I Will Follow You Into the Dark
by Death Cab For Cutie
"No blinding lights or tunnels to gates of white"

I have a bit of a sentimental attatchment to this song although I try not to think about it sometimes. Regardless of that, this song is perfect and beautiful. I absolutely adore Ben Gibbard's voice and the way it handles the lyrics. The guitar is very twinkling and gorgeous too. I love indie/ folky stuff like this. It's so pure and unadulterated... this song feels particularly organic and natural.

I'm not making much sense tonight but that doesn't make my suggestion any less valid.

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.

Under Paris Skies
by Whistlin' Tom

This song was used in an advert a couple of years ago and I fell in love with it completely. I tracked down the artist and went to his site to buy a copy of his album which is really very beautiful indeed. He sent it to me with a sweet little note and I received an email from him a couple of weeks later. I thought I better brag there for just a minute.

I couldn't find a full recording so here is the ad. Otherwise, I think you can listen to it on his site but don't quote me on that. Oh, beauty <3

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.

Losing My Religion
by REM
"Every whisper of every waking hour,
I'm choosing my confessions..."

My dad has been a big fan of REM for as long as I can remember, which naturally imprinted on my taste in music. I remember going on holiday to Derbyshire when I was about 15, and for the whole car journey I was listening to an REM compilation I had made and reading James Patterson books. So in a strange way, I ended up associating REM with grizzly images. It's a little strange.

Anywho. One of the things I rather like about REM are the way that their lyrics tend not to mean an awful lot, like Placebo's songs. Their lyrics are just a beautiful mesh of lots of words and images that create this strangely overwhelming tapestry. More importantly, their music is amazing enough to make up for this. This twinkling, perfect harmony of guitars and accompanyment... it's bliss.

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.

Wherever You Will Go
by The Calling
"You'll need love to light the shadows on your face"

I think this song became a favourite of mine thanks to the boom of music channels, hehe. I used to watch a lot of Kerrang, MTV2 and Q as well as Magic. Anyway, this song was played a lot for a couple of months and I rather love it. His voice is really beautiful and bizarrely low for his appearance. He looks like he should have a really high pitched voice.

Honestly, my love of songs like this makes me feel a little bit dirty and conformist, haha. It's so mainstream!

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.

Enola Gay
by Orchestral Manoevers In The Dark
"Enola Gay, you should have stayed at home yesterday"

I remember my dad playing this song to me in his car a couple of years ago. It has this real sense of positivity which is a little strange considering the subject matter! They are one of the few groups whose music can always cheer me up and make me feel upbeat. The melodies and beats are just blissful every time. I think those qualities sing through in a lot of music from the 70's and 80's though.

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.

Song To Say Goodbye
by Placebo
"You were always one of those
Blessed with lucky sevens
And a voice that made me cry"

I love this song with all my heart. Placebo were my true teenage obsession. I was totally fixated on them and nothing else to the degree that I became obsessed with The Smiths because Brian Molko mentioned them once. The same goes for The Pixies and The Eels, strangely. I bought every single Placebo Album, as well as the singles and the re-release of Sleeping With Ghosts.

This song has a real feel of desperation and passion mixed together into this ugly mess. The instrumentation is gorgeous and very hanting indeed. The mix between the piano and the electronic instrumentation is perfect.

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.

Bitter Sweet
by Venus in Furs
"I've opened up my heart,
So many times
But now it's closed"

I only really got into this sort of music about a year ago when I watched Velvet Goldmine for the first time. Having watched it, I found myself listening to Brian Eno and Roxy Music for the first time, regardless of the fact that my dad had been suggesting I listen to it for quite a long time.

However, I thought I would post the cover version for the film because it brings up a lot more emotion up for me. I think I prefer the production which is just different due to changing technology. Also, Thom Yorke's voice is amazing on this record.

Listen to it here!
Then you may thank me profusely.