The Music Note

On 'Quarter Life Crisis', James Craise's soulful vocals deliver lyrics that are raw and honest. Lines like "Dreading Sunday, knowing that it's Monday / When I wake, it's more than I can take" are universally relatable, and succeed in being comforting rather than pessimistic. Though this is mostly due to Craise's impressively powerful vocal range, the track has a strong, flowing structure that adds further depth to the lyrics. A delicate piano is the dominating instrument, while strings and unison vocals add an effective intensity and richness to the song.

  Released as the second single from their 2006 album Ganging Up On The Sun , I initially found this Guster track to be somewhat of a grower, especially in comparison to the rest of the album, the majority of which I warmed to almost immediately upon the first few listens. However, there is something so subtlety endearing about the song, a quality that perhaps refreshingly, isn't glaringly obvious on first impression, that over time the track gradually featured more and more frequently in my Guster listening marathons. All aspects of the song - vocals, lyrics, instrumentation, tempo, structure - all contribute to an overall captivating listen, with verses that feature lines of "Shining like a work of art / Hanging on a wall of stars / Are you what I think you are" leading into choruses that offer up equally dreamy lyrics - "You're riding with me tonight / Passenger side, lighting the sky / Always the first star that I find". Though, the defining moments occu...

"I'm running away with you / That's all I ever do" sings Peter Doherty on 'For Lovers', a song that is lyrically uncomplicated, yet beautifully sentimental.  The instrumentation is also simple but effective, with a piano arrangement that adds depth and a further poignancy to the track's lyrics.  Doherty's lingering vocals effortlessly deliver lines of "Meet me at the railroad bar / About 7 o'clock / We joke while the sun goes down / Watch the lovers / Leaving town", that progress into a soulful chorus backed by drums and guitar.

'Big Winter' is the song that initially got me hooked onto Brooklyn based band, Robbers On High Street.  The track appears on the soundtrack to the 2005 film 'Just Friends', and it was while watching this film that I heard the song for the first time.  Instrumentally warm and melodic, I instantly liked what I heard and knew I had to track down the song and discover more about the band behind it.  The lyrics are simple yet effective in delivery, as lines of "That's why it's so hard for me / To have to say goodbye / To take off and fly / To where the sun shines" ride high over strings that progress into a sublime guitar solo. The album on which 'Big Winter' appears, 2005's  Tree City,  is also a much recommended listen and other key tracks from this record include 'Japanese Girls', 'Amanda Green' and 'Love Underground'.

'You Make Loving Fun' -  the fourth and final single to be released from 1977's  Rumours - is not only a great pop song, but a fine representation of the musical era from which it came.  Aside from rich, melodic verses, it's the chorus that makes the track so joyous - Christine McVie's vocals glide effortlessly over a funky groove, perfectly timed against harmonic backing vocals.  The result is a glorious, uplifting sound, which is further enhanced by Lindsey Buckingham's impressive guitar work.

If there is one song on The Killers' latest album  Battle Born that indicates a return to their former sounds pre- Day & Age , then 'The Rising Tide' is surely it.  Opening with an impressive 40 second electro infused intro that wouldn't sound out of place on debut  Hot Fuss , the track then evolves into a surge of rocking guitars, powerful vocals and atmospheric lyrics, reminiscent of the Springsteen influence that was ever so present on 2006's Sam's Town.  ' The Rising Tide'   has all the qualities of a future single, and is one of the standout tracks on what is admittedly a grower of an album.

Taken from Guster's sixth studio album Easy Wonderful , That's No Way To Get To Heaven is, in terms of arrangement a simplistic, yet powerful song.  I like how the instrumentation is layered; the track starts with just guitar, but further elements are gradually introduced at key moments of the song's progression. The appearance of piano and vocal harmonies in particular, add a lovely warmth to the overall production of the song, and with lines of "One half of me is still shaking / The other half is still waiting for a lover", the clarity and strength of Ryan Miller's lead vocal is evident throughout.

More Than This  was the first single to be released from Roxy Music's final studio album, Avalon , in 1982.  Not only is it one of my favourite Roxy tracks, I also think it's the song which best represents the band's transition into the smooth and more polished sound which was so present in their later work.  Bryan Ferry's vocals blend effortlessly through verse and chorus, with lines which contribute to the atmospheric feel of the track - "Like a dream in the night / Who can say where we're going...Why the sea on the tide / Has no way of turning".  Just as impressive is the instrumental outro, which, led by lush synths and layers of guitar, more than makes up for the absence of vocals in the final few minutes of the song.

Photoshop Handsome was the third single released from Everything Everything's addictive 2010 debut, Man Alive.   Falsetto vocals deliver random lyrics which are, at times incoherent and for the most part, don't make a whole lot of sense. However, this really doesn't matter as the music is so amazingly energetic and fast paced, there isn't much time to ponder over lyric meanings.  This, along with enthusiastic instrumentation, creates a track that is unique, adventurous and overall, a joy to listen to. "I will gain an extra life..."

Hearing the new Passion Pit single yesterday, got me in the mood for listening to their debut Manners  on the way into work this morning.   To Kingdom Come is my favourite track on the album.  I love this song.  I could have it playing on a loop, countless times and I wouldn't tire of it.  It's blissfully melodic, with sweeping synths throughout.

"So don't treat me like a puppet on a string" sings Bob Marley, in what I feel to be one of his more underrated tracks (if you can even call it underrated, maybe less played would be more appropriate).   Waiting In Vain is a beautiful love song with simple, yet emotionally direct lyrics, that are complimented with reggae beats and a lingering guitar solo.

Release Me is my favourite track off Jack's Mannequin's latest album People & Things.   The track is fast paced from start to finish, with thudding keys and jolting guitar.  Structurally, the song is solid too - Andrew McMahon's lyrics of "My fuse is set, I'm pressing go / Your match is lit, but it's burning slow", create the perfect bridge, making way for a powerful chorus.

Influenced by 80's electro pop,  Paris Is Burning  is the standout track from Ladyhawke's self titled debut album. Stomping beats and a heavy bass line are complemented by breathy vocals telling us that "Paris is screaming all night long". Chanting vocals of "I've lost my way, it's hard to find it through / I see the night, but lost all sight of you", complete with raging guitars are a thrilling addition to an already infectious dance song.

Featured on the Nashville band's third album Chateau Revenge, From My Windowsill is a wonderfully sublime track with lyrics to match.  "And the taxis are rolling by / And the girls dressed in the latest styles / From the station to the concrete sky / There's no sign of heartbreak for miles and miles" sings lead singer Daniel Tashian, accompanied by backing vocals so melodic, you'll find yourself singing them all day.  My favourite part of the song is the middle 8, in which strings effortlessly layer progressive drums, making way for a beautiful guitar solo.

Taken from Josh Rouse's fourth studio album 1972 , ‘Comeback (Light Therapy)’ has an irresistible bass line that draws the listener in from the start. The track depicts the struggles of seasonal affective disorder; "The sun is gonna shine in June / The doctor says I'll feel better soon” sings Rouse, followed by grooving horns that climax into an equally addictive chorus. The song's timeless feel is intensified in the bridge, with the uplifting vocal line “I miss my serotonin and my days are going nowhere fast” soaring alongside a sublime flute arrangement.