James - leviathan, 2018

"Leviathan" began as two jams, one of which had a decent chorus and average verse, while the other had a good verse section and an as not as strong chorus. Andrew went on holiday and telephoned Giles, telling him to edit the jams together and change the key. Andrew and Giles visited several London studios in an attempt to find a specific keyboard sound, which they found at Urchin Studios. The song talks about "hitting a wall" before suddenly moving on to another part of one's life. "Leviathan" opens with a keyboard line before shifting into techno music."

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever - mainland, 2018

"Mainland" is a song by Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever from their 2018 album Hope Downs. The band, known for their jangly indie rock sound with bright guitar melodies and reflective lyrics, released Hope Downs as their debut studio album."

Peter Bjorn And John - every other night, 2018

"This song is about what’s keeping you awake between the midnight hour and the hour of the wolf. It’s like a warning sign in neon letters."

Peter Bjorn And John - velvet sky, 2018

"Velvet Sky" is a track by the Swedish indie pop band Peter Bjorn and John, released on October 19, 2018, as the sixth song on their eighth studio album, Darker Days. The album explores themes of disillusionment and introspection, and "Velvet Sky" fits right in with its melancholic vibe, blending jangly guitars, driving rhythms, and lyrics about fleeting connections and existential drift."

Peter Bjorn And John - living a dream, 2018

"This song is that feeling of exhilaration when everything finally lines up after ages of hitting your head against a wall, maybe to the point where you’ve reckoned giving up."

The Radio Dept - your true name, 2018

"Newly liberated from their former label Labrador, Swedish indie luminaries The Radio Dept. (Johan Duncanson and Martin Larsson) revisit their original laid-back college rock sound in their new single, “Your True Name,” released on their own independent label Just So! Signaling an optimistic outlook on the future ahead, the band explains, “‘Your True Name’ is a song about faith"

Peter Bjorn And John - silicon valley blues, 2018

"When Peter Bjorn and John recorded their 2016 album Breakin’ Point, they recruited big-name pop producers Paul Epworth (who’s worked with Charli XCX and Robyn), Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia), and Emile Haynie (Lana Del Rey, Bruno Mars), presumably in the hopes of a releasing a smash hit. The reception was much more modest, but like Franz Ferdinand and their single “Take Me Out,” Peter Bjorn and John have lived in the shadow of their 2006 breakthrough hit “Young Folks.” Breakin’ Point, and to a lesser extent 2011’s Gimme Some, were both upbeat and accessible pop albums saturated with radio-friendly tracks, yet neither came close to regaining their mid-2000s attention, let alone containing another “Young Folks.” As an expected yet unfortunate consequence, they have edged onto some one-hit wonder lists, always with that perennial disclaimer of “the band continues to make music.”

Peter Bjorn And John - longer nights intro, 2018

"Peter tackling what's happening in the world right now, Bjorn delving into relationship issues and John, the most existential, exploring the shadows of our own psyche."

James - trouble demo, 2018

"Trouble (Demo)" is a bonus track by the English alternative rock band James, released in 2018 as part of their 13th studio album, Living in Extraordinary Times. The demo version captures a raw, introspective vibe typical of the band's style, with frontman Tim Booth's emotive vocals layered over atmospheric guitars and subtle percussion. It explores themes of mental turmoil, addiction to overthinking, and finding reassurance amid chaos—the chorus repeats the mantra "Trouble, trouble, trouble / It's gonna be alright" like a self-soothing incantation."

James - moving car demo, 2018

"This is a bonus track from their album Living in Extraordinary Times, capturing a reflective, nostalgic vibe with themes of youth, fleeting memories, and the rush of life. It's a stripped-down demo version, clocking in at about 5:37, with a tempo of 129 BPM in the key of E major—perfect for an energetic yet introspective drive."

Peter Bjorn And John - wrapped around the axle, 2018

“Wrapped Around the Axle” is the brainchild of the classic combo’s B: Björn Yttling. “Axle” is an upbeat-yet-lyrically-somber affair, detailing the complications of a platonic break-up."

James - backwards glances, 2018

"Backwards Glances" is a bonus track by the British alternative rock band James, released in 2018 as part of the deluxe edition of their 15th studio album, Living in Extraordinary Times. The album itself dropped on August 3, 2018, via BMG Rights Management, marking a politically charged and introspective chapter in the band's long career. This track didn't make the standard edition but was included on the expanded version alongside other demos like "Moving Car" and "Overdose".

Moby - the tired and the hurt, 2018

"The lyrics of "The Tired and the Hurt" by Moby convey a powerful sense of longing and nostalgia for a past that was filled with light, hope, love, and endless possibilities. The imagery of light and clear skies, endless dreams, and expansive forests creates a vivid picture of a world that once existed in a state of beauty and purity, where everything seemed possible and nothing was out of reach. However, this idyllic past is contrasted sharply with the present reality described in the chorus, where the singer finds themselves feeling tired, hurt, and broken, surrounded by cold and desolate seas."

Moby - this wild darkness, 2018

"The sweeping "This Wild Darkness" finds Moby searching for a reason to continue, following "The Middle Is Gone." As he intones over a lush backdrop, supporting vocalists sing "In this darkness/Please light my way." It's a beautiful way to usher out Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt, as if Moby is offering a comforting sonic hug. After an album of such confessional, bittersweet sadness, he needs one too."

The Goon Sax - til the end, 2018

"This song, closing the album, captures the quiet ache of disconnection and unfulfilled potential, with its lo-fi guitars and shared vocals evoking a sense of inevitable fade-out."

The Embassy - bad vibe, 2018

"It's hard to recall but the reason we started Embassy was partly that we had the same taste in music and also because of the way we sat, with the legs twisted together like a rope. A physical bond. Our first slogan was a quote by Subway Sect - "We oppose all rock 'n' roll". So being opposed to 'rock' was clearly an issue and we defined 'rock' as stupid and conservative in contrary to 'pop' that supposed to be free and fun, a valid simplification at the time. The ambition was to connect to our readings on the musical history founded in dub, disco, post-punk and acid house and to form discussion groups on the dance floor. It all came together with the Service label, striving for a new stylish hedonism with a touch of intellectualism."

The Embassy - sure, 2018

"In 2001, a Gothenburg, Sweden-based duo called the Embassy released a 7" titled Sneaky Feelings. Sharing a name with both an Elvis Costello song and a jangly 1980s New Zealand indie-pop group, the four-song EP was little-noticed by Americans at the time, but it marked a turning point for their city's music scene. Blending Fredrik Lindson's yearning vocals and chiming guitar chords with Torbjörn Håkansson' pattering percussion, euphoric electronics, and occasional exotic sample or two, the record had more in common with the twee-meets-house hybrids of early-1990s Saint Etienne than with any record of its period-- even the Avalanches' similarly balmy, ambitious Since I Left You. By the end of the 2000s, echoes of the Embassy's aesthetic could be found in critically acclaimed albums by Jens Lekman, the Tough Alliance (who named their imprint, Sincerely Yours, after an Embassy song), Studio (ditto for their Information imprint), Air France, jj, and the Honeydrips, among others. Gothenburg's indie pop scene was now run by mysterious pranksters all too happy to tie the already thin line between sincerity and artifice up in sailing knots."

James - how hard the day, 2018

"Living in Extraordinary Times marks a band still working at their full capacity, bringing new ideas and sounds while retaining what inherently makes James James – big choruses, danceable tracks, and timely lyrics. While some tracks are on the long side, how can you blame them getting carried away?"

James - better than that, 2018

"EP opener and first single Better Than That is upbeat and fast-paced, an ode to improvement, urging the universe to do its worst with Tim signing “you can do better than that”, kick starting the four tracks into gear. Busted is more mellow and dreamlike, with gentle guitars building in intensity as drums and brass join the fray. Hank with its buzzing guitars and distorted vocals is the most outspoken lyrically, warning of “white fascists in the white house” encouraging listeners to “bend the knee and stand your ground”.

The Goon Sax - a few times too many, 2018

“A Few Times Too Many” itself pops out with a lot of variety and really sharp hooks that cut through the noise. This sense of really ferocious writing really ups the energy of the record and shows how The Goon Sax can stay relevant."