Red House Painters - Songs for a Blue Guitar.

I'm not sure if its been mentioned but listen to have you forgotten and try to be happy.

Yeah, that is one of my favorite sad albums, though Kozelek's Sun Kil Moon albums are even better. He's a genius.

If you like Iron and Wine I would try out Seawolf....I guarantee you'll like.

try life-affirming bands such as the National, the Constantines, Joy Division, the Arcade Fire. They can chill you when you are low. Also, Low. The Wall by Pinkie yo check dat

quote:

Originally posted by Drink Coca-Cola!:
try life-affirming bands such as the National, the Constantines, Joy Division, the Arcade Fire. They can chill you when you are low. Also, Low. The Wall by Pinkie yo check dat

Joy Division is not happy music.

I knew someone would say that, but then they qualify for the sad music being sought after. I didn't say happy, I said life-affirming. Big difference I believe. "Ceremony" makes me wanna dance in the streets, but it's also kinda sad. Anyways, happy music can be the saddest sound in the world

UP

indie sad music is like God but better. Any suggestions?

I'm not sure what all you're familiar with, but J. Tillman is definitely a fave sad indie artist of mine. His new album is a bit more fleshed out and upbeat if the songs I've heard are anything to judge by, but his first 4 albums, all released since 2005, are amazing. Also, Liz Durrett is another one whose music is at least as dark-sounding as it is sad. She's got a new one that just came out and I've yet to listen to, but 2006's The Mezzanine is some great dark folk music. I'll add some more recommendations later if you want.

Here's my playlist (rather than artists, I'm going to suggest specific singles) -

Back To Black - Amy Winehouse
As Is - Ani DiFranco
Why - Annie Lennox
Romeo and Juliet - The Dire Straits OR The Indigo Girls
Silver Springs (Live) - Fleetwood Mac
This Woman's Work - Kate Bush
Legendary Hearts - Lou Reed
As Tears Go By - Marianne Faithfull
Release Me - Oh Laura
Worn Me Down - Rachel Yamagata
Portions For Foxes - Rilo Kiley
Golden Gate Bridge - Rose Melberg
This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads

Ok, some of them aren't that indie. And the last one is less sad and more bittersweet. And they're pretty much all love songs.

But when I'm feeling sad, and want matching music that isn't pop, that's a cut-down version of my playlist. Please enjoy! It's not particularly emo, but it's all so heartfelt!

Joy Division is not happy music.[/QUOTE]

I agree. It's emotional, but it's hardly life-affirming.

Unless you're latest life decision involves suicide. And I say that as a JD fan.

Raving Lunatic, Sunhouse's "Crazy On The Weekend" is the thing you are looking for. They remind me a little of Nick Drake, even though the vocalist sounds nothing like him. Anyway, the album is full of beauty and melancholy so I'd give it a try if I were you. Here are two songs from the record:

[Hard Sun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDJreUXW8tg]
[Crazy On THe Weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohSwrtViGS8&feature=related]

Ah, cool, thanks JACOK. I gotta go to bed now, but I'll check out some Sunhouse tunes tomorrow.

Wolves by My Latest Novel is an album of 9 bittersweet, contemplative songs followed by a masterfully upbeat final track.

El Perro del Mar spends her self-titled first album all wrapped up in a beautiful and seductive melancholy.

Guillemots do sadness with great style in Through the Windowpane.

I'd definitely recommend Canasta's We Were Set Up. It's a very good album, and while it's not always "sad", there's this sense of subtle melancholy (not including "Sympathetic Vibrations" or "An Apology") that pervades the whole thing. Of course, if you were to take only one song, it would either be "Shadowcat" or "Heads Hurt Better", both of which are lovely, sad songs.

While her lyrics aren't necessarily "sad", the sound of Sarah Fimm's new EP could be.

It's very ambient and chill - definitely the kind of music to listen to if you just need something to relax with. There's a bit of an electronic touch to the EP, but that just makes it more interesting.

Her EP is actually a free download right now. I don't know how much longer it'll stay free, so I'd suggest downloading it ASAP - whitebirdsep.com

let us know what you think!

This makes me think of this quote from High Fidelity:

Rob: What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?

I've also had people tell me the music I listen to is "sad music." I generally disagree, but I do feel like music without sad elements usually comes off a bit insincere. I agree that listening to music that fits the mood is the way to go...sometimes an album seems especially great just because it fits the situation. My slower, lofi-type sad albums have taken a back seat lately because I find they put me to sleep on my commute to/from work...but if I'm in the right mood a sad album can be cathartic. You can feel more connected to a song-writer than is otherwise possible.

I live on sad indie music.

Try these songs:

LITTLE JOY - UNATTAINABLE
ALLIE MOSS - DAYS I REGRET
WEAVER AT THE LOOM (in general, all their songs)
EXPLORERS CLUB (more melancholy)
THE VEILS - UNDER THE FOLDING BRANCHES
OKKERVIL RIVER - LOST COASTLINES
TYLER JAMES - DON'T LAVE
BON IVER (in general)
WOLFTRON - NEON SKY
WOLFTRON - SAFE
BRITISH SEA POWER - NO NEED TO CRY
THE POEMS - BALLAD OF A BITTER END
SUNFOLD - SAILED OFF TO SEA
ARI HEST - STRANGERS AGAIN
BELL X1 - EVE THE APPLE OF MY EYE

"Lost Coastlines" a sad song? Man, that's a really upbeat, rocking song if you ask me.

There was a while there where all I listened to was sad bastard music, my recommendations from that time:

Micah P. Hinson - and the Gospel of Progress
Bonnie Prince Billy - Master and Everyone
Clem Snide - You Were a Diamond
Mountain Goats - Get Lonely

Download

Hayden's "Skates" now. Great effing tune.

He's pretty melancholy.

Other good sad tunes by him:

My Parents House
Streetcar
This Summer