I unfortunatley need a new "break-up" album

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Anyone have any suggestions? Don't make fun of me, but I really liked Ben Folds "Unauthorized Biography.....". I just feel that each break-up deserves a soundtrack.

― g man, Thursday, 14 October 2004 11:01 (twenty-one years ago)

uhhhh

― sometimes i like to pretend i am very small and warm (ex machina), Thursday, 14 October 2004 11:03 (twenty-one years ago)

The only thing vaguelly approaching a "break up" album for me is Laughing Stock, which I listened to constantly for about four days when Emma & I split up temporarily a year ago or so. Everything else seemed like trite shit, and LS worked at all volumes and fitted every mood. Plus it's not now spoilt for me by having loads of shitty mimetic / nmemonic associations with Emma / splitting up etcetera, cos it's too fucking good for that.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Thursday, 14 October 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

Write your own. That's what I did. Would you like a copy?

― Danger Whore (kate), Thursday, 14 October 2004 11:07 (twenty-one years ago)

ray lamontagne

― Velveteen Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 14 October 2004 11:21 (twenty-one years ago)

here my dear by marvin gaye.

― splooge (thesplooge), Thursday, 14 October 2004 11:24 (twenty-one years ago)

It's pretty hard to beat "no children" by the mountain goats for a pretty bad breakup

― jedidiah (jedidiah), Thursday, 14 October 2004 12:45 (twenty-one years ago)

If you really want to wallow in self pity, may I suggest Amplified Heart by Everything but the Girl (if you blame yourself and not your ex). Failing that, seek ye the Wedding Present.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 13:30 (twenty-one years ago)

The Walkmen's "Bows + Arrows" is pretty good in a angry dylanish "bitch you cheated on me" kinda way.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Willie Nelson "Phases & Stages"

― Marshall Stax (Marshall Stax), Thursday, 14 October 2004 15:43 (twenty-one years ago)

"Miss Fortune" or "The Hardest Part" -- Allison Moorer
"Shoot Out the Lights" -- Richard and Linda Thompson
And, believe it or not, "Version 2.0" -- Garbage

Hell yes on "No Children," although ultimately that song is not about being out of love but staying in hate.

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

The A Girl Called Eddy album is perfect in all angles for breakups.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:37 (twenty-one years ago)

It's usually Darklands and a bottle of something for me.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Red House Painters, the one with Katy Song on it. Grace Cathedral Park.

― Velveteen Bingo (Chris V), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

i tend to gravitate towards grand "what does it all mean?" albums, rather than specifically "break-up" albums.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

N.B. -- best song to play on the ex's answering machine: "Look Into the Mirror," a Jackie DeShannon and Sharon Sheely demo sung by Mac Davis on the Sharon Sheely "Songwriter" cd. Gist of the song: "Thank God I'm free of you and don't have to stick around to watch you grow old and lonely, seeing as how you're utterly incapable of love." That is if it's a particularly bitter break-up.

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

"positively 4th street" is another good (totally traumatizing) song to play on an answering machine. but thats a horrible thing to do, in general.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Songs played on answering machine in (futile) hopes of bringing ex around, natch.

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 14 October 2004 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

ahhh - i see. thats not so horrible, then. carry on.

― peter smith (plsmith), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

There was a Sebadoh album where all the Lou songs were about breaking up with someone that I can't remember the name of right now (And yes, I'm thinking of a specific Sebadoh album.)

Of course, this might not always be the best thing for the early, feeling-really-depressed portion of the breakup. I have found that it's the perfect soundtrack for the later, why-have-my-friends-stopped-returning-my-calls? / was-I-that-whiney? portion.

― Graeme (Graeme), Thursday, 14 October 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

You have to break up with the break up record.

― Loose Translation: Sexy Dancer (sexyDancer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Blood on the Tracks still does the trick nicely for me...

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Because I was a whiney gothette bint around the time of my first real horrible break-up, Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails worked for me. This isn't a recommendation, as such.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Elvis Costello's Blood & Chocolate!

