"life sucks" kind of music

[phaith]

I've been out of the secular scene for some time. I like a few things that were popular several years ago, but as to anything new (within the last 5 years) I am not too familiar. I've been going through a really hard time emotionally/spiritually and am needing some music that meets me where I'm at. I don't have alot right now (actually 'mewithoutyou - catch for us the foxes' has taken up residence in my CD player and little else)

Most of the time what captures my attention when choosing music is

lead singers voice
music
lyrics

in that order

However, right now the lyrics seem to mean more to me than the music or voice (though a singer with a really irritating voice would still put me off)

I have a friend who is the manager at a secular store and is going to sell me CD's at cost so I want to pick up a few...any suggestions?

When I say "life sucks" kind of music I mean songs about injustice etc. not 'hissy fit' kind of music...does that make sense?  

[RedcoatJones]

Well....there's always System of a Down...but I don't know if you'd like their style (and the CD hasn't been getting great reviews).

Green Day's American Idiot might be a good one to start with, too. Anyone else?

Or head over to Tiny Mix Tapes and request a good mix....


EDIT: anything by Cat Power is nice and depressing

[enemy anemone]

I've been going through a really hard time emotionally/spiritually and am needing some music that meets me where I'm at.

Patty Griffin's music comes to mind.  

[Josh]

Bob Dylan's Time Out of Mind record is a breathtaking, Psalm-like spiritual journy through darkness and heartbreak, bemoaning a world that's "not dark yet, but it's gettin' there" and ultimately finding hope in the promise of "the Highlands." I can't recommend it enough.

[Tom]

if you want songs about injustice that are sometimes heavy, i'd recommend Dream Theater. they write, in very compelling ways about current social and political problems while totally rocking your face off. good Dream Theater to start with:
Images & Words
Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence
Train of Thought
Octavarium

it is an older record, but when i'm feeling down and need something to "meet me where i'm at" that is sad, but ultimately hopeful i put in "Siamese Dream" by the Smashing Pumpkins.

other albums i recommend:

Soundgarden - SuperUnknown
Ben Folds - Whatever and Ever Amen
Lycia - The Burning Circle and then Dust

Sixteen Horespower & WovenHand have excellent moody music

and my all time favorite gloomy cd: Disintegration by The Cure. simply put, the best sad album ever.


but i also recommend that once you've gotten the "life sucks" music out of your system that you pop in some cd's by The Innocence Mission. they bring you up when you're down, but they are never sacharine or patronizing.

[Josh]

and my all time favorite gloomy cd: Disintegration by The Cure. simply put, the best sad album ever.

Yes.

but i also recommend that once you've gotten the "life sucks" music out of your system that you pop in some cd's by The Innocence Mission. they bring you up when you're down, but they are never sacharine or patronizing.

YES!

[phaith]

WOW!!!

so many sugestions, this is great. Most of these bands I have not heard of, so that is also great (because I like finding out about new stuff) My friend who works at the store has also recomended 'the cure' and I really like them too...so that may be one of the albums.

I like almost any genre so I'm open.

I've also been recomended 'Tori Amos' but I don't like her voice. And someone recomended 'Staind' but I have never heard them, and my music friend said their 'old albums' are good, but not the new...thoughts?

 

[DvChWi]

I've also been recomended 'Tori Amos' but I don't like her voice. And someone recomended 'Staind' but I have never heard them, and my music friend said their 'old albums' are good, but not the new...thoughts?

Unless you happen to like ultra-generic neo-grunge type stuff, I wouldn't reccomend Staind.  However, mentioning Staind brings Pearl Jam to mind(due to some similarities insound, not quality).    Check out their first three albums(Ten, Vs., Vitology).  They go for about $1 used, so you can probably get them even cheaper than you could get for the other ones.  Other bands that fit your criteria(at least  sometimes) are: Radiohead, Ben Folds Five, The Cure,  The Arcade Fire, Interpol, Patty Griffin, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, The Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Weezer(Pinkerton), Wilco, The Wrens.  

[starhawk]

Well....there's always System of a Down...but I don't know if you'd like their style (and the CD hasn't been getting great reviews).

 

You mean Mesmerize?  I thought it was getting rave reviews.  I think it has a very high score at Metacritic.

If you want something totally depressing and dealing with social issues (indirectly), I highly recommend Pedro the Lion- Control.  It's heavy-handed, sad, and compelling music, with a supremely satisfying, thundering  rock style.  You should be able to find it at that secular music store, but it is a Christian band.

[phaith]

Ok...this is what I picked up:

NIN - the downward spiral
- musically I love it!!! WOW...
- lyrics are a bit angrier than I am, but it will be great music to play when I'm painting!

