Computer Age

25 Albums That will break your heart

By José Luis Ruiz

They say this is the melancholy of being sad. So for those who recreate the self we have prepared a list of 25 discs. A collection of albums of failure if the goal is that you put a lump in the throat. And, depending on timing and the mood is not ruled out a break to mourn ... The tortured excuse for this list is none other than the re-release of "Songs Of Leonard Cohen." This is not the most depressing album Bard Montreal (in that sense "Songs Of Love And Hate" is the palm), but it contains his best songs.

The debut of Leonard Cohen (on the new review will add an extra couple of issues presented and the format of the book) is a masterpiece of folk literary par. Eroticism never sounded so desperate or loneliness so beautifully sad, and so profane religiosity. Most of the songs speak of 'affairs' which do not work. Love is a fight to see who has the power. All those lies in our teachers and professors on the thorny issue of the heart. At the end turns out to be a stranger ( "The Stranger Song"), provided by way of relationships ( "Winter Lady"), saying goodbye ( "So Long, Marianne", "Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye" ) or refuge in the quintessence of desire passenger ( "Sisters Of Mercy").

A big fan of Leonard Cohen was Kurt Cobain, another advocate of the most agónicas devised by a 'songwriter', "in utero." Multiple diseases, rape, sadness ( "I miss the comfort of being sad" aúlla in "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle"), alienation and suicide. And as a corollary closure is chilling as "All Apologies." All were warned what would happen ... and it happened. Unbelievers worship became so sad to Nirvana. Anyway, things happen. No wonder that in the last episode of the third season of the wonderful series "Lost" and sold a nihilistic Jack heard the loud "in utero." Where are you going? At a funeral.

Another pair of artists are essential to the fans to the dark side are Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. The first recorded in his will for two nights: the sublime "Pink Moon." Voice, guitar and some piano. Nothing more. Spartan and highly effective. The depression of Nick Drake lit a brief speech breathtaking and has at least two of the brightest moments of popular music (the title song and the album "Things Behind The Sun"). For his part, Elliott Smith also died tragically at an early age and, like Drake, is an essential short career in which the sadness is so sweet that seems difficult to contain his tears. "Elliott Smith" is a treaty contained rage. Addiction to illegal substances, lies and indifference. Wisely, Wes Anderson used the vibrant "Needle In The Hay" at the suicide scene of "Tenenbaums."

Near budgets aesthetic Drake and Smith are American Music Club and Red House Painters. Or is it that is almost the same thing: Mark Eitzel and Mark Kozelek. A pair of big talents who can make the best of the parties to despair. "California" and twice "Red House Painters" hidden treasures of the best 'miserabilismo' "Blue & Gray Shirt," "Jenny," "Grace Cathedral Park," "Mistress," "Katy Song" ... It is essential to be as Morrissey sensitive as to make you hair stand on end listening to cries of such exposure.

And as good songs as well as those drawn from their particular magic formulas other tragic as alchemists Low, Tindersticks and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. While the first brandished a minimalist speech andalusia juice to get an incredible (descarnadas serve as examples of "Sunflower", "Dinosaur Act", "Whore" and "Like A Forest", all included in the fabulous "Things We Lost In The Fire "), Nick Cave and Tindersticks both rely on a stand ... but also more florid dying.

And as teachers of both Stuart Staples and Nick Cave are the always enigmatic Scott Walker and Tim Hardin unjustly forgotten. Romanticism and brutal honesty in equal parts of which can not find solace in the shelter unless it is art. Certainly in the case of Tim Hardin, another of those who fell prey to drug addiction more voracious, it is vital to find the edition that compresses a CD in its first two discs. "Tim Hardin 2" should also be cited in this anthology of emotional wreck. In fact, this is a more consistent album than its predecessor (and three temazos as definitive as "If I Were A Carpenter," "Lady Come From Baltimore" and "Black Sheep Boy"). But "Tim Hardin 1" you noquea fragile crystal pieces like "It'll Never Happen Again", "Part Of The Wind," "Reason To Believe" or "How Can We Hang On To A Dream."

