They're almost alway more expansive than the 7-inch versions, and this week guest DiscoMonster chooses albums cuts is simply far more satisfying experience, musically and lyrically, inspired by last week's topic
Read moreMind-bending: songs with psychedelic sounds
Delay, fuzz, distortion, flanger, echo, sitars, and mind-altering drugs? It’s a style chiefly associated with the late-60s but what are it’s key characteristics and where else do they come up in the world of music? Let’s go on a journey through time and space …
Read morePlaylists: songs about raptors
Eagle, kestrels, vultures and more, after last week’s topic took flight and inspired nominations, keen-eyed musical ornithologist Nicko spreads his wings, swoops in and makes a skilful and erudite grab with these evocative playlists
Read morePlaylists: songs about wastelands
They tell stories of decay and often a trail of human destruction, but out of the infertile soil also also grows vivid, moving, and often profound songwriting. Picking from the ground of last week’s topic, guest George Boyland sees portents in the past and future
Read morePlaylists: songs about wheels
Rolling in with a big, beautiful range of rotating artists and contexts, sounds and genres, guest playlister ParaMhor spins a lovely selection of discs picked from a multiple revolutions nominated from last week’s topic
Read moreWiccan work it out: pagan-themed songs – a Halloween special
Ritualism, celebration, sacrifice, worship of nature, sex and food? Ancient and 20th-century traditions come a procession of all kinds of colourful characters in this week’s theme that heralds horror or pleasure in equal measure
Read morePlaylists: adult lullabies and other songs about inducing sleep
Restless? Don’t worry, this is worth staying up for. Enjoy a countdown in the first of several lists perfect picked by guest amylee from hundreds of suggestions over the week, which in all contexts help a perfect night’s sleep
Read moreClever digits: songs with great keyboard solos and riffs
What makes a great riff or solo, and how does the keyboard player fit in a band? From purveyors of excess to cool minimalism, rock or prog to soul, electronica, postpunk, pop, jazz or classical, synth to clavinet, let’s follow those fingers
Read moreLate goals: striking song and album endings
No – it’s not the World Cup. This week we’re looking at all kinds of ends of albums and other songs – from surprising, sudden, or summing up, to those that are ambiguous, serious, comical or take us to a new place
Read morePlaylists: songs about natural disasters and climate events
Pompeii to pollution, plague, pestilence and pressure drop, volcanoes, falling rocks, Fiery Furnaces to forest fires, this week's playlists by guest writer ParaMhor, whipped up by last week's topic, will surely go down a storm
Read moreTake a deep breath: songs with arresting opening lines
Profound statements to emotional exclamations, sexual provocation to oddball situation, suggest your favourite and outstanding starter lyrics as we examine a host of musical and literary examples at the bar
Read moreWhat comes next? Songs with surprising, strange or disguised intros
Unrecognisable after the first few seconds? It begins with odd sounds or another style? This week let's play with songs that initially keep you guessing, and don’t start as a they mean to go on
Read morePlaylists: songs about borders, barriers, walls and fences
Rope boundaries to big bouncers, river banks to border patrols, this week's guest writer ParaMhor breaks through musical thresholds to show there's no limit to making perfect playlists
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