Señor Grumblecakes (jervo) wrote,
Señor Grumblecakes
jervo
  • Music: YLT, "And nothing turned itself inside out"

the melancholy funk

I went home after work with the sole intention of finishing this Dreamcast game I've been playing for about a month, and finally, shortly after 1am, I did. And wouldn't you know it, I even started working on a new song right before I went to bed, and I remembered to tape it so I wouldn't forget it. These are all good things. So why was I so sad?

Sad isn't the best word - I mean, I wasn't depressed, I wasn't hurt, or anything like that; I just got into one of those weird melancholy funks that I'm prone to getting into. I remember this sensation of just... playing the game, but wishing I had a computer in my apartment because I wanted to write in this journal. I don't honestly know what I wanted to write about; perhaps I was hoping that just free associating on here would make sense of that weird funk. I don't know what it is about the melancholy funk that gets me; for some reason, though, when it gets me, it gets me, and it's tough to shake. Hence the Yo La Tengo. They're good at tapping into the funk.

That'd make a good list, so without further ado, these are the first 10 Bands/Albums that are great for either soaking up or causing the Melancholy Funk that pop into my head.

1. YLT. And Nothing... is really mellow and sounds very, I don't know, very 3am-lying-in-bed-staring-at-the-ceiling-listening-to-the-rain. It was the first thing I reached for, this morning, anyway. "The Lie and How We Told It", on I can hear the heart..., is a killer for this vibe.

2. Liz Phair. Not all of her stuff fits into this category, but some of the slower songs really hit this one on the head. The second-to-last song on Exile is an example, I think.

3. TSAC, "So Long To The Captain" (from the first record.)

4. U2, "Bad" (from Unforgettable Fire.)

5. Hum, Downward Is Heavenward

6. Smashing Pumpkins, either "Drown" or "Starla"

7. Sigur Ros. I won't bother trying to spell the name of their record. What I can say is that I bought that record the day I broke up with my ex-girlfriend, and I listened to Track 2 about 5000 times for the next week, even though halfway through the very first listen I couldn't take it any more.

8. Aimee Mann, "Wise Up". Mr. Dixon will vouch for me on this one.

9. The Rushmore Soundtrack, specifically "Oh Yoko". That song just fucking kills me, man. Plus, I've had the honor of meeting Yoko twice, and she's just awesome. Also, the movie has this melancholy twinge to it, sorta.

10. PJ Harvey, "The Garden" