailers, Bob Marley, The Supremes, The Byrds, Roger McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, Georges Garvarentz, Black Uhuru, Bobby Darin, Keith Hudson, Cab Calloway, Neil Young, Dub Syndicate, Barrington Levy, Joe Gibbs, Joe Gibbs & The Professionals, Man, Steel Pulse, Lindisfarne, The Toyes, Creedence Clearwater Revival, megadom, The Big Lebowski
Comment

Playlists: songs with close harmony singing

March 8, 2017 Peter Kimpton
The Platters

The Platters

Beach Boys to Byrds, Gladiators to Platters, this week's guest writer Hoshino Sakura makes beautiful harmony by interweaving voice choices from a huge chorus of nominations from last week's topic

Read more
In music, playlists, songs Tags songs, playlists, harmony, The Chordettes, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Gladiators, The Uniques, The Platters, En Vogue, Sweet Honey In the Rock, Amadou & Mariam, Manu Chao, Grupo Vocal Desandan, Mediaeval Babes, The Early Music Consort of London, Antoine Brumel, Everly Brothers, Wilson Phillips, Maddy Prior and the Girls, Oysterband, Little Big Town, Impressions, Southern California Community Choir, Scala and Kolacny Brothers, Bob Marley, The Wailers, The Four Seasons, Olavi Virta and the Harmony Sisters, Decameron, Spirit, Hoshino Sakura
Comment
music_declares_emergency_logo.png

Sing out, act on CLIMATE CHANGE

Black Lives Matter.jpg

CONDEMN RACISM, EMBRACE EQUALITY
Donate
Song Bar spinning.gif

DRINK OF THE WEEK

Napue dark gin

SNACK OF THE WEEK

crudités platter

New Albums …

Featured
Spíra by Ólöf Arnalds.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Ólöf Arnalds: Spíra
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A gorgeous, delicate, ethereal first release in a decade by the Icelandic singer-songwriter, acoustic instruments and her gentle, high, pure voice, all in her native language, caressing this listening experience like pure waters of some slowly trickling glacial stream

Dec 5, 2025
Melody's Echo Chamber - Unclouded.jpeg
Dec 5, 2025
Melody's Echo Chamber: Unclouded
Dec 5, 2025

New album: A fourth album, here full of delicious uplifting, dreamily chic, psychedelic soul pop by the French musician Melody Prochet, with bright, upbeat, optimistic numbers and a title lifted from a quote by the acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, about achieving equilibrium

Dec 5, 2025
Devotion & The Black Divine by anaiis.jpeg
Dec 2, 2025
anaiis: Devotion & The Black Divine
Dec 2, 2025

New album: Following a summer Song of the Day - Deus Deus, a review of the autumn release and third LP by the London-based French-Senegalese singer-songwriter of resonantly beautiful, dynamic, sensual soul, gospel, R&B and experimental and chamber pop, with themes of new motherhood, uncertainty, religion, self-love and acceptance

Dec 2, 2025
De La Soul - Cabin In The Sky.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
De La Soul: Cabin In The Sky
Nov 26, 2025

New album: The hip-hop veterans return with their first without, yet including the voice of, and a tribute to, founding member Trugoy the Dove, AKA Dave Jolicoeur who passed away in 2023, alongside many hip-hop luminary guests, with trademark playful skits, and all themed around the afterlife

Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats- Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
The Mountain Goats: Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan
Nov 26, 2025

New album: An evocative musical journey of a concept album by the indie-folk band from Claremont, California, fronted by singer-songwriter John Darnielle, based on a dream of his in 2023 about a voyage to a fictional island by the titular captain, charting adventure, wonder and tragedy

Nov 26, 2025
Allie X - Happiness Is Going To Get You.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
Allie X: Happiness Is Going To Get You
Nov 26, 2025

New album: A hugely entertaining, witty, droll, inventive, chamber and synth-pop fourth LP with a goth twist by the charismatic and theatrical Canadian artist Alexandra Hughes, who brings paradox and dark themes through sounds that include string quartet, harpsichord, classical and pure pop piano with killer lyrics

Nov 26, 2025
Tortoise - Touch.jpeg
Nov 25, 2025
Tortoise: Touch
Nov 25, 2025

New album: A welcome return with a cinematic and mesmeric groove-filled first studio LP in nine years, and the eighth over all by the eclectic Chicago post-rock/jazz/krautrock multi-instrumentalists Dan Bitney, John Herndon, Douglas McCombs, John McEntire and Jeff Parker

Nov 25, 2025
What of Our Nature by Haley Heynderickx, Max García Conover.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Haley Heynderickx and Max García Conover: What of Our Nature
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Beautiful, precise, poignant and poetic new folk numbers inspired by the life and music style of Woody Guthrie as the Portland, Oregon and New Yorker, now Portland, Maine-based singer-songwriters bring a delicious duet album, alternating and sharing songs covering a variety of forever topical social issues

Nov 24, 2025
Tranquilizer by Oneohtrix Point Never.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Oneohtrix Point Never: Tranquilizer
Nov 24, 2025

New album: Ambient, otherworldly, cinematic, mesmeric, and at times very odd, the Brooklyn-based electronic artist and producer Daniel Lopatin returns with a new nostalgia-based concept – constructing tracks from lost-then-refound Y2K CDs of 1990s and early 2000s royalty-free sample electronic sounds

Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac - Bang.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Iona Zajac: Bang
Nov 24, 2025

New album: A powerful, stirring, passionate and mature debut LP by the 29-year-old Glasgow-based Scottish singer with Polish and Ukrainian heritage who has toured as the new Pogues singer, and whose alternative folk songs capture raw emotions and the experience of modern womanhood, with echoes of PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Aldous Harding and Lankum

Nov 24, 2025
Austra - Chin Up Buttercup.jpeg
Nov 19, 2025
Austra: Chin Up Buttercup
Nov 19, 2025

New album: This fifth studio LP as Austra by the Canadian classically trained vocalist and composer Katie Stelmanis brings beautiful electronica-pop and dance music, and has a bittersweet ironic title – a caustically witty reference to societal pressure to keep smiling despite a devastating breakup

Nov 19, 2025
Mavis Staples - Sad and Beautiful World.jpeg
Nov 18, 2025
Mavis Staples: Sad and Beautiful World
Nov 18, 2025

New album: A timelessly classy release by the veteran soul, blues and gospel singer and social activist from the Staples Singers, in a release of wonderfully moving and poignant cover versions, beautifully interpreting works by artists including Tom Waits, Curtis Mayfield, Leonard Cohen, and Gillian Welch

Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly - Love and Fortune 2.jpeg
Nov 18, 2025
Stella Donnelly: Love and Fortune
Nov 18, 2025

New album: Finely crafted, stripped back musical simplicity combined with complex melancholic emotions mark out this beautiful, poetic, and deeply personal third folk-pop LP by the Australian singer-songwriter reflecting on the past and present

Nov 18, 2025
picture-parlour-the-parlour-album.jpeg
Nov 17, 2025
Picture Parlour: The Parlour
Nov 17, 2025

New album: Following last year’s EP Face in the Picture, a fabulously stylish, smart, swaggering glam-rock-pop debut LP by the Manchester-formed, London-based band fronted by the impressively raspy, gritty, vibratro delivery of Liverpudlian vocalist and guitarist Katherine Parlour and distinctive riffs from North Yorkshire-born guitar Ella Risi

Nov 17, 2025

new songs …

Featured
The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart.jpeg
Dec 4, 2025
Song of the Day: The Lemon Twigs - I've Got A Broken Heart
Dec 4, 2025

Song of the Day: Despite the title, this new double-A single (with Friday I’m Gonna Love You) has a wonderfully uplifting guitar-jangling beauty, with echoes of The Byrds and Stone Roses, but is of course the brilliant 60s and 70s retro sound of the Long Island brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario, out on Captured Tracks

Dec 4, 2025
Alewya - Night Drive.jpeg
Dec 3, 2025
Song of the Day: Alewya - Night Drive (featuring Dagmawit Ameha)
Dec 3, 2025

Song of the Day: A sensual, stylish, dreamy electro-pop single by the striking British singer-songwriter, producer, multidisciplinary artist and model Alewya Demmisse, musically influenced by her rich Ethiopian-Egyptian heritage and early childhood upbringings in Saudi Arabia and Sudan

Dec 3, 2025
Rule 31 Single Artwork.jpg
Dec 2, 2025
Song of the Day: Radio Free Alice - Rule 31
Dec 2, 2025

Song of the Day: Stirring, passionate indie postpunk by the band based in Melbourne, Australia, with echoes of The Cure’s core sound, new wave, and 90s indie-rock influences, and out on Double Drummer

Dec 2, 2025
Sailor Honeymoon - Armchair.jpeg
Dec 1, 2025
Song of the Day: Sailor Honeymoon - Armchair
Dec 1, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, punchy, fuzz-guitar indie rock with a droll lyrical delivery and some echoes of Wet Leg come in this new single by the trio from Seoul, South Korea, out on Good Good Records

Dec 1, 2025
Ellie O'Neill.jpeg
Nov 30, 2025
Song of the Day: Ellie O'Neill - Bohemia
Nov 30, 2025

Song of the Day: A beautiful, poetic finger-picking debut folk single with a mystical, distantly stormy twist by the Dublin-based Irish singer-songwriter from County Meath, out now on St Itch Records

Nov 30, 2025
Danalogue.jpeg
Nov 29, 2025
Song of the Day: Danalogue - Sonic Hypnosis
Nov 29, 2025

