Peter Bjorn And John - hard sleep, 2016

"When the content sails over pleasant memories and dips into more troubled waters, an inoculating melodies aid the various travails, like the trials and tribulations symptomatic of post-relationship regrets explored on 'Hard Sleep'."

Nada Surf - out of the dark, 2016

"Out of the Dark" plays bright and has a tinge of nostalgia to it. It evokes comps to more 90's alt (which Nada Surf was obviously a part of). One aspect of the song that makes it pop is the use of horns throughout. They complement the upbeat acoustic beat perfectly and help lift it where it needs it. It was a perfect addition and represents another evolution in Nada Surf's sound."

Nada Surf - friend hospital, 2016

"For music fans of a certain age, it brings back memories of the halcyon days of indie rock; a reminder of when it seemed perfectly natural to stay up until 1 a.m. to catch every last crunchy guitar chord of the headliner and then be at work bright and early the next morning."

Peter Bjorn And John - breakin point, 2016

"The integration of whistling on the track was initially unintentional. Morén whistled the tune while recording the song at Ingrid Studios in Stockholm, and the recording ended up being kept for the final version. Morén explained they were originally reluctant to include the whistles as they felt it might be viewed as "so obvious" considering their breakthrough single "Young Folks" from Writer's Block (2006) was heavily built upon whistling.[4] As "Breakin' Point" was conceived near the ten-year anniversary of Writer's Block, Morén described the whistling aspects as a "nice tribute" to "Young Folks". The band preferred a tribute record over issuing a "big deluxe" re-release of Writer's Block or an anniversary tour. An "early version" of the song, sans the whistles and solely produced by the band, is included on the deluxe edition of the album."

Young Cardamom And HAB - psv, 2016

"Mamdani is a fan of hip-hop and has composed and produced rap music. In 2016, under the moniker Young Cardamom, he collaborated with Ugandan rapper HAB on an EP titled Sidda Mukyaalo, which is Luganda for "No going back to the village".

James - move down south, 2016

"Tim has explained that the song was written sub-consciously about his family moving back to Topanga Canyon after a short time in Berkeley and that his son Luka pointed him to the lyrics of the song as a guide to tell him what to do."

The Radio Dept - swedish guns, 2016

"If you’re familiar with their work, you’ll hear all of the breezy synths, the sweeping guitars and Johan Duncanson’s recognizable vocals. And just like their previous body of work, their new single “Swedish Guns” has this melancholy, sorrowful fervor. The melody at first is calming and relaxing. But the longer you let yourself drown into the song, the more you realize that Duncanson’s lyrics are eerily morose. He repeats the line “Swedish guns” throughout the song making the soothing melodies a dark experience."

James - surfer's song, 2016

"Highlights like "Attention" and the churning electro-epic "Surfer's Song" rely on massive, intense crescendos that are another James specialty and a sure sign that their collective gears are well-oiled even after several decades playing together."

The Radio Dept - this thing was bound to happen, 2016

"The song reflects the Swedish duo's signature dreamy, synth-driven indie pop sound, with introspective lyrics and a melancholic yet danceable vibe. The album, released on October 21, 2016, marked a shift toward more politically charged themes, though this track leans into their classic emotional introspection."

Moby - are you lost in the world like me, 2016

"Co-credited to the Void Pacific Choir - a name derived from a D.H. Lawrence quote - These Systems Are Failing is only slightly more collaborative than Moby's solitary ambient work, and its effect is the opposite of that. Fully energized and tightly concentrated, the producer's first studio album in three years is a concise and infrequently relenting set of nine songs that rail against those who have caused emotional and planetary harm. Moby revisits his punk and post-punk roots with a needling attack."

The Radio Dept - teach me to forget, 2016

"The sublime melody and chord progression evokes potent feelings: defiance, resignation, a sense of the inevitable. Even during its extended instrumental coda, heavy with irresistible house-music piano and a synth filigree that could’ve been lifted off a Toto (!) record, the song’s momentum is sustained and deepened—you almost don’t want it to end, but it abruptly does, and the spooky title track carries these feelings further, all the way through the closing, quietly seething “Teach Me To Forget”.

The Radio Dept - committed to the cause, 2016

"The Radio Dept. mixes moody, dreamy aesthetics with a straightforward pop sensibility—a successful formula they demonstrated on singles like “Heaven’s on Fire” and “Never Follow Suit.” And it’s a balancing act they attempt to continue on Running Out of Love—a long delayed album that arrives after five years of near silence from the band."

The Radio Dept - sloboda narodu, 2016

"The title of the song, Sloboda Narodu, is Serbo-Croat for “Death to fascism, freedom to the people!”. This was the slogan of the Yugoslav partisans fighting the fascists during World War II. The phrase was coined by Croatian partisan Stjepan Filipović, who, with a noose around his neck, proclaimed the phrase just before he was hung."

Rufus Du Sol - until the sun needs to rise, 2016

"Rufus Du Sol is an Australian electronic band that has been making waves in the music industry since they formed in 2013. With a unique sound and soulful lyrics, they quickly gained a following both in Australia and around the world. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at who Rufus Du Sol is and what makes them so special. We'll also explore some of their most popular songs and discuss why they've become such a hit with fans."

James - feet of clay, 2016

"James have always spun a lot of competing self-variations into their music and that range is a part of their lasting appeal. Between this record and its predecessor, their creativity seems to have entered a fertile new phase."

Car Seat Headrest - drunk drivers killer whales, 2016

"Desperation is rarely a positive quality, but armed with a guitar and a fractured howl, Car Seat Headrest’s Will Toledo contorts it into a full-fledged talent."

Car Seat Headrest - just what i needed not just what i needed, 2016

"the physical release has been delayed to the summer due to a legal issue over "Just What I Wanted/Not Just What I Needed," an album track containing elements of the Cars' "Just What I Needed." In a press release, the label writes, "Matador had negotiated for a license in good faith months ago, only to be told last week that the publisher involved was not authorized to complete the license in the United States, and that Ric Ocasek preferred that his work not be included in the song." As a result, the currently printed copies of the record will be recalled and destroyed. The song, meanwhile, will be edited to remove the Cars reference."

Moby - hey! hey!, 2016

"Hey! Hey!" kicks off These Systems Are Failing with a crack of thunder. Ten seconds in, we have the most infectious Moby hook of the last half decade, and the time the crescendo builds to the chorus, you'll find it hard to keep your feet tethered to the ground. Moby paints a vivid picture with his exposition, an urgent and anxious world plagued with information above and beyond the saturation point."

Coldplay - hymn for the weekend, 2016

"The song was debuted on Annie Mac's BBC radio show on 30 November 2015. According to Berryman, lead singer Chris Martin originally wanted the song to be a party song with the lyrics "drinks on me, drinks on me", but his bandmates didn't think that would go well with their fans."

Car Seat Headrest - joe gets kicked out of school for using drugs with friends but says this isn't a problem, 2016

"This whole record is one that I associate very heavily with a specific time and place. It was the only CD I played in my car for virtually that entire summer. Was living by myself for the first time, partying more than I should have been..."