By: Patrick

To be found in the ‘Leaves You Cleansed’ aisle

This has to be my favourite song of the year. If there were ten minutes left before the end of the world I would like to spend 9 minutes and 52 seconds of them listening to this. Why? Well, I love the contrasts – the purity of the lilting keyboard riff that opens the song and stays as a constant theme throughout alongside the impending mood of darkness and unease as the synths start pulsating, hypnotically building up into ever more immersive crescendos. Then the vocals, screamed into a children’s karaoke microphone for maximum distortion. What is he saying? Don’t have a clue, to be honest (and perhaps that’s the point), but I think I can make out ‘What will become of us?’ and the refrain ‘Why?’ screamed from the bottom of his lungs until the listener just melts into the pure assault that has been waged upon her. And it leaves you cleansed – there is a message of hope that emerges from the darkness and violence that underpin this song (which would arguably be irrelevant if the world were going to end in 8 seconds time). It is a noisy masterpiece.

By: Alex

To be found in the ‘Songs To Make You Cry’ aisle

Hurt. The title itself should give some warning to the content. I loved the original back in the mid-nineties but it is the Johnny Cash version that sends a slightly bigger shiver down my spine. That said, both are simply perfect. The chorus is electrifying, the verses solid. This is one of those songs to immerse yourself in at any point but especially when feeling melancholic (and there’s nothing wrong with that folks, it’s all good); it reminds us what is real, the urgency gets under your skin. Especially in the Cash version, and the guitar work is mesmerising. All in all, I would suggest you listen to the Nine Inch Nails version first, then the Cash version. Then watch the videos. I believe the most haunting thing about this track is that each version delivers such emotional weight, yet for different reasons – Reznor about dealing with addiction, Cash about the end of his days, the losses and gains and the place of religion in this. Powerful stuff.

By: Alex

To be found in the ‘Fits Your Mood No Matter What Your Mood’ aisle

Well, I have been racking my brains trying to think of which track to pick off this album. Unfortunately, despite said racking, I can’t settle on one. So, instead, I urge you to try and get yourself a copy. I must confess to never having even heard of The Dresden Dolls, let alone Amanda Palmer, until I noticed her name on Neil Gaiman’s journal. This album is simply unforgetable and un-switch-off-able. It ticks all my boxes; excellent music, production, variety but most of all the real beauty is in the lyrics and their delivery. And they are so damned sing-a-long-able too… The videos are available on youtube; Amanda Palmer has her own channel and well worth a look (ooh blurring boundaries here between Perfectly Imperfect and Visualality – sure the Editor will have something to say about this*). I could go on, waxing lyrical, instead I will simply beg you to get hold of a copy of the album and see if you agree – if you don’t, why not? Tell me, please!

*No, don’t worry – I’m all for label-anarchy… SW