When you are down or depressed, what music do you listen to?

Do you listen to things that try to cheer you up?

Or things that suit your depressed mood....


Or.. music that is "comfortable". That is what I tend to do. I go back to things that make me feel like I'm wearing my favorite comfy clothes.

"Zuma" by Neil Young & Crazy Horse is high on my list. I also reach for it when I'm down. Listening to "Zuma" is like slipping on an old comfortable pair of slippers.

When I'm in the midst of a depression, I prefer to wallow in it. Listening to cheerful music only makes me feel more bitter.

If I'm 'angry/depressed', then I like thrashy things like Motorhead or Venom.

On the other hand, if in a more morose 'the weight of the world is crushing me like an insignificant insect' kinda malaise, then I probably would listen to a little country, like Hank Williams or Merle Haggard.

If I just want to spend an evening peering into the depth of my empty soul, then I'd probably spend the night listening to Gavin Bryars' Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet.



Not meant for everday listening, that one...but very effective when you're in the mood for it.

NorthernLad said:

but then something usually comes on shuffle that picks me up.

The Loner, Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, I Believe In You, A Man Needs A Maid are my anthems.

Neil Young is great downer music... I love the lyric...look at mother nature on the run in the 1917's.

I also like the work he did on that Jim Jarmusch film Dead Man.

I wouldn't say that I've ever used it as a depression album, but Everybody Knows This is Nowhere would probably fit the bill quite nicely.

To make myself feel better, I've discovered 'Here Comes The Sun' is better than prozac. Never fails.

Lot's of music to be depressed by. Turn on a music channel on tv and that usually does the trick.

I would imagine Leonard Cohen's music would be good when depressed, I don't see what other use his music could serve.

Nightwish - cool & surreal, very gothic
Prince - sad & upbeat in some albums
NIN - very dark, intense
Alice In Chains - more towards the oldies, slow day
Ani Difranco - I just don't know about this, must be having a bad day
Audioslave - just right when in an unsure mood
Bush - always awsome, great way 2 release anger at other people
Katatonia - it doesn't get any better
Nirvana - addicted to acoustics

that "So Sick" song by Ne-yo makes me so sick of hearing it. Makes me want to cry.

Usually to ease the pain of my depression i will put on some Miles or Parker,

but if i need some cheerleading music, i'll put on anything by Sade....

twister6 said:

The whole Mad Season - Above is really a good downer album.

Beck - Sea Change

for me tonight, it's turning into a Peter Gabriel night.

"So"


in your eyes.... excellent birds... red rain. mercy street. we do what we're told.

no weak tracks, in fact. its good music to feel down to.

NorthernLad said:

Yep.. and to be honest.. "Up" was very fast pace for me when I first heard it.. I can now hear the sorrow in the tracks...

He is a very interesting individual.. I love his style

Sdldawn said:

yeah he is; he's unique as well. i think his influence is understated sometimes. a brilliant talent. i wish he worked a little faster

Listening to Nick Drake makes me feel better 'cuz i'm usually like 'damn it ain't that bad'

i listen to portishead, tricky, and believe it or not, a lot of bjork when i'm down. throw in some 10k maniacs, natalie merchant, tori amos, tracy chapman, and bowie's ambient stuff and that's about it.

and i need a few bottles of red wine a day until the spell passes.

I prefer not to listen to happy/upbeat music when I'm feeling down, it only aggravates me more. I tend to play darker, melodic music and songs with contemplative lyrics -- from aggressive hip hop to singer/songwriter selections.

lilgish said:

i think i watched that film about 7 times within the first week of viewing it, i'll have to dig it out again and see why i put up such a fuss about it.

"Bitter" by Meshell.

mynameisnotsusan said:

Just thinking about that song makes me almost teary-eyed. Harrison so perfectly captured what he was feeling. Masterpiece.

The same depressing music I listen to when I am not depressed.



Oh no. Never. Maybe some modern filter-disco from time to time, or a Curtis Mayfield record, but I'm probably just after the mood of the music alone. It's not in an effort to especially cheer me up.



I guess Prince, David Bowie, The Cure would fall into that category. Old favourites from my teens.

when people get sad why listen to music that makes you feel worse? i never understood that.

when im depressed i listen to depressed music like
Parachutes - coldplay
anything slow and depressing by Bread
Grace - Jeff Buckley

Any "Mazzy Star" album, or even Hope Sandoval's side project "Bavarian Fruit Bread"

Sometimes I just stick with instrumental music, because the words are too distracting.

IAintTheOne said:

personally, I like to let moods run their course. If i'm down nothing lets me wallow in it better that Meshell N'Degeocello's Bitter

IAintTheOne said:

It's like crying when your sad, it just helps flush it out of your system.

Tom said:

Mazzy Star: good choice.


What instrumental music do you listen to?

NorthernLad said:

as cheesy as it sounds, the Soundtrack to E.T.

Tom said:

Not cheesy at all. I love good film scores. Schindler's List is one of my favorites to listen to while just relaxing; also love Gosford Park.

I know, kinda random choices But they are good.

damosuzuki said:

I'm like that too. Music helps me get it all out. When I'm upset I need to be upset. Otherwise it just festers and that aint no good.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yeah, i'm like that too. I listen to "up" music when i'm "up".