The Secret to Unhappiness
Music that does a superb job of making miserabilists of us all. |
| 1 |  | Diamanda Galas
Plague Mass
Brutal songs with fantastically wretched vocals. This is an album -- a musical polemic of sorts -- on the AIDS crisis. It is among my favourite albums of all time. |
| 2 |  | Gavin Bryars
Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet
Yes, there is something majestic about the swelling orchestration of this -- but it is almost ironic when set against the tragedy of the tramp, and the tears that the listener will doubtless have. |
| 3 |  | Arvo Part
Adam's Lament
This piece, to me at least, seems to exude grief by the bucketload. |
| 4 |  | Scott Walker
The Drift
Unlike a lot of people I don't find a lot of Scott Walker's music seriously depressing -- nor depressingly serious. In fact I'd say he's one of the greatest comedy songwriters of all time, in a morbid kind of way. But there is no doubt that the stories he tells are incredibly saddening.
The song 'Clara' is the one that best belongs on this list. It refers to the mistress of Mussolini who chose to be hanged alongside the Italian dictator. Very much worth several intensive listens. And very much guaranteed to cause unhappiness. |
| 5 |  | Bent Knee
Shiny Eyed Babies
Just one track of this album: their incredible reinterpretation of Sunshine that highlights its actual heartbreaking narrative. |
| 6 |  | Diamanda Galas
The Singer
Again just one track: Gloomy Sunday. Diamanda's version the Hungarian Suicide Song is exceptionally saddening. |
| 7 |  | Swans
The Great Annihilator
And once more, just one track: Killing for Company. Very creepy song. |
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