Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Great Albums for Sad Times

I think if there was a wrestling tournament between different forms of art, music would win. I'm talking about sculpture versus oil painting. Finger painting versus ballet. Poetry versus digital animation. Full on double elimination wrestling tournament. They final match is between architecture and music. Music wins.

When you listen, music actually goes inside your body and moves stuff around. Somehow music vibrates your eardrums in such a way that you feel it in your heart. That is downright magical.

I am a lover of albums. From cover art to lyrics to the feel of one song flowing into the next, an record album is a real humdinger of a work of art. Here are some albums that I love. I have been listening to them a lot lately. These are some sad albums. But they make me feel better. I guess a great album can be like a trusted friend laying a hand on your shoulder and saying Hey, man. I know what you feel, with the most beautiful voice imaginable. Sometimes that's exactly what you need to hear.


John Lennon -- Plasitic Ono Band -- 1970
John Lennon - John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band (Remastered)

This is the first record that John did after the Beatles broke up. He was a little pissed. There is a lot of raw emotion in these songs. That's an understatement. This is one of the best sounding albums I have ever heard in my life.





Me'Shell Ndegeocello -- Bitter -- 1999
Me'Shell Ndegeocello - Bitter

As far as I can tell this is an album about a relationship that went really, really, really bad. There's infatuation, love, and finally betrayal. If you've never heard Me'Shell sing you are missing something very special and very rare.



Beck -- Sea Change -- 2002
Beck - Sea Change

This album was written after Beck got dumped by some gorgeous woman. Beck is a genius so he worked through his feelings by creating an absolute masterpiece.




Bright Eyes -- Fevers and Mirrors -- 2000
Bright Eyes - Fevers and Mirrors

This one is a little bit over the top in its emotional rawness. But sometimes a little over the top is exactly what you need. Connor Oberst grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. That alone makes him awesome. He is also an exceptionally gifted lyricist and tunesmith. The voice of his generation, some say. That makes him awesomer.





Stevie Wonder -- Innervisions -- 1973
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions

Whatever problem you may have, Stevie understands. He understands better than you do. He knows where you've been and he knows where you are going. And he knows that everything is going to be okay.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why architecture?

Karine and Tom said...

Good question. Music is something awesome that goes into your body. Architecture is somethings awesome that your body goes into. That makes is a tossup. But you can't dance to a building. And you can dance when you are not in a building. Music wins.