As always on these Darla samplers, a mix of various types of pop-related songs, some from new recordings, many from reissues on Darla or partner labels. Darla has done quite a service with this series, exposing a great many worthy groups to the college radio listening masses.

1. Slow, loping ambient breaks … zzz
2. Dreamy pop with backward tape backing and vocals of the oooooohh-aaaaaaaahhh school
3. Country-rock lite
4. Funky bass, flute, and trumpet instrumental for the indie kids … and be sure to catch that Eagles sample they slipped in – which, to my mind actually detracts
5. Precious pop
6. Dodgy rhymes in a folky setting … You’re no Nick Drake!
7. Slow, somber, pretty, country-ish tune
8. Catchy but slightly off-kilter pop song
9. Trippy and catchy dreampop
10. Hazy vocals but clearly blippy and swoopy synth accompaniment
11. Warm synthesizer sounds and appealing melody but sort of limply executed
12. Appealingly scratchy effects on a simple, lazy-afternoon, acoustic song
13. A slow, artificial-sounding, yet irresistibly beautiful song
14. A song in the “perfect pop” context less than perfectly sung is particularly grating, even if the song is otherwise appealing
15. Cheeky torch song with cheesy synth accompaniment and “audience” noise; despite the missteps, the smoky barroom with the vampy singer is well evoked
16. 80s/90s blase pop with allusions to Simple Minds (lyrics), 50s R&B/pop (piano part), New Romantics (drawn out synth notes) – wow! This (late) band was once on twee-pop label Sarah (and before that Factory)
17. A less caustic Cabaret Voltaire; here a prototypical post-new-wave, pre-industrial-dance mix of cold vocals, and simple, precise melody and rhythms