i'm not the man / they think i am at home

Kate Bush

she packed my bag last night / pre-flight

This song's a great cover of Elton John's classic by Kate Bush that launches itself into a stratospheric calypso rhythm about 45 seconds in. Kate's also unafraid to keep the lyrics unchanged, so the track doesn't suffer from the transposed gender-bending that blight covers the world over, somewhere.

Kate Bush - Rocket Man (Elton John cover)

Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G. (remixed by RATATAT)

there's always too much / for me to have enough

I'm a big fan of both the RATATAT mixtapes, and this track from the second would be my favourite.

Jay-Z and Notorious B.I.G. - Allure (RATATAT remix)

Paul McCartney


she could be a neurosurgeon / if she's doing nothing urgent

Paul. Solo. Electronica.

Paul McCartney - Temporary Secretary

Lindsey Buckingam

i should ride / on the double

Having gone his own way from Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham pursued a successful solo career culminating in the album Law and Order (which he's posing next to above) and specifically in this single, which features drumming from former bandmate Mick Fleetwood.

Lindsey Buckingham - Trouble

Tom Tom Club

it's ok / i've overstood

Tom Tom Club were a side-project of several Talking Heads members, best remembered for the single Genius of Love. This is a personal favourite of mine, along with the Lorelei.

Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood 12"

Beach House

are you coming home / are you still alone?

Beach House's third album Teen Dream is now available in full and I thought I'd post this song again in its lush album version.

Beach House - Used To Be (Album version)

two / can be as bad as one

Like Radiohead's Videotape, One proves how simple truly great music can be.

Harry Nilsson - One (Is The Loneliest Number)


Pitchfork did a 60's list a while back and I found this there, and have no plans to let it go.

Francoise Hardy - Tout Les Garcons Et Les Filles

You would have heard the synth line on this more times than you think, whether it was interspersed between Relax (Don't Do It) in the final sequence of Zoolander, or coming out of Kenneth Parcell's boombox as he did some street-performing in his neighbourhood.

Herbie Hancock - Rockit