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Smog - Doctor Came At Dawn

― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:42 (twenty-one years ago)

BotT, definitely. Also:

Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Quasi - Featuring Birds
Stevie Wonder - Talking Book

― o. nate (onate), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:46 (twenty-one years ago)

gygax will kill you.

― cºzen (Cozen), Thursday, 14 October 2004 18:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Kitchens of Distinction - Love is Hell...appropriate title, appropriate music, no triteness to be found.

― Ian Moraine (Eastern Mantra), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

palace bros. - days in the wake
beatles - rubber soul

― Helios Creed (orion), Thursday, 14 October 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Since you sound like an emo loser who worries more about soundtracking your breakup than figuring out why girls dump your lame ass, go listen to some Cursive.

― biggie smalls, Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

ouch

― g man, Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Just callin' it like I see it.

― biggie smalls, Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:47 (twenty-one years ago)

better to be dumped than smug

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 14 October 2004 20:55 (twenty-one years ago)

5 year long relationship ended a few months ago. Glenn Gould's Goldberg Variations has been helpful. Bach in general makes my problems seem small.

― (Jon L), Thursday, 14 October 2004 21:09 (twenty-one years ago)

anything by stars

― cutty (mcutt), Thursday, 14 October 2004 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

better to be dumped than smug

I'll wager you're batting two-for-two...

― biggie smalls, Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:17 (twenty-one years ago)

At least I'm still alive

― mottdeterre (mottdeterre), Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

my ex girlfriend used to like Bikini Kill stuff when we'd periodically break up.

― Dark Floyd, Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

i wonder if people start relationships just so they can have an excuse to listen to "break-up" albums.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Thursday, 14 October 2004 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

mine was brighten the corners by pavement

― Antonio DePietro, Thursday, 14 October 2004 23:16 (twenty-one years ago)

i wonder if people start relationships just so they can have an excuse to listen to "break-up" albums.

rock critics do.

― resurrected biggie smalls, Thursday, 14 October 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

The Band and a bottle.

― supercub, Friday, 15 October 2004 00:16 (twenty-one years ago)

rainer maria's "long knives drawn"

― the surface noise (slight return) (electricsound), Friday, 15 October 2004 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

The Cure - "Disintegration"

― J-rock (Julien Sandiford), Friday, 15 October 2004 01:13 (twenty-one years ago)

seven months pass...

revive............... ugh,

― poortheatre (poortheatre), Friday, 3 June 2005 06:17 (twenty years ago)

i just posted a june gloom mix that might help.. :/

― donut debonair (donut), Friday, 3 June 2005 06:22 (twenty years ago)

i agree with cure - dintregation - same deep water as you , etc,
however corny they are i play "air supply" during sad times.

― heri galliwell, Friday, 3 June 2005 07:31 (twenty years ago)

Slowdive.

― teekay, Friday, 3 June 2005 07:35 (twenty years ago)

Best of Leonard Cohen.
Blood on the Tracks.
Coil's solstice/equinox cds.

― deru, Friday, 3 June 2005 07:46 (twenty years ago)

The Shortwave Set - The Debt Collection

It's not out till next month, but there are lots of nice lyrics about people who suck.

― BARMS, Friday, 3 June 2005 13:08 (twenty years ago)

The Afghan Whigs, Gentlemen

― Ken L (Ken L), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:12 (twenty years ago)

that Camera Obscura album might work. Someone also mentioned on a thread once that the Clientele's Violet Hour and TMG's Tallahassee (already mentioned above) are what got him through a break up. I'll second those.

― AaronK (AaronK), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Sinead O'Connor - She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty

There's a covers suite in there made especially for crying your eyes out

― The Sensational Sulk (sexyDancer), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Moloko's "Statues," especially the last track "Over and over."

― brittle-lemon, Friday, 3 June 2005 13:17 (twenty years ago)

if I was the kind of person who had a 'heartbreak album' (cough hem yes anyway) it would be Get In by Kenickie.

