A few months ago we talked about "Shake it off" songs, that help you get over the rough patches. Today, I want to go the opposite direction. Sometimes a person craves the songs that hit a deeper chord and help fully open up the emotional expression. I once put together a mix of these songs - not quite sad, more melancholic - but it was lost so long ago that I'm not sure I could list more than two or three of my selections.
If you were putting together such a list, what would it look like? Would you pick songs that are sad in terms of lyrics, or sad in a more sonic fashion? I know that personally the music makes a bigger impact than the lyrics when it comes to this kind of mood music. Indeed, I'd often pick songs that aren't so much "sad"
To kick it off, here's a couple of nominations:
Death Cab For Cutie's "Transatlanticism"
Cloud Cult's "There's So Much Energy In Us"
Chumbawumba's cover of "New York Mining Disaster 1941"
Joseph Arthur's "In The Sun"
"Into the West"
Willie Nelson's cover of "The Scientist"
Neko Case's "I Wish I Was The Moon"
So... what's good for melancholy?
1. She Came In Through The Bathroom Window -- The Beatles -- Abbey Road
2. The Piano Has Been Drinking -- Tom Waits -- Small Change
3. Transmission -- Joy Division -- The Factory, Manchester Live 13 July 1979
4. Cherry Came Too -- The Jesus & Mary Chain -- Darklands
5. Just Because -- Elvis Presley -- The Sun Sessions
6. Dirty Day -- U2 -- Zooropa
7. Somewhere -- Hüsker Dü -- Zen Arcade
8. Bad Days -- The Flaming Lips -- The Fearless Freaks
9. I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night) -- The Electric Prunes -- Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era
10. Cut Out Witch -- Guided By Voices -- Under The Bushes Under The Stars
B1. Maybe Partying Will Help -- Minutemen -- Double Nickels On The Dime
B2. I Ain't Got No Home -- Woody Guthrie -- Dust Bowl Ballads
Does Woody do the silly voices too?
2017/04/28 - FMD
01. “Girl” – Jamie xx – In Colour
02. “Ain’t It Funny” – Danny Brown – Atrocity Exhibition
03. “Valse Hot” – Sonny Rollins – Plus Four
04. “Cupid’s Trick” – Elliott Smith – Either/Or
05. “I Say Fever” – Ramona Falls – Intuit
06. “July” – Low – Things We Lost In The Fire
07. “Boyfriend” – Best Coast – Crazy For You
08. “All The Way Down” – Kelela – Hallucinogen EP
09. “Lullabye” – Emitt Rhodes – Emitt Rhodes
10. “Winter Beats” – I Break Horses – Hearts
Marc Jordan's "Little Lambs"
It used to be when I was down I wanted to drown in sad, slow songs. Now I save those songs for when I'm feeling pretty okay but maybe a tad sentimental. I was feeling melancholic the other day, and the only thing I was in the mood to listen to was The Offspring.
My high school go-to wallowing song:
Dope tune yo.
a. Northern Parula “Song” (Cornell Essential Set)
1. Twilight Circus Sound System “Carousel” Horsie
2. Plastikman “Elektrostatik” Recycled Plastik
3. The Cinematic Orchestra “Bluebirds” Motion
4. Ha Ha Tonka “Favor: Demo” Heart-Shaped Mountain Demos
5. Monster Magnet “Zodiac Lung” Spine of God
6. Aaron Dilloway “Look Over Your Shoulder” Modern Jester
7. Coil “Heaven's Blade” Backwards
8. Jo Johnson “Ancestral Footsteps” Weaving
a. Red-eyed Vireo “Song and Calls” (Cornell Essential Set)
9. Autechre “Gnit” Tri Repetae++
T. The Bug feat. Singing Bird “Superbird” Pressure
Cover Me Up - Isbell
(I may be listening to it right now.)
1. Rain Rain Beautiful Rain - Ladysmith Black Mamazo
2. The Crying Scene - Azrtec Camera
3. Down in Mexico - Brinsley Schwarz
4. Back in the U.S.A. - Chuck Berry
5. Her Eyes Are A Blue Million Miles - Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
6. Heavy Chess - Alabama Shakes
7. More Than a Feeing - Boston
8. You're Sixteen You're Beautiful - Ringo Starr
9. Turn That Heartbeat Over Again - Steely Dan
10. Lil' King of Everything - Los Lobos
Regular melancholy:
The Antlers, Hospice
Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell
Melancholy with a side of heartbreak:
Ani Difranco, Dilate
Liz Phair, Exile in Guyville
Joanna Newsom, “Does Not Suffice” [on repeat]
Melancholy, with a side of heartbreak:
And this one.
Saw Lucinda Williams last night. She is so good. Played the 25 year old Sweet Old Dreams album in its entirety. Criminally overlooked album. Sounds like she's re-recording it for a Fall release.