Song of the Day: A full flavour of future-past with mesmeric, euphoric retro acid house and electronica in this new single by Daniel Leavers, producer and the founding member of The Comet Is Coming and Soccer96, out now on Castles In Space

Nov 29, 2025
Cardinals band.jpeg
Nov 28, 2025
Song of the Day: Cardinals - Barbed Wire
Nov 28, 2025

Song of the Day: Another striking, passionate, punchy, catchy single by the Irish postpunk/indie-folk-rock band from Cork, heralding their upcoming debut album, Masquerade, out on 13 February via So Young Records

Nov 28, 2025
Frank-Popp-Ensemble and Paul Weller.jpeg
Nov 27, 2025
Song of the Day: Frank Popp Ensemble (with Paul Weller) - Right Before My Eyes
Nov 27, 2025

Song of the Day: A strong, soaring, emotive, soulful release by the German artist co-written by British singer and former Jam frontman who here sings and plays guitar, the lyrics about witnessing the increasing injustices and demise of the world, out on Unique Records / Schubert Music Europe

Nov 27, 2025
Tessa Rose Jackson - Fear Bangs The Drum 2.jpeg
Nov 26, 2025
Song of the Day: Tessa Rose Jackson - Fear Bangs The Drum
Nov 26, 2025

Song of the Day: Using a musical metaphor, beautiful, crisply rhythmical, soaring piano and atmospheric indie-pop-folk about facing your fears by the Dutch/British singer-songwriter, heralding her forthcoming new album The Lighthouse, out on 23 January 2026 on Tiny Tiger Records

Nov 26, 2025
Melanie Baker - Sad Clown.jpeg
Nov 25, 2025
Song of the Day: Melanie Baker - Sad Clown
Nov 25, 2025

Song of the Day: Catchy, candid, cathartic indie-grunge-pop by the British singer-songwriter from Cumbria in a melancholy but oddly uplifting emotional work-through of depression, love and exhaustion, out now on TAMBOURHINOCEROS

Nov 25, 2025
Holly Humberstone - Die Happy.jpeg
Nov 24, 2025
Song of the Day: Holly Humberstone - Die Happy
Nov 24, 2025

Song of the Day: Luxuriant, breathy, femme-fatale dream pop with a dark, southern gothic, Lana del Rey-inspired, live-fast-die-young theme, and stylish video by the 25-year-old British singer-songwriter from Grantham, out on Polydor/Universal

Nov 24, 2025
These New Puritans brothers.jpg
Nov 23, 2025
Song of the Day: These New Puritans - The Other Side
Nov 23, 2025

Song of the Day: A delicate, tender, and unusually minimalist single, their first since this year’s acclaimed album Crooked Wing, by the Southend-on-Sea-born Barnett twins, here with Jack on improvised piano and George on drums and a soprano register wordless vocal, out on Domino Records

Nov 23, 2025

Word of the week

Featured
Hangover.jpeg
Dec 4, 2025
Word of the week: crapulence
Dec 4, 2025

Word of the week: A term that may apply regularly during Xmas party season, from the from the Latin crapula, in turn from the Greek kraipálē meaning "drunkenness" or "headache" pertains to sickness symptoms caused by excess in eating or drinking, or general intemperance and overindulgence

Dec 4, 2025
Running shoes and barefoot.jpeg
Nov 20, 2025
Word of the week: discalceate
Nov 20, 2025

Word of the week: A rarely used, but often practised verb, especially when arriving home, it means to take off your shoes, but is also a slightly more common adjective meaning barefoot or unshod, particularly for certain religious orders that wear sandals instead of shoes. But in what context does this come up in song?

Nov 20, 2025
autumn-red-leaves.jpeg
Nov 6, 2025
Word of the week: erythrophyll
Nov 6, 2025

Word of the week: A seasonally topical word relating to the the red pigment of tree leaves, fruits and flowers, that appears particularly when changing in autumn, as opposed to the green effect of chlorophyll, from the Greek erythros for red, and phyll for leaves. But what of songs about this?

Nov 6, 2025
Fennec fox 2.jpeg
Oct 22, 2025
Word of the week: fennec
Oct 22, 2025

Word of the week: It’s a small pale-fawn nocturnal fox with unusually large, highly sensitive ears, that inhabits from African and Arab deserts areas from Western Sahara and Mauritania to the Sinai Peninsula. But has it ever been seen in a song?

Oct 22, 2025
Narrowboat.jpeg
Oct 9, 2025
Word of the week: gongoozler
Oct 9, 2025

Word of the week: A fabulous old English slang term for someone who tends to stand or sit for long periods staring at the passing of boats on canals, sometimes with a derogatory or at least ironic use for someone who is useless or lazy. But what of songs about this activity and culture?

Oct 9, 2025
Song Bar spinning.gif