― Alex in Doncaster (Alex in Doncaster), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

Lilys - Eccsame The Photon Band.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

The Slits - Cut

― Rufus 3000 (Mr Noodles), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:23 (twenty years ago)

seafood "when do we stop fighting?"

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Friday, 3 June 2005 13:25 (twenty years ago)

Maybe it's just too obvious, but has no one mentioned 'Hatful of Hollow?' It's perfect 'cause you probably know most of the words. Even if you don't, by the third time through it you will and by that time you'll start feeling better.

― bkjj40a, Friday, 3 June 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

Hello, I Must Be Going - Phil Collins. All songs written after his (1st? 2nd?) divorce

― Randy Reiss (undeadsinatra), Friday, 3 June 2005 16:38 (twenty years ago)

the new stars album should do nicely

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Friday, 3 June 2005 16:41 (twenty years ago)

― Ian John50n (orion), Saturday, 4 June 2005 00:17 (twenty years ago)

If you can get your hands on "Dearly Departed" by Devotchka, that should do nicely.

― Steve Gertz (sgertz), Saturday, 4 June 2005 00:29 (twenty years ago)

"Broken Hearts Are for Assholes," Frank Zappa. Weep yourself to sleep as Frank repeatedly sez "Ram it up your poop shute" over and over again.

― Suzy Creemcheese (SuzyCreemcheese), Saturday, 4 June 2005 03:12 (twenty years ago)

You folks are twisted. I learned that the best stuff to listen to post-break-up is the most impersonal stuff imaginable. I got through my own devastating relationship last summer on African rap, Ravi Shankar, Cake, Greendale, Ennio Morricone, Langley Schools, Ride the Lightning, Dr. Dooom and AC/DC.

Oh, and I find that Talking Heads is also very good.

But if the break-up soundtrack route is where you wanna head, I've found Kid A to actually be really good on that tip. BoTT is the best by far, and someone else made an excellent suggestion with Rubber Soul. Shoot Out the Lights is cool, and I have a feeling the new White Stripes record may make the standard-issue list -- brilliant post-breakup rationalizing agony on that record.

― Chris O., Saturday, 4 June 2005 03:22 (twenty years ago)

Amazed it hasn't been mentioned yet, but 69 Love Songs pretty much covers all the bases.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Saturday, 4 June 2005 03:44 (twenty years ago)

five months pass...

people i need a cure! been listening to Songs of Love and Hate but that's like heroin right now

― Rizz (Rizz), Thursday, 24 November 2005 13:20 (twenty years ago)

American Music Club - Everclear

Good call on the Lilys album too!

― mzui (mzui), Thursday, 24 November 2005 13:58 (twenty years ago)

Anything by Trembling Blue Stars (they didn't do a breakup album; they're a breakup project). The downside of that is that, since the breakup-angst is spread over 10 years of output, it is rather insipidly weak and bereft of all but the most milquetoast of emotion.

Then there's Soul Whirling Somewhere's "Hope Was", a 2CD breakup album, in a shoegazer/dreampop sort of vein (lots of understated vocals, reverbed pianos, quiet synths). It'll be in the goth/darkwave section of your record shop, though can appeal to anyone into shoegazing, 1980s 4AD and that sort of thing.

Along similar lines, Slowdive's "Souvlaki" also fills that void well.

― acb (acb), Thursday, 24 November 2005 15:06 (twenty years ago)

read this thread: We need to talk....

whilst listening to Tiny Tim's "Living in the Sunlight, Loving In The Moonlight".

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 24 November 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

AWWW YEAH, I'm joining the "I unfortunately need a break-up album" crew!!
While wallowing in my newly found misery last night, I found Bobby "Blue" Bland's "Two steps from the Blues" album most agreeable

― Baaderonixx weaves a daisy chain for... SATAN!! (baaderonixx), Friday, 25 November 2005 09:02 (twenty years ago)

yo! lets form a band then

― Rizz (Rizz), Friday, 25 November 2005 09:50 (twenty years ago)

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