Armor for Sleep - what to do when you are dead
- musically, it's ok...I mean, that it's a bit too poppie for me but it's fine
- lyrically...love it!!

The cure - bloodflowers
I like it all....
When I asked my friend for 'disintegration' he said, "oh, sorry I bought the last one!" LOL...but I will get it next time maybe.

The best news all three cost me 33.77 (Can.) 27.50 American

edit: regular price was 55.00 (Can.) 44.75 American

[RokrantheGreat]

How's the language content on that NIN cd? I recently got into Rammstein and LOVE their industrial sound... but it seems that everything that is American industrial does not have the kind of lyrics I would like to be filling my head with.  [_[  (neither does Rammstein but its all in German and I can't understand it lol)

[phaith]

How's the language content on that NIN cd? I recently got into Rammstein and LOVE their industrial sound... but it seems that everything that is American industrial does not have the kind of lyrics I would like to be filling my head with.  <_<  (neither does Rammstein but its all in German and I can't understand it lol)

the lyrics in some songs are a bit much...but in general I don't mind the language....again, they are a bit more than what I was looking for...but the songs that do capture me, and the music make it worth while...I will probably listen to them when I paint. That is when most of my anger/frustration is released.  

[RokrantheGreat]

Ok thanks... perhaps I'll check NIN out. My parents'll love that, I'm sure.  

One album that I have been listening to alot lately (life sucks for me too atm - love problems) is Trapt's self-titled. Not a masterpiece of musical talent or anything, but some of the songs can be really moving to me when I am depressed and my girlfriend isn't talking to me.    

[phaith]

It is obvious that he is pissed at organized religion (but then so am I) He also writes alot about abuse, suicide and pain in life, and I can relate to that...There is one song called 'big man with a big gun' that I can't listen to...it is intense about a guy who has violent/control issues and how he controls people with is gun and his 'member'. It is very disturbing to me, but I think that is the point, it's suposed to be disturbing. But it's too much for me.  

[PaulDA]

'PROBLEMS' by James Brown (1977)
Partial lyrics:

Pay goin' down, taxes up
Take my tea, ya, from a broken cup (doin' bad)
Between my woman and.....
Uncle Sam
Sometimes I wonder what a damn.....
fool I am

[bloop]

I've always thought Trent Reznor makes some very interesting music (and TDS is no exception), but he's not a strong lyricist even if you don't have any kind of "bad word" hang-up.  Open your dictionary to "decay" and "bleed" and you can write NIN lyrics at home.

[phaith]

so far my fav song off the TDS album is called "I do not want this"

I'm losing ground
you know how this world can beat you down
I'm made of clay
I fear I'm the only one who thinks this way
I'm always falling down the same hill
bamboo puncturing this skin
and nothing comes bleeding out of me just like a waterfall I'm drowning in
2 feet below the surface I can still make out your wavy face
and if I could just reach you maybe I could leave this place
I do not want this
I do not want this
I do not want this
I do not want this
don't you tell me how I feel
don't you tell me how I feel
don't you tell me how I feel
you don't know just how I feel
I stay inside my bed
I have lived so many lives all in my head
don't tell me that you care
there really isn't anything, is there?
you would know, wouldn't you?
you extend your hand to those who suffer
to those who know what it really feels like
to those who've had a taste
like that means something
and oh so sick I am
and maybe I don't have a choice
and maybe that is all I have
and maybe this is a cry for help
I do not want this
I do not want this
I do not want this
I do not want this
don't you tell me how I feel
don't you tell me how I feel
don't you tell me how I feel
you don't know just how I feel

I want to know everything
I want to be everywhere
I want to f**k everyone in the world
I want to do something that matters
 

[Josh]

Wow... poetry!    

[phaith]

Wow... poetry!  

It's exactly how I feel...whether or not it's good poetry doesn't mean much to me right now...I want something that I can relate to...I think I mentioned that in the begining of the thread

[bloop]

Yeah.  I'm enamored with "March of the Pigs".  I'm positive that the lyrics to that one wouldn't look too great on paper, or on a phorumer's screen.  It's all about delivery with that song.

