Best Ever Albums

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Fischman — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 15:11:43 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 03/26/2018 19:11

Wow.
Seven pages on death and nobody has mentioned what many think of as Metallica's best (or at least second best).

And a more recent, more focused elegy on just on one's own mortality, but a really sad way of approaching it (Alzheimers). Glen Campbell's last album of new material is a most poignant farewell, not to mention chock full of great music.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Fischman — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 15:03:58 GMT

Author: Fischman

Posted: 03/26/2018 19:03

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

Sorry to vomit all of this music at you, but this really got me thinking.

Lots of good stuff in that regurgitation, especially the Janacek. From the House of the Dead has my all time favorite overture in the history of opera or theatrical music.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 16:28:08 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/25/2018 20:28

The other obvious one (it's even in my top ten for crying out loud)... but also isn't just about death so probably didn't come to mind because of that, but the songs 42 and Death and All His Friends and some other elements of the album do indeed incorporate themes of death, whether cultural or actual physical death.

Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends by Coldplay

[Verse 1]
Those who are dead are not dead
They're just living in my head
And since I fell for that spell
I am living there as well

[Chorus]
Time is so short
And I'm sure
There must be something more

Those who are dead are not dead
They're just living in my head
And since I fell for that spell
I am living there as well

[Chorus]
Time is so short
And I'm sure
There must be something more

[Verse 2]
You thought you might be a ghost!
You thought you might be a ghost!
You didn't get to heaven but you made it close
You didn't get to heaven but you made it close
You thought you might be a ghost
You thought you might be a ghost
You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close
You didn’t get to heaven but you oh-oh-ooh, oh-oh-ooh
Oh oh…

[Outro]
Those who are dead are not dead
They're just living in my head

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

souplipton — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 01:13:47 GMT

Author: souplipton

Posted: 03/23/2018 05:13

Maybe it hasn't been said because it's a obvious answer, but Funeral by Arcade Fire definitely deserves at least a mention on this thread.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 23:50:19 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/23/2018 03:50

Michael1981 wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

Michael1981 wrote:

No they were good. (Except the last one didn't work)

I'd not seen that REM video before. I like that song more now.

I hadn't either. I knew what it was about before then, but didn't know really anything else until I checked it on the tubes.

Speaking of which that Dirt song... I guess Warner Music Group isn't friendly with our friends on the other side of the pond? Plays fine for me. Maybe use your favorite streaming service to look for Dirt by Phish (on the Farmhouse album).

Here's the lyrics. They are simple, but musically it takes me to a somber place and the lyric of "I'll never hear your voice again" usually does me in.

Washed ashore.....Washed ashore....

I'd like to live beneath the dirt
A tiny space to move and breathe is all that I would ever need
I wanna live beneath the dirt
Where I'd be free from push and shove like all those swarming up above
Beneath their heals I'll spend my time....

Shout your name into the wind......
I'll wiggle in the earth and dew
Shout your name into the wind.......
And sometimes I will think of you
Shout your name into the wind.....
And if you ever think of me kneel down and kiss the earth and show me what this thought is worth
I'll never hear your voice again

Shot your name into the wind.....
(Repeat)

Good idea. I'll check them out on Spotify. Thanks!

(Not really heard any Phish before I don't think. They are mainly known for the Ben and Jerry flavour Ice Cream in the UK 😄 )

Actually that might be a good thread: What if your favourite bands/artists were themed flavours of ice cream #-o

hehe - well there's cherry garcia too... I think that's the end of the thread?

And you're welcome.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 15:12:28 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 03/22/2018 19:12

sethmadsen wrote:

Michael1981 wrote:

No they were good. (Except the last one didn't work)

I'd not seen that REM video before. I like that song more now.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 22:37:36 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/20/2018 02:37

Michael1981 wrote:

No they were good. (Except the last one didn't work)

I'd not seen that REM video before. I like that song more now.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

jnfbn — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:44:50 GMT

Author: jnfbn

Posted: 03/19/2018 22:44

sethmadsen wrote:

This is actually the most powerful work of art about death I've ever experienced. Holy Shit is it real and raw. The whole album. And it's not like, dude, I'm gonna do this like artistic thing about death and it'll be like all dark and spooky and stuff... NO. If you've ever experienced death, this is exactly how you felt... for months and years to follow.

