POLL: Best depressing album by a male singer-songwriter

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Poll: Best depressing album by a male singer-songwriter
Either/Or (Elliott Smith)
11%
 11%  [4]
Pink moon (Nick Drake)
27%
 27%  [10]
I see a darkness (Bonnie "Prince" Billy)
5%
 5%  [2]
Carrie & Lowell (Sufjan Stevens)
8%
 8%  [3]
I'm wide awake, it's morning (Bright Eyes)
2%
 2%  [1]
Benji (Sun Kil Moon)
0%
 0%  [0]
The downward spiral (Nine Inch Nails)
8%
 8%  [3]
A crow looked at me (Mount Eerie)
27%
 27%  [10]
Sea change (Beck)
8%
 8%  [3]
Total Votes : 36

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bobbyb5



Gender: Male
Location: New York
United States

  • #21
  • Posted: 06/17/2018 19:12
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AfterHours wrote:
Some of these might technically be incorrect as "singer-songwriter" (because there is a little too much of a "band" around them or some other nuances/reasons), however they all fit the general gist of what the genre entails and should satisfy one looking for similar experiences -- if we're not being too strict and "mostly minimal accompaniment" is okay too. Here are my selections for the most amazing depressing/very sad/heartbreaking such works...

1. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
2. Lorca - Tim Buckley (1970)
3. Desertshore - Nico (1970)
4. Astral Weeks - Van Morrison (1968)
5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)
6. Geek the Girl - Lisa Germano (1994)
7. Down Colorful Hill - Red House Painters (1992)
8. Songs of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen (1968)
9. On the Way Down From Moon Palace - Lisa Germano (1991)
10. Happy Sad - Tim Buckley (1968)
11. Tonight's the Night - Neil Young (1975)
12. Red House Painters (Rollercoaster) - Red House Painters (1993)
13. Hex - Bark Psychosis (1994)
14. The Marble Index - Nico (1968)
15. 2 - Black Heart Procession (1999)
16. Miss America - Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
17. Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones (1979)
18. Laughing Stock - Talk Talk (1991)
19. Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk (1988)
20. I Could Live in Hope - Low (1994)
21. Excerpts From A Love Circus - Lisa Germano (1996)
22. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971)
23. If I Could Only Remember My Name - David Crosby (1971)
24. Trust - Low (2002)
25. You Are Free - Cat Power (2003)

A small number may be borderline depressing "not quite sad enough?". And, a few, I may have taken a little too far in regards to instrumentation/accompaniment... Down Colorful Hill above is probably the most thoroughly accurate and potent example of the true depths of depression some can sink to -- if you're looking for the most "perfect" selection among these.


Actually you're right. It's kind of a misconception that all the well-known singer-songwriters were just themselves and their guitar or their piano. In reality, very rarely was it just them solo without a band. It's surprising when you read the credits on albums and see just how many instruments and musicians were used on each track. Somehow they were able to create the illusion of simplicity when it really wasn't simple at all. At least in the studio. Performing live they may have been more likely to not have a full band. It's really only folk performers who just had their own guitar without a band.
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AfterHours



Gender: Male
Location: originally from scaruffi.com ;-)

  • #22
  • Posted: 06/17/2018 20:21
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AfterHours wrote:
Some of these might technically be incorrect as "singer-songwriter" (because there is a little too much of a "band" around them or some other nuances/reasons), however they all fit the general gist of what the genre entails and should satisfy one looking for similar experiences -- if we're not being too strict and "mostly minimal accompaniment" is okay too. Here are my selections for the most amazing depressing/very sad/heartbreaking such works...

1. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
2. Lorca - Tim Buckley (1970)
3. Desertshore - Nico (1970)
4. Astral Weeks - Van Morrison (1968)
5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)
6. Geek the Girl - Lisa Germano (1994)
7. Down Colorful Hill - Red House Painters (1992)
8. Songs of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen (1968)
9. On the Way Down From Moon Palace - Lisa Germano (1991)
10. Happy Sad - Tim Buckley (1968)
11. Tonight's the Night - Neil Young (1975)
12. Red House Painters (Rollercoaster) - Red House Painters (1993)
13. Hex - Bark Psychosis (1994)
14. The Marble Index - Nico (1968)
15. 2 - Black Heart Procession (1999)
16. Miss America - Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
17. Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones (1979)
18. Laughing Stock - Talk Talk (1991)
19. Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk (1988)
20. I Could Live in Hope - Low (1994)
21. Excerpts From A Love Circus - Lisa Germano (1996)
22. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971)
23. If I Could Only Remember My Name - David Crosby (1971)
24. Trust - Low (2002)
25. You Are Free - Cat Power (2003)

A small number may be borderline depressing "not quite sad enough?". And, a few, I may have taken a little too far in regards to instrumentation/accompaniment... Down Colorful Hill above is probably the most thoroughly accurate and potent example of the true depths of depression some can sink to -- if you're looking for the most "perfect" selection among these.


^^^ Whoops, wasn't thinking with "only male" while making my selections. Oh well...
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AfterHours



Gender: Male
Location: originally from scaruffi.com ;-)

  • #23
  • Posted: 06/17/2018 20:22
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bobbyb5 wrote:
AfterHours wrote:
Some of these might technically be incorrect as "singer-songwriter" (because there is a little too much of a "band" around them or some other nuances/reasons), however they all fit the general gist of what the genre entails and should satisfy one looking for similar experiences -- if we're not being too strict and "mostly minimal accompaniment" is okay too. Here are my selections for the most amazing depressing/very sad/heartbreaking such works...

1. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
2. Lorca - Tim Buckley (1970)
3. Desertshore - Nico (1970)
4. Astral Weeks - Van Morrison (1968)
5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)
6. Geek the Girl - Lisa Germano (1994)
7. Down Colorful Hill - Red House Painters (1992)
8. Songs of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen (1968)
9. On the Way Down From Moon Palace - Lisa Germano (1991)
10. Happy Sad - Tim Buckley (1968)
11. Tonight's the Night - Neil Young (1975)
12. Red House Painters (Rollercoaster) - Red House Painters (1993)
13. Hex - Bark Psychosis (1994)
14. The Marble Index - Nico (1968)
15. 2 - Black Heart Procession (1999)
16. Miss America - Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
17. Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones (1979)
18. Laughing Stock - Talk Talk (1991)
19. Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk (1988)
20. I Could Live in Hope - Low (1994)
21. Excerpts From A Love Circus - Lisa Germano (1996)
22. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971)
23. If I Could Only Remember My Name - David Crosby (1971)
24. Trust - Low (2002)
25. You Are Free - Cat Power (2003)

A small number may be borderline depressing "not quite sad enough?". And, a few, I may have taken a little too far in regards to instrumentation/accompaniment... Down Colorful Hill above is probably the most thoroughly accurate and potent example of the true depths of depression some can sink to -- if you're looking for the most "perfect" selection among these.


Actually you're right. It's kind of a misconception that all the well-known singer-songwriters were just themselves and their guitar or their piano. In reality, very rarely was it just them solo without a band. It's surprising when you read the credits on albums and see just how many instruments and musicians were used on each track. Somehow they were able to create the illusion of simplicity when it really wasn't simple at all. At least in the studio. Performing live they may have been more likely to not have a full band. It's really only folk performers who just had their own guitar without a band.


Agreed, good points Smile
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RoundTheBend
I miss the comfort in being sad



Location: Ground Control
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  • #24
  • Posted: 06/17/2018 21:36
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AfterHours wrote:

5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)


Hell's Yis

I can't remember the name of it now, but the one where he's looking through the window from his bed and describes/reimagines the frost. I want to say he likens the frost to his soul or something cold and dark like that but it's been about 4 years since I've visited that... damn, thanks for the memories.
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YoungPunk





  • #25
  • Posted: 06/17/2018 22:25
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Winterreisse is likely better than all the songs listed here honestly
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9999



Gender: Male
Age: 33
Location: España
Spain

  • #26
  • Posted: 06/18/2018 14:39
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bobbyb5 wrote:
Actually you're right. It's kind of a misconception that all the well-known singer-songwriters were just themselves and their guitar or their piano. In reality, very rarely was it just them solo without a band. It's surprising when you read the credits on albums and see just how many instruments and musicians were used on each track. Somehow they were able to create the illusion of simplicity when it really wasn't simple at all. At least in the studio. Performing live they may have been more likely to not have a full band. It's really only folk performers who just had their own guitar without a band.


