Mixtape MiserabléTime for another mixtape! The mixtape is becoming a regular feature on my blog where I gather together a compilation of songs to express a feeling, a theme or that the songs just fit right. This week I've chosen to do a downcast version of the mixtape. I'm not having a particular bad weekend, actually its been in quite high spirits actually, but sometimes it just feels great to lie in bed and listen to incredibly melancholic music. If you find yourself spiralling down further and further into depression please pause and resume later when you're feeling a little less sadistic.
1.
Raising The Fawn - EtaThis song isn't necesarily sad, it's actually quite hopeful, but if you're lying in bed on a particularly dreary day, it will make you cry long and hard. Plus it sounds so damn good at the beginning of a mix.
2.
Cat Power - The GreatestLike it or not, Cat Power can come off being very depressing. Especially this song which simply oozes all over your happiness and suffocates it.
3.
David Bowie - Rock 'N' Roll SuicideWell he's not typically who one thinks of when they think of sadness but in his more passionate moments, such as in this song he can really make you feel pretty shitty.
4.
Elvis Costello - Tramp The Dirt DownYou know the songs you know you're one day going to want to play at your wedding or something. Well this song is the one I want played at my funeral (heck I could play this entire mix at my funeral). Mr. Macmanus wrote this one for the late Margaret Thatcher shortly after her death and included it on his album
Spike and has unusual instrumentation (for Elvis anyhow) like the piccolo and perhaps the bagpipes too. Nonetheless, it's beautiful.
5.
Tom Waits - AliceThis isn't the only time I've had a Tom Waits song in a mix, but the man does sing the blues well. I could listen to this song all day, if I didn't value my happiness that is.
6.
The Constantines - Goodbye And AmenThis tune has a very slow start and takes a while for us to get started but once that lead singer starts, you're feelin' it. That heavy-stomached pitted feeling that is the only thing that holds down the tears.
7.
The Dears - 22: The Death Of All RomanceAt the risk of sounding like a sap, I can't tell you how many times I've cried to this song. Again, it's one that exudes so much passion in the vocals and string arrangement near the end of the song that breaks your heart.
8.
Feist - Lonely LonelyThis isn't necessarily a depressing song but the soft, tiptoeing guitar line and Feists infamous voice creeping along turns out to be very downcast if you're in the mood to recieve it that way (which you will be in after you listen to all the songs previous to it)
9.
Radiohead - Talk Show HostThis song was one of those songs you just can't stop playing for days straight, which explains why I was practically depressed those few days. It's hard when you find a song you like so much but it makes you feel so shitty.
10.
Seu Jorge - Rock 'N' Roll SuicideSo yeah, I have two different versions of the same song on this mix (hey I could've also put the Rilo Kiley cover, couldn't I?) but it is a very sad song, especially when you take it back to basics like Seu does with his acoustic guitar and Portuguese vocals.
11.
Neutral Milk Hotel - Two Headed Boy Pt. 2This song I put near the end because although it is very sad, it also has tones of hope laced in which hopefully will pull you out of your depression before you stop listening to this mix. Everyone should listen to Neutral Milk Hotel.
12.
Elvis Costello - God Give Me StrengthAgain, I wanted to restore some of your hope with this last one which, also is pretty miserable because he cries about a woman who left him, it still is called "God Give Me Strength" (which is pretty evident when he passionately screams it nearing the end). This is a Costello favourite and usually wraps up the end of his albums, so I decided to follow his example and have it end mine.
Labels: mixtape
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