Link

Exactly, he states in the opening track as death is not a thing to sing about or make into art in a manner I'd like to call Magrittesque, because it reflects the artificiality of the song and also realness of death in a reversed way (Rene Magritte loves to show the realness of the "artpiece" and the artificiality of imagery like in The Treachry of Images or commonly known as This Is Not a Pipe)

And in the matter of Swims, I just lose it in "we are always so close to not existing at all"

Link

As for this one which I think has a more agressive approach, Nick heartbreakingly calls out right across the sea but "the echo comes back empty..."

Sorry Im going by lyrics all the time but I think in this kind of records, lyrics are vital to the issue

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 18:00:42 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 03/19/2018 22:00

I thought of some tracks by M Ward related to this subject as well. I find these actually pretty uplifting.

Link

This one is a Daniel Johnston cover:

Link

And this one from Devendra Banhart brings in a totally different perspective and is also sort of uplifting. Great song:

Link

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 17:12:02 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 03/19/2018 21:12

3 more songs about death that I like:

A cover of a traditional american song by Prefab Sprout:

Link

A very depressing yet beautiful little album closer by Microdisney:

Link

A 70's prog-pop song

Link

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:56:01 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 03/19/2018 08:56

Tha1ChiefRocka wrote:

Sorry to vomit all of this music at you, but this really got me thinking.

Murder Ballads by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds

plus I want this to be played at my time of dying.

Link

Whiskey For The Holy Ghost by Mark Lanegan

An Empty Bliss Beyond This World by The Caretaker

The Empty Hollow Unfolds by Raison D'être

The previous two albums, which lack lyrics, evoke the feeling I think of when I think about mortality. I think a lot of ambient type music can evoke that reaction. The titles of the albums and songs also help create that picture.

Ghost Ballads by Dean Gitter

Here are some classical selections for you as well.

Link

Link

Link

and of course

Link

Link

These look interesting. Thanks! With Nick Cave I think you get both the gothic fascination side and the more spiritual poignant side of this topic. I think "into my arms" is probably my favourite song of his. The opening lines are so perfect.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:47:24 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 03/19/2018 08:47

Yann wrote:

I like very much this song from the dandy of britpop Luke Haines:

Link

That is cool. Very specific and relatable lyrics.

Luke Haines is great.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:42:36 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 03/19/2018 08:42

sethmadsen wrote:

oh ... sorry for the song tangent...

No they were good. (Except the last one didn't work)

I'd not seen that REM video before. I like that song more now.

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:38:21 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/19/2018 04:38

oh ... sorry for the song tangent...

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:37:45 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/19/2018 04:37

Link

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:35:59 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/19/2018 04:35

R.E.M. wrote this song for Kurt Cobain shortly after he died and perform it on one of his guitars.

Link

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

RoundTheBend — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 00:27:35 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 03/19/2018 04:27

jnfbn wrote:

Mount Eerie's A Crow Looked at Me is worth mentioning, an album with an opening track goes like ''death is real, someone's there and they're not'' and another track opens ''our daughter is one and a half, you've been dead eleven days'... the most personal and geniune album I've heard for a long time.

Indeed...

This is actually the most powerful work of art about death I've ever experienced. Holy Shit is it real and raw. The whole album. And it's not like, dude, I'm gonna do this like artistic thing about death and it'll be like all dark and spooky and stuff... NO. If you've ever experienced death, this is exactly how you felt... for months and years to follow.

Link

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

YoungPunk — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 20:59:28 GMT

Author: YoungPunk

Posted: 03/19/2018 00:59

I think Mozart wrote most of his requiem

recs: Everything by Verdi basically, lol what a jerk... haha

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

CharlieBarley — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 19:11:30 GMT

Author: CharlieBarley

Posted: 03/18/2018 23:11

Gotta be this one:

Disintegration by The Cure

Re: Best albums about death and mortality?

jnfbn — Sun, 18 Mar 2018 19:09:41 GMT

Author: jnfbn

Posted: 03/18/2018 23:09

Oh, how did I forget that; Requiem for My Friend by Zbeigniew Preisner, this is great too