All these artists are inspired moments, but there are some who have delivered his most disarming psychologically unbearable situations. Eg: Eels and Neil Young. The death of family members or relatives on both inspired to think of treaties utter desolation. "Electro Shock Blues" and "Tonight's The Night" is pure 'hard-listening' exercises genuine masochism. Only suitable for sufridores ... It takes courage to click on a topic of these two records in the typical 'party' good roll. Other discs are premonitory that comes Parca: "Closer" of Joy Division always disturbing. The great Ian Curtis enjoyed deserved prestige once took his own life. His legacy is so oppressive and claustrophobic as a brilliant and unparalleled. Joy Division with a style was born and died. And do not forget that if "Closer" is suffocating, "Unknown Pleasures" also gathers enough reason to be on a list of this nature. Equally influential is the great "Berlin" by Lou Reed. The tremendous history of Jim and Caroline. Drugs, prostitution, abuse and ultimately a bit of suicide. "Transformer" has the 'hits', but "Berlin" is the naked truth of a maverick artist and as few essential.

You break the heart of art has generated huge profits. Artists as diverse as Bob Dylan, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra Sebadoh and give lessons on how to master an attempt to overcome a relationship. The pain of lost love increases the emotional intensity of disks that are both therapeutic for those who devised to listeners who are seeking consolation after a separation.

There are others who impress with their sincerity. The recording studio became a kind of confessional. Almost ashamed that you and the release of sopetón face truths so intimate. And if it is above people like John Lennon, Joni Mitchell or Bob Mold one does not know how to respond. O yes. We must pay pleitesía. It is necessary to strip naked so much courage to the public. And best of all is that the packaging in which they introduce these messages without censorship can not be more sublime.

Bruce Springsteen deserves mention. "Nebraska" is an album that continues to cause so brave shock quarter-century later. Recorded on a four track, Springsteen uses its deep voice, a guitar and a harmonica to unravel the mystery of America deeper. Tétricas stories' killers' and 'losers'. The 'Boss' rightly wondering just how it is possible for people to find reasons to continue believing.

Finally, two authors with little luck, but with great influence on future generations. Alex Chilton and Jeff Buckley. The third Big Star album is as beautiful as erratic. Deslavazado is an album that took an eternity to see the light (three years) and subjects as hurtful as "Holocaust" or "Kangaroo". By the way composition of the latter was a Jeff Buckley version. Mercurial son of the late Tim hit the target with the first "Grace." It is a 'masterpiece' in its best moments ( "Grace," "Last Goodbye" and "Lover, You Should've Come Over") reached sublime heights. And above is the version between the versions: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen, the cause of this review of a bunch of disks perfect for moments of downturn. However, it is recommended not to abuse ...

THE LIST (in chronological order):

-Frank Sinatra: In The Wee Small Hours (1955)
-Billie Holiday: Lady In Satin (1958)
-Tim Hardin Tim Hardin I (1966)
- Leonard Cohen: Songs Of Leonard Cohen (1968)
-Scott Walker: Scott 3 (1969)
- John Lennon: Plastic Ono Band (1970)
-Joni Mitchell: Blue (1971)
- Nick Drake Pink Moon (1972)
-Lou Reed: Berlin (1973)
-Neil Young: Tonight's The Night (1975)
-Bob Dylan: Blood On The Tracks (1975)
- Big Star: Third / Sister Lovers (1978)
-Joy Division: Closer (1980)
-Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska (1982)
Hüsker-DU: Candy Apple Gray (1986)
- American Music Club: California (1988)
-Sebadoh: Bubble And Scrape (1993)
- Red House Painters: Red House Painters (1993)
-Nirvana: In utero (1993)
-Tindersticks: Tindersticks (1993)
-Jeff Buckley: Grace (1994)
-Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: The Boatman's Call (1997)
-Elliott Smith: Elliott Smith (1998)
-Eels: Electro Shock Blues (1998)
-Low: Things We Lost In The Fire (2001)