Saturday is lost classics day and today’s selection was released 20 years ago. Lost and Safe was the third album for experimental duo The Books, and the band would only release one more album before breaking up in 2012. During their relatively short career, The Books were one of the most creative voices of their time. They created a style of music that can best be described as post-rock meets lo-fi meets art-rock. They incorporated “found sound” (that is, audio culled from old media sources) into their lo-fi style of indie rock songwriting. Every song they ever recorded is a gem waiting to be discovered, but I find Lost and Safe to be their most fully formed and cohesive collection of recordings. This album was never destined to sell a million copies but the world would be a lot more interesting if bands like this sold out concert halls.

• Saturday Lost Classic
• Song of the Day (2025)