Yeah, you're absolutely right. But I had to mark some boundaries, otherwise I would've had to make a poll with 40 or 50 different albums Laughing so that's why I ultimately went with those ones, because even though I know that more people took part in the production and recording, the songs themselves are only credited to the main artist.
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AfterHours



Gender: Male
Location: originally from scaruffi.com ;-)

  • #27
  • Posted: 06/18/2018 19:21
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sethmadsen wrote:
AfterHours wrote:

5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)


Hell's Yis

I can't remember the name of it now, but the one where he's looking through the window from his bed and describes/reimagines the frost. I want to say he likens the frost to his soul or something cold and dark like that but it's been about 4 years since I've visited that... damn, thanks for the memories.


Yes! Very Happy This rendition may be unbeatable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCAPqO8U73U
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RoundTheBend
I miss the comfort in being sad



Location: Ground Control
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  • #28
  • Posted: 06/24/2018 19:44
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AfterHours wrote:
sethmadsen wrote:
AfterHours wrote:

5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)


Hell's Yis

I can't remember the name of it now, but the one where he's looking through the window from his bed and describes/reimagines the frost. I want to say he likens the frost to his soul or something cold and dark like that but it's been about 4 years since I've visited that... damn, thanks for the memories.


Yes! Very Happy This rendition may be unbeatable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCAPqO8U73U


That was nice.
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Romanelli
Bone Swah


Gender: Male
Location: Broomfield, Colorado
United States
Moderator

  • #29
  • Posted: 06/24/2018 21:14
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AfterHours wrote:
Some of these might technically be incorrect as "singer-songwriter" (because there is a little too much of a "band" around them or some other nuances/reasons), however they all fit the general gist of what the genre entails and should satisfy one looking for similar experiences -- if we're not being too strict and "mostly minimal accompaniment" is okay too. Here are my selections for the most amazing depressing/very sad/heartbreaking such works...

1. In the Aeroplane Over the Sea - Neutral Milk Hotel (1998)
2. Lorca - Tim Buckley (1970)
3. Desertshore - Nico (1970)
4. Astral Weeks - Van Morrison (1968)
5. Winterreise - Franz Schubert (1828)
6. Geek the Girl - Lisa Germano (1994)
7. Down Colorful Hill - Red House Painters (1992)
8. Songs of Leonard Cohen - Leonard Cohen (1968)
9. On the Way Down From Moon Palace - Lisa Germano (1991)
10. Happy Sad - Tim Buckley (1968)
11. Tonight's the Night - Neil Young (1975)
12. Red House Painters (Rollercoaster) - Red House Painters (1993)
13. Hex - Bark Psychosis (1994)
14. The Marble Index - Nico (1968)
15. 2 - Black Heart Procession (1999)
16. Miss America - Mary Margaret O'Hara (1988)
17. Rickie Lee Jones - Rickie Lee Jones (1979)
18. Laughing Stock - Talk Talk (1991)
19. Spirit of Eden - Talk Talk (1988)
20. I Could Live in Hope - Low (1994)
21. Excerpts From A Love Circus - Lisa Germano (1996)
22. Blue - Joni Mitchell (1971)
23. If I Could Only Remember My Name - David Crosby (1971)
24. Trust - Low (2002)
25. You Are Free - Cat Power (2003)

A small number may be borderline depressing "not quite sad enough?". And, a few, I may have taken a little too far in regards to instrumentation/accompaniment... Down Colorful Hill above is probably the most thoroughly accurate and potent example of the true depths of depression some can sink to -- if you're looking for the most "perfect" selection among these.


Given the thread title's distinction of "male", you can disqualify close to half of these...
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travelful
BEA's Official Florida Man



Age: 27
Location: Davenport, Florida
United States

  • #30
  • Posted: 06/25/2018 01:24
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Lots of great albums in the poll, however Carrie & Lowell is the album that I have the greatest connection with. Love that album.
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