quote:

Originally posted by keylimetrev:
RL, for Chesnutt, I'd start with West of Rome, or Maybe even his first album little given what you have liked in the past.

I considered those, but I think the lo-fi production of Chesnutt's earlier work would be a dealbreaker for RL. $10 says he'd hate both those albums.

Depends on how lo-fi they are. Elephant Micah's pretty lo-fi and I love the guy. Early Mountain Goats, on the other hand...

Awww...a meeting of the Sad Bastard Music Society. I've always liked Rufus Wainwright's Poses...sad, but not overly so...there are upbeat moments here and there. Old U2, while not indie, has a good sort of sadness, I think. But yeah, come to think of it, any Rufus Wainwright album has a few wonderful, melancholy-filled moments.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Depends on how lo-fi they are. Elephant Micah's pretty lo-fi and I love the guy. Early Mountain Goats, on the other hand...

I'm not familiar with Elephant Micah, but I'd say Chesnutt's lo-finess approaches the Goats. Acoustic guitar and cheap Casio keyboards are the order of the day. Definitely some good songs if you're willing to overlook the production.

quote:

Originally posted by typewriter:
I've always liked Rufus Wainwright's Poses

I second this.

Try Nina Nastasia's On Leaving and, from what I've been told, any of her 3 albums prior to it.

Some bands that comes to mind when I think of my favorite sad indie songs:

Thee more shallows
Sigur ros
Zero 7
Antony and the Johnsons
Elliot Smith
Deathcab
Eels
Buckley
Grandaddy
Brighteyes

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:

quote:

Originally posted by typewriter:
I've always liked Rufus Wainwright's Poses

I second this.

Poses is okay, but I think Wainwright's first album is where it's at. I think it's a tad sadder too. After Poses, he kind of fell off my radar. Last I heard he was doing Judy Garland tributes or some shit.

quote:

Originally posted by m.leland:

quote:

Originally posted by typewriter:
I've always liked Rufus Wainwright's Poses

I second this.

This is one of the few guys I've actually seen live, and it was an...underwhelming performance. Before I went to that concert though (which also included Ben Folds and Guster), I got his latest album from the library and went through it a few times. Couldn't stand it. I think it was called....I don't remember, but I think it was one of two albums that were named the same thing. And it had a song on it called "My Phone's On Vibrate For You" or something like that. I thought it all sounded like Stephen Merritt b-sides, and not very good b-sides at that.

quote:

Originally posted by crazed:
Try Nina Nastasia's On Leaving and, from what I've been told, any of her 3 albums prior to it.

Yeah, I've heard from several sources recently that she's great.

I always get her confused with Stina Nordenstam though.

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Couldn't stand it. I think it was called....I don't remember, but I think it was one of two albums that were named the same thing. And it had a song on it called "My Phone's On Vibrate For You" or something like that. I thought it all sounded like Stephen Merritt b-sides, and not very good b-sides at that.

Want One & Want Two. I didn't like those either. His debut and Poses are quite a bit better.

quote:

Originally posted by thetreesgetwheeledaway:

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
When I say I don't like anything post-Heartbreaker, I'm just going by my hatred for Demolition, most of Gold ("When the Stars Go Blue" and a couple others are good), and my lukewarm feelings toward Love Is Hell.

Oh yeah, those albums are really limp and pathetic. I like maybe four songs from all of those albums combined. Cold Roses is raw and genuine. Really different from those albums and really really beautiful.

i would have to agree with this. i think ryan adams has some great stuff when he's on... especially with his backing band, the cardinals... it def takes time to grow on the listener. from love is hell i think the best is "english girls approximately" so give it another listen? but aw, i'm glad lots of people have mentioned ryan adams.

and i know this is not indie, but fiona apple's second album, the ridiculously titled "when the pawn..." has some AWESOME sad songs, "love ridden" "the way things are" "paper bag"... anyway, happy/sad listening.

RL, since you fancy yourself an Alt-Country fan, have you ever picked up any Steve Earle? I'd highly recommend his 1997 album El Corazon. It's one of the albums that really got me interested in the genre. It's not 100% sad, but it's good. Emmylou Harris and the Supersuckers both guest on the album.

My dad has a cassette of a Steve Earle album. I'm not sure the name of it, but it's got the song "Copperhead Road" on it. That might be the name of the album. I haven't listened to it myself, but my brother tells me he loves it.

Have you tried East River Pipe yet RL? Since you like the Eels Electro-shock blues alot, you might like some of East River Pipes music.

Also, I second the Steve Earle recommendation, although I'm guessing it is too heartland rockish for you.

One last one is Micah Hinson. This one I would think you would like a lot.

Rosanne Cash, Bonnie Prince Billy (I See a Darkness should really feel your quota), Andrew Bird, Elliott Smith, Damien Rice, Iron & Wine (listen to "The Trapeze Swinger"), My Morning Jacket (the IT Still Moves album), The Wrens (The Meadowlands is really emotional)

I second East River Pipe, one of the most underrated bands in Indie Rock. Not really a band per se, but a guy (F.M. Cornog) who makes music in his apartment, when he's not working at the Home Depot in New Jersey (no joke). I first became turned onto ERP after hearing Lambchop's What Another Man Spills, on which they cover two of his songs. I agree that if you like the Eels, you'd probably enjoy East River Pipe a whole lot. I'd start with 1996's stellar Mel.

Also, don't be freaked out by the fact that I said it's a dude making homespun recordings in his apartment. It doesn't have the cringeworthy lo-fi production you'd expect from that description.

quote:

Originally posted by keylimetrev:
Have you tried East River Pipe yet RL? Since you like the Eels Electro-shock blues alot, you might like some of East River Pipes music.

I didn't like his 2005 album much. I don't remember it being that sad-sounding. I think I tried Micah P. Hinson once too, but that was a long time ago, so I'll make a note to try him again.

I'm a big fan of Meadowlands, but I can't really say I'm a Wrens fan. They've been a band for about 15 years I think, and I only like one album of theirs.

My brother's a big fan of Damien Rice, but it's a bit too theatrical for me. I haet BPB for some reason. By all rights, I should like him, but I don't. Andrew Bird's good, but not that sad. Elliott SMith has a couple great records, of course. I'm a big Iron and Wine album guy, but I hate their EPs.

Since someone mentioned Steve Earle..."World Without Tears" by Lucinda Williams has some of the most heart-wrenchingly sad songs I've ever heard. "Minneapolis" is a good one. It's an album I loved but put on the shelf after maybe two listens -- I'd been moved enough.