Pure Bathing Culture - dreams cover, 2012

"Pure Bathing Culture contributed a version of “Dreams” that slowed down the tempo and replaced much of the instrumentation with airy, ethereal keyboards."

The Avett Brothers - the once and future carpenter, 2012

"The Carpenter feels like both an exorcism and a benediction, bringing down the magnifying glass on the myriad complexities of death while maintaining an unwavering sense of optimism, a delicate balance that's best exemplified on the lovely opener "The Once and Future Carpenter," a dusty, sprawling, yet meticulously crafted '70s folk-rock stunner that's built around the notion that "If I live the life I'm given I won’t be scared to die."

Tame Impala - endors toi, 2012

“Endors Toi” means “go to sleep” in French. The track delivers psychedelic satisfaction in the form of wandering synths, crashing drums and hypnotizing delay effects."

Neil Young - clementine, 2012

"Every one of these songs has verses that have been ignored. And those are the key verses, those are the things that make these songs live. They're a little heavy for kindergarteners to be singing. The originals are much darker, there's more protest in them — the other verses in "This Land Is Your Land" are very timely, or in "Clementine", the verses are so dark. Almost every one has to do with people getting killed, with life-or-death struggles. You don't hear much about that; they've been made into something much more light. So I moved them away from that gentler interpretation. With new melodies and arrangements, we could use the folk process to invoke the original meanings for this generation."

Neil Young - for the love of man, 2012

"For the Love of Man" dates to the 1980s. Young has released a 1987 recording of the song on his online archival album Summer Songs."

Nada Surf - when i was young acoustic, 2012

"The Dulcitone Files is a fantastic 5-track acoustic EP by Nada Surf, released on March 20, 2012, as a companion to their album The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy. It features intimate, solo-acoustic recordings by frontman Matthew Caws, captured at Dulcitone Studios in Sheffield, England (hence the name—named after the vintage keyboard instrument, but no actual dulcitone samples here)."

Nada Surf - looking through acoustic, 2012

"It's notably more intimate and melancholic than the full-band version, highlighting Matthew Caws' tender vocals and the emotional weight of the lyrics."

Nada Surf - the future acoustic, 2012

"In January 2012, Nada Surf released The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy, an album that included the single "Waiting for Something". Later in 2012, Caws, who had moved to England, recorded acoustic versions of five of the songs from The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy as b-sides, in collaboration with record producer Lee Russell. The material was released as The Dulcitone Files EP. The group released a compilation of rarities called B-Sides in 2014."

Nada Surf - no snow on the mountain, 2012

"The lyrics explore environmental depletion (e.g., "no snow on the mountain, no water to drink"), human apathy, consumerism, and fleeting dreams. It blends personal regret with broader societal critique, delivered in Nada Surf's signature melodic, introspective style."

Nada Surf - let the fight do the fighting, 2012

"For fans of New York alternative rockers, Nada Surf, 2010 must have been something of a disappointing year. Whereas 2008 yielded Lucky, 2010 saw Nada Surf release If I Had A Hi-Fi, an album made up entirely of cover songs. Whilst there’s nothing wrong with covers, it’s often contentious for fans who come to expect an album of original material every couple of years to have to wait four. Still, Nada Surf have always been a band to take their time, and The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy sees Nada Surf continuing with what they do well, resulting in an enjoyable, if not terribly exciting, seventh album."

Nada Surf - jules and jim, 2012

"Jules and Jim is from 2012’s The Stars are Indifferent to Astronomy, which took the band’s winning streak to four. The song is an Alex Chilton-ish minor classic, with one of their most glorious choruses. Although, really, it’s just one hook after another. The band are now a four-piece (when playing live, at least) with the addition of guitarist Doug Gillard, also of Guided by Voices, and when I saw at the Electric Ballroom a few years ago and Gillard and Caws struck up the song’s chiming harmonised intro, it was total Big Star-in-1972 jangle heaven."

Neil Young - jesus chariot, 2012

"Written in the 1800s based on an old Negro spiritual, this song refers to the second coming of Jesus and “she” is the chariot Jesus is coming on. Some interpret this as the end of the world. Others have said that “she” refers to union organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones going to promote formation of labor unions in the Appalachian coal mining camps. The Americana arrangement continues the folk process with a new melody, a new title and a combination of lyric sources."

My Sad Captains - meta, 2012

 

 “Meta” is indeed the closing track — a beautiful, hazy, reverb-drenched slow-burner that feels like the perfect dreamy full-stop to the EP."

My Sad Captains - resolutions, 2012

“Resolutions” is a bittersweet New Year’s/reflection song about failed attempts to change, holding on to small moments of warmth amid loneliness"

Pet Shop Boys And Elton John - in private seven inch mix, 2012

"No "PSB version" of "In Private" came to light, not even a demo, until more than 15 years later, when the Boys recorded it as a duet with Elton John and released it on the Fundamentalism bonus disc and, in an alternate mix, as a bonus track on the "Minimal" single."

Nada Surf - teenage dreams, 2012

"One of the best and catchiest songs on The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy comes relatively late on the album in the form of “Teenage Dreams,” where the lyrics are supported by some of the best musicianship on the record."

Saint Etienne - i've got your music extended version, 2012

"a vibrant, synth-driven pop song celebrating the joy of music and its emotional resonance."

Saint Etienne - i threw it all away, 2012

"The album refers to the “strange magic” of pop. About the special alchemy that transforms even the most mundane of experiences – walking home with the headphones on at night, sitting in a bedroom with your friends in the day, getting ready to go out on the weekend – into a lingering moment of seamless enchantment, one that resonates for the rest of your life."

Saint Etienne - i've got your music kisses remix, 2012

"Seven years on, Words and Music … opens with a song that could be Teenage Winter's negative image. Over the Border features the same structure – a bittersweet chorus flanked by spoken-word verses – but its lyrics fetishise old record labels ("green and yellow Harvests, pink Pyes, silver Bells") and hymn Top of the Pops, Dexys Midnight Runners and Smash Hits. Like Teenage Winter, it wonders whether all this is still relevant in middle age – "when I was married and when I had kids, would Marc Bolan still be as important?" – but this time decides it is. "I'm growing older," sings Sarah Cracknell. "Love is here to stay."

Saint Etienne - tonight club clique remix, 2012

"Part of what's appealing about Words and Music is the way it maintains a contemporary Top 40 sheen without lowering itself to pandering, but it isn't all uptempo dance-pop."