Blur, “One Born Every Minute” (1995)
This is Blur at their most la-la-la, which Oasis made fun of them enough that they dropped it after this, but I love it.
The Wild Swans, “Bringing Home the Ashes” (1988)
It’s a nice song and gloriously late-80s, but what really gets me is a tiny arrangement trick: when the bass drum switches to the whole notes at the end. It’s such a little thing, but elevates the entire song.
The Shins, “Know Your Onion!” (2001)
If you know about chord changes and song structure, this is the song that will change your life.
The Spongetones, “She Goes Out With Everybody” (1982)
Power pop isn’t always my thing, but sometimes it’s absolutely my thing.
Fleetwood Mac, “I Know I’m Not Wrong” (1979)
Around the 2000s, there was a big jump in people comparing new indie-ish bands to Fleetwood Mac. It’s not that I didn’t hear it then, but when I listen to songs like this, I REALLY hear it.