[phaith]

Yeah.  I'm enamored with "March of the Pigs".  I'm positive that the lyrics to that one wouldn't look too great on paper, or on a phorumer's screen.  It's all about delivery with that song.

agree...with several songs they have it's like that...I'm liking this CD more and more

edit: incidentally the song that I posted, he actually 'whispers' most of it, and then screams out the "don't you tell me how I feel" parts...it's kind of chilling actually

[DvChWi]

It's exactly how I feel...whether or not it's good poetry doesn't mean much to me right now...I want something that I can relate to...I think I mentioned that in the begining of the thread

Interestingly enough, I've seen this sort of response many times when it comes to this sort of thing.  Someone likes a band or a song because they can "relate" to them.  Another person points out that the lyrics are badly written(which is usually true from an objective standpoint).  The first person then goes on to say that it doesn't matter, because it helps them work through their feelings.  Now, I've never quite understood this attitude for several reasons.  Firstly, listening to quality music almost always makes me feel happy, no matter what the lyrical content is.  Therefore, if I'm ever feeling down, I usually reach for one of my all time favorites(which vary widely in their emotional focus) and enjoy.  Howver, I understand that different people respond to music differently, so this is an observation on my personal experience rather than an accusation against anyone else's habits.  Secondly, while it's perfectly OK to listen to whatever you feel like, I often feel that people take the personal relatabilty aspect of the music, and allow it to influence their opinion of the actual inherent quality of the album.  Just because an album relates to your personal situation doesn't mean it isn't still lame.  It is important when discussing music critically to keep your feelings about the album from changing your views as to the actual quality of the album.

Having said all that, I would like to add a disclaimer stating that that preceding comments were not targeting any posters in this thread, nor any of the artists mentioned(I've never listened to NIN).  I was just outlining problems that often spring out of this sort of attitude.

[Brenden]

When I get angry and depressed I reach for something with a certain sound. Usually it's something quality, so long as it's angry and/or dark. This comforts me a great deal.

[bloop]

I know where you're coming from Dv, but this just really amounts to my charge that lyrics aren't the be-all in music anyway.  I can't properly defend Trent's lyrics, in particular, as good poetry, but I think most music, if you read it on a piece of paper, comes off poorly as poetry.  Thus, with me, the music and production itself will always be my primary point of criticism as it is the most important IMO, while acknowledging that I know the lyrics are substandard even by the music world's meager standards (if we're comparing to great literature anyway).

I suspect that phaith, as well, doesn't think of the music as artistically indefensible, and she isn't making the case for music that is artistically bankrupt.

To put it succinctly, let's not compare Radiohead to Poe as the medium is different.  Yorke's wordplay pales in comparison, but when did Poe ever deliver "The Fall of the House of Usher" through well-arranged instruments (that would make a heck of a song, btw, if one could compress it a bit)?

[phaith]

I think that if 'logic' guides what you do and say it would make 'sense' to listen to something that is of quality musically/lyrically etc. However if you are more of a person guided by feelings *raises hand* like me, when intense feelings come along, you want something to compliment that...to meet you where you feel...one way is not better than the other, it is just an orientation. I also like to listen to Nina Simone (Jazz singer) she has some amazing heart wrenching songs! Which are of 'higher quality' I'm sure than NIN...lol...

However when I am in a low place I will take honest emotion filled music/lyrics no matter how lame or low quality they may seem over the more 'logical choice' of 'well though out lyrics' that may not connect with me whatsoever.

Those of you who know me, know that in general I'm rather picky about what I listen to.  

[DvChWi]

Another thing you might want to check out is the mood/music guide at allmusic.com. It might give you some ideas.

[Tom]

back to the NIN talk. yeah, Trent's lyrics are limited in some ways, but i think the reason his new album isn't as good is that he's lost some of the "charm" he had before.

for example in the song "Piggy" he totally seems to be making fun of his own lyrics, and that is part of what makes the song so dog-gone cool:

"hey pig, piggy, pig, pig, pig..." i love that line!

and Phaith, i'm glad you like Bloodflowers. many Cure fans dissed that one profusely, but i've always loved it. here is how i rank The Cure albums in quality terms:

1. Disintegration
2. Faith
3. Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
4. Bloodflowers
5. Pornography (and no, the album has nothing to do with pornography. Robert just wanted a nasty sounding title for his most bleak album.)
6. Wish
7. Wild Mood Swings
8. The Head On The Door
9. Boys Don't Cry
10. The Top
11. Seventeen Seconds
12. The Cure

[Josh]

Wow, Tom... low score for their self-titled. I admit that it's far from their best work, but I personally prefer it to... well... pretty much any of their 1990s recordings, except maybe Wish.

[Tom]

yes, i admit that their latest has yet to make a very good impression upon me.

but also consider that i believe the very worst Cure album is grander than the best thing popsters like...Ashley Simpson, Seether, Blink 182 or Good Charlotte etc. will ever hope to do.

so i may look down on their new one in light of past brilliance; but i don't hate it by any stretch.