Actual sad songs for sadness purposes

Actual sad songs for sadness purposes

There's a post pretty high up on fp at the moment titled "sad songs for fellow fuckups". The list was pretty mediocre in my opinion, so I'm putting together my own and you can't stop me. No order of sadness, just in alphabetical order.

1. Ashley Monroe and Trent Dabbs- Gone

Ashley Monroe's voice is being used for the greater good in country music, not succumbing to the pop norms of today. She, along with Trent Dabbs, made a pretty sweet ep a few years back. This track brings down the mood by a lot.

https://youtu.be/07MPo7Ga-ZA

2. Brand New- Degausser

Most of brand new's discography is on the "I'm sad" end of the spectrum, but this one really hits home. "The devil and god are raging inside me", the album that this song comes from, is an emotional ride the whole way through. This song stands out on its own.

https://youtu.be/ZlktvwD-Ug8

3. Corey Smith- The Bottle

Corey Smith was a schoolteacher with a knack for songwriting. He used the money he saved from teaching to record his first two albums. In this portray of the effects of alcoholism on family, Smith goes with just guitar and piano to set a really bummer mood.

https://youtu.be/IieR4aVp2kA

4. Dawes- Now That It's Too Late, Maria

"All your favorite bands", in my opinion, is a damn near perfect album. The last track off of it sets the mood to chill to give it an ending that makes sure you're not too happy. Not the saddest, but still sad.

https://youtu.be/YMpmHIGxpBo

5. Death Cab for Cutie- What Sarah Said

"Plans" is one of the better known albums by death cab. This ender is sad the first couple of times if you really analyze the lyrics. It became a bit cheesy to me later on. Still fairly sad.

https://youtu.be/i_IpHfS6NT0

6. The Postal Service- This Place is a Prison

Another from the king of the emotional men Ben gibbard, this song will make you feel bad about yourself deep down. Best listened to in low light for full sadness effect. It's about drug addiction, so even if you don't do drugs, you'll feel sorry for accidentally taking that extra Benadryl when the instructions said not to.

https://youtu.be/NMgoQBHx12g

7. Gnarls Barkley- Who's Gonna Save My Soul

Wait, you mean these guys made songs other than "crazy"?!
The pure soul of this song mixed with the simple back beat creates this mellow mood that will for sure put you down. The live version is a bit different, but I'm adding it because cee-lo's voice is amazing.

https://youtu.be/GLbE6aHjF7g

8. Heyrocco!- Happy

These guys are one of my new favorite bands. Chock full of member berries, they bring out the essence of 90's whiny alternative pop. This song is one of the more bummer tunes off "high school movie soundtrack."
Bonus!- if you have an ex named Emily like I do, "First Song" will be the sadder song off the album. You'll see.

https://youtu.be/zdalPNMdM1A

9. Jamey Johnson- Cover Your Eyes

Sweet Jesus this has some emotion. It's the second song you hear off of his second album, so it goes from a nice, fun old honkey Tonk country mood to this cryfest. Even if you don't like country music, give it a try. The vocals and mixing make the mood damn near perfect.

https://youtu.be/mczbTQhDdUM

10. Jason Isbell- Elephant

After the Jamey Johnson song you have to lighten the mood up a little bit. Here's a song about cancer! Isbell is a downright amazing songwriter, so you can really see yourself in the story of the song here. It's something different from your normal cancer song and it's more folk than country. Give it a whirl.

https://youtu.be/LHJhyrrUTgc

11. JMSN- Alone

JMSN tends to change his style up with every album. This album was produced to be very ambient, and with this track and the following "do you remember the time", it will make you change your perspective on r&b. This song with the music video is a work of art. Magical, drug induced art.

https://youtu.be/6EH9xuMccy4

12. John Mayer- Edge of Desire

I believe this one was on the radio in some places, but I'm not too sure. Anyway, the melody and lyrics set the mood a bit differently than the normal Mayer panty dropper song. By the time you reach the guitar solo, you're hooked into this ride. Me being a guitar nerd, I love this because the tone is beautiful in setting this sad mood. Slow dancing in a burning room is pretty much the same review and should be checked out for sadness.

https://youtu.be/5GTbM5-ku-M

13. Lucero- The Only One

Lucero is a weird brand of country and southern rock that still plays on the sadder aspects of the country scene. There's multiple songs for that "my lady just left me so I'm gonna drink this 30 rack of pbr until I stop thinking about her" on their roster, but this one speaks to me personally. I don't know why. See for yourself.

https://youtu.be/SJ3S95KGlrM

14. Manchester Orchestra- I Can Barely Breathe

Manchester orchestra can go from sad and lonely to this powerhouse of music that's truly different from anything. This combines the two extremes usually found in the music and gives us this emotional ride all the way to the end. The live version isn't bad either.

https://youtu.be/mb5_miMF-p0

15. Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - A Light On a Hill

These guys are known for sad acoustic-ish songs, but I don't believe they can make anything more tear inducing than this. The mood just slows everything down and grabs you in the heart. The lyrics, vocal style and occasional piano heard in this track will pair great with a rainy day after your dog was ran over.

https://youtu.be/zYKWQXxeHZo

16. Modern Baseball- Pothole

This is another end track that just adds to the already sad mood. These days we have the kids that never grew out of their emo phase and just decided to make the music better. If you haven't heard anything from these guys, definitely check them out. It's everything your post high school angst desires.

https://youtu.be/W95u98wMlXo

17. My Morning Jacket- Dondante

I'm adding the storytellers version because it gives the backstory of how and why this song was written. The emotion in this by the end will send chills down your spine. It's not whiny, but it does a good job of portraying the mood of the singer Jim James as he sings about his lost friend. If you only listen to one thing on this list, make it this one.

https://youtu.be/dMbqlK5OY2I

18. The National- Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks

The Nationals entire discography will destroy you like that ex that took your cat and burnt all of your moms vinyl records. Proceed with caution.

https://youtu.be/1a1UoljLWrY

18. Radiohead- All I Need

This down and depressing song adds to the mood of the already amazing "in rainbows" album. The deep bass in the melody brings out some melancholy feels attached to the kind of creepy lyrics. Probably what Scott Tenorman listens to often.

https://youtu.be/-6UH1Ls6ZvY

19. Ryan Adams- Oh My Sweet Carolina

Ryan Adams, or as the kids know him, "the guy that re-did the Taylor Swift album with actual instruments", knows how to bring down a mood. All of the lightly sung and softly played songs off of "Heartbreaker" tend to be a bit sad, but this one really takes the cake. The harmony really makes this one shine.

https://youtu.be/eMZYRvDvgT4

20. Third Eye Blind- God of Wine

I really just wanted to use this bad stock image. Third eye blind actually made a lot of really good songs other than semi charmed life. Slow motion is also kind of a ducked up song if you're into this one.

https://youtu.be/vz2tL6Xavhg

21. Youth Group- Skeleton Jar

The last song on the list comes from the post-Cure era and the start of popular emo stuff. 2005 was a weird time for all of us, but these guys seemed to be really sad about something. The melody is pretty neat though. Definitely check this over my chemical romance you emo fuck.

https://youtu.be/HnqRVCIEfdQ

Dog Tax. I'm sure he's sad In this pic.