Best Break-Up Albums?
So I know we all have special albums that were soundtracks for particular moments of our lives. Which brings me to polling all of you dirty hippies what you think are the best break-up albums of all time. My top two are Gentlemen by The Afghan Whigs and Where You Been? by Dinosaur Jr. I know none of you can top those two but I would like your input anyway. Leave em in the comments. Following are some samples from both albums. First is My Curse by the Whigs (featuring Marcy Mays) and then Goin Home by the Jr.:
Tags: Afghan Whigs, Dinosaur Jr.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 pm
I’ll probably lose all my indie cred points for this, but Rumours (obv). And I’d nominate Jeff Buckley’s Last Goodbye in the song category. (Have you heard ScarJo’s version? It’s not terrible and if you’re looking at a picture of her airbrushed titties as you listen, it magically seems to get better.)
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Ahem. You really need a list. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
There She Goes – The La’s. Bon Iver – Skinny Love. I Want You – Elvis Costello. Whenever You Breathe Out, I Breathe In – Modest Mouse. I’m Not Alright – Grandaddy. Famous Blue Raincoat – Leonard Cohen. Another Radio Song – Okkervil River. Somebody I Want To Know/Miss Misery – Elliott Smith. Anthems For A 17 Year Old Girl/Lover’s Spit – Broken Social Scene. 13 Months In 6 Mimutes/Hopeless – The Wrens. I Don’t Want To Get Over You – Magnetic Fields. Oh Well – Fiona Apple. I Know It’s Over – The Smiths. Come Back To Your Man – Songs:Ohia. No Distance Left To Run – Blur. Weather Reports – Bright Eyes. Katy Song – Red House Painters. Love Will Tear Us Apart – Joy Division. The Moon – The Microphones. No One’s Gonna Love You – Band of Horses. Ciao! – Lush. About Today/Without Permission (cover) – The National. And anything by Carissa’s Wierd.
*sniff, sniff, sob*
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Best of all-time?
Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks.
Every song gives simultaneous comfort while adding to your despair…bittersweet and perfect.
In recent times Neko Case’s Furnace Room Lullaby got me through some desperate times, the CD practically had a groove worn in it last time I went through a breakup, although strangely enough I listen to it now and can’t get into it anymore.
February 2nd, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Re. GP. I like Neko’s new song, Tornado -something. Methinks she has a new one coming out in March. Have you heard new A.C. Newman record? It’s better than I originally thought. (FYI. for those outta the Canunk supergroup loop, Neko plays in Newman’s band, New Pornographers.)
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
OR: you cant just list every love song in history that is cheating.
1. Say Yes by Elliott Smith
2. Ghosts of a future lost by Clint Mansell
3. Afterhours by Velvet Underground
4. Gangbang Suicide by Broke Social Scene
The first three all pertain to the same woman…..jesus christ it hurts just typing that out.
Also so during the angry times of the breakup…Nail Clinic by Pavement
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Additionally….OR you hit the nail on the head with “Whenever you breathe out….” by Modest Mouse…Sleepwalking is pretty special too.
February 2nd, 2009 at 3:58 pm
He’s asking for albums losers! “Best Breakup Albums”
(requisite smiley face)
oceanRain: I’ll check out the A.C. Newman record, I didn’t even know he was releasing solo stuff. Thanks man!
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Thank you George.
“Best Break- Up Albums”
It’s easy to write a Break-up song but much harder to write a whole album that captures the whole range of the heartbreak..
…..Fucking Dirty Hippies….
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Neil Young “After The Goldrush”
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
I’m going to weight in with Derek and the Dominoes: Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Clapton’s unrequited love for George Harrison’s wife was displaced into some of the most bittersweet love songs in rock and roll history. Then again the album is about the pain of the broken hearted, not breaking up, so I guess I didn’t follow directions either.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Oh top albums…..the soundtrack from the Jennifer Aniston / Vince Vaughn movie the Break-Up.
Reality Check: This is quite the gay sausage fest.
Be that as it may……I am going to meditate on the breakup album which I knew were the instructions yet did not have time at work to respond to such a hard question.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Re dharmabum. If you want an awesome *album* that captures *all* the pain and joy and everything of love, might I suggest Magnetic Fields’ 69 Love Songs.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Well after listening to those songs, reflecting upon the mentioned songs/albums, and considering potential picks (anything album by Ryan Adams or Damien Rice meets the requirements), I believe that I will curl up on the couch in a fetal position in the dark and wait for Chabby to come home and save me from myself.
Thanks guys, thanks a lot.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:56 pm
Break up albums!!!!!!! EASY. As I fondly look back, it truly took that once in a lifetime special someone to qualify for this album. She was the best thing to have ever ruined my fucking life. So, if you experienced love as few have, I would like to offer you —nine inch nails: pretty hate machine— Gauge your real commitment to love, give it a listen all the way through. You will be conflicted but ultimately agree that you love to hate and hate to love her with each irregular beat of your cold black dying heart.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:10 am
I must add the notorious Tori Amos to this list. She has survived my mothers generation and continues to keep write great shit! Just when you think you had it bad pop in her Little Earthquakes Album. Her musicianship is unique and soulful but her lyrics makes me cringe. Many men may not be able to relate to her bold statements. Shit many women may not be able to either: However, Her aggression towards relationship misfortunes with never be overheard.
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
dudes best breakup album ever is …..Grace Jeff Buckley…….it hits the anger, betrayl and rememberances of sweeter times better than most…..it also makes you want to go back
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:54 pm
grace is a pretty spectacular breakup album. however, fiona apple’s “when the pawn…” really hits close to home for me.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Oh that was So Real has been haunting me all day.
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
I lived in a shed on the edge of a graveyard when that record came out and it became the soundtrack of destruction summer of ’94…..
February 5th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
I have been deliberating for days (and by now the post has possibly lost its relevancy)…I have settled on Figure 8 by Elloitt Smith.
Opening song of “Son of Sam” enters lightly, reminding me everything is going to be alright…the denial stage.
The next song is “Somebody that I Used to Know”…the anger stage….what a fucking beautiful acoustic guitar rythem. Then the two Everything songs: Reminds me of her then Means Nothing to me….the depression stage.
“Stupidity Tries” was written for the woman whom this break up album award goes out to.
“Lost and Found” might be the best song on the album.
The two minutes and 44 seconds of “Easy way out” is the truth: It is all about taking the easy way out for you / the invisible man who is always changing clothes / With the problem, with the puzzle Whatever’s left of you/
“Happiness” is the acceptance stage. /All I want now is happiness for you and me/
“I better be quiet now” is the internal struggle we all have to not pick up that phone. The lyrics to the whole song should be typed here but instead: Click Here
I HAVE BECOME A SILENT MOVIE THE HERO KILLED THE CLOWN.
March 13th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Death From Above 1979 – You’re a woman, I’m a machine.
Best angry breakup album ever.
January 20th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
This is funny because I was googling “breakup albums” after going through a breakup and then I googled “breakup albums dinosaur jr afghan whigs” because “Where You Been?” and “Gentlemen” are my top 2 breakup albums, with “My Curse” being especially cutting. We should have millions of sad babies together :’(