breakup album
Every once in awhile (hopefully a long while), we all need a good breakup album. That's just a part of life. Personally i haven't heard a good one in years. Not that there haven't been many in the last few years - but i wouldn't know because i haven't been listening for it. I haven't really needed it. And just for clarification, i'm talking about a full album of gut-wrenching loss and despair; sure there are a few songs that standup by themselves (Song for the Dumped by Ben Folds), but it takes much more talent to put together an entire album crafted around the dump.
My own list of favorites....
Forever Blue by Chris Isaak
I was never a big Chris Isaak fan, but this album was given to me by someone that i left, a few months after our relationship crumbled. It's as if she had found a way to get healthy, and wanted to share the medicine with me.
Dilate by Ani Difranco
Dilate is a different sort of breakup album because it's from the perspective of the dumper, the cheater, the leaver. I found it while perusing a used CD store with my lover, after i quit caring so much about getting caught. It haunted my stereo for about a year after that, through all the bad, through my lowest bottom pit. For that i can only be thankful.
When the Pawn... by Fiona Apple
This album is the quintissential, and there's a story behind it (of course), involving Dave Navarro, who used to just be a guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers but now has an MTV diversion with his new wife (Carmen Electra). Although i could never really imagine Fiona Apple with him, i could imagine them breaking up, through this album.
And that brings me to the real reason i'm here - the breakup album that was right under my nose these last few weeks. Here i was thinking that i really needed to hear that new Fiona Apple album that Sony won't release (she just broke up with director P.T. Anderson, so it's gotta be what i want, right?). All the while i'm getting used to this kinda-double album from Rufus Wainwright, Want One and Want Two. I'd heard good things, so i finally sampled it from some illegit source, and started to like listening to it. It's odd, and not something i'd think that i'd like, based on one or two songs, but it's really grown on me.
It wasn't until this afternoon that i realized that it's a breakup album...
Not sure why it took me so long. He's a great lyricist, which may just be saying that he uses metaphor, hidden meaning, and well-crafted lines that really hit when they finally sink in. So i'm going to quit searching for that next perfect breakup album, because it was with me the whole time.
My own list of favorites....
Forever Blue by Chris Isaak
I was never a big Chris Isaak fan, but this album was given to me by someone that i left, a few months after our relationship crumbled. It's as if she had found a way to get healthy, and wanted to share the medicine with me.
I believe that you and I just lost our way.
And I believe in a beautiful day.
But not for me, and not for you.
I know you've tried, and I tried to.
Sometimes all our dreams just don't come true.
-- I Believe, Chris Isaak
Dilate by Ani Difranco
Dilate is a different sort of breakup album because it's from the perspective of the dumper, the cheater, the leaver. I found it while perusing a used CD store with my lover, after i quit caring so much about getting caught. It haunted my stereo for about a year after that, through all the bad, through my lowest bottom pit. For that i can only be thankful.
We're in a room without a door
and I am sure without a doubt
there gonna want to know how we got in here
and there gonna want to know how we plan to get out
we better have a good explanation
for all the fun we had
cuz they are coming for us baby, and they are going to be mad.
-- Shameless, Ani Difranco
When the Pawn... by Fiona Apple
This album is the quintissential, and there's a story behind it (of course), involving Dave Navarro, who used to just be a guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers but now has an MTV diversion with his new wife (Carmen Electra). Although i could never really imagine Fiona Apple with him, i could imagine them breaking up, through this album.
And I will pretend
That I don't know of your sins
Until you are ready to confess
But all the time, all the time
I'll know, I'll know
-- I Know, Fiona Apple
And that brings me to the real reason i'm here - the breakup album that was right under my nose these last few weeks. Here i was thinking that i really needed to hear that new Fiona Apple album that Sony won't release (she just broke up with director P.T. Anderson, so it's gotta be what i want, right?). All the while i'm getting used to this kinda-double album from Rufus Wainwright, Want One and Want Two. I'd heard good things, so i finally sampled it from some illegit source, and started to like listening to it. It's odd, and not something i'd think that i'd like, based on one or two songs, but it's really grown on me.
It wasn't until this afternoon that i realized that it's a breakup album...
My phone's on vibrate for you... but still i never ever feel from you.
-- Vibrate, Rufus Wainwright
Not sure why it took me so long. He's a great lyricist, which may just be saying that he uses metaphor, hidden meaning, and well-crafted lines that really hit when they finally sink in. So i'm going to quit searching for that next perfect breakup album, because it was with me the whole time.
This unholy notion of the mythic power of love
-- Go or Go Ahead, Rufus Wainwright
posted by joe @ 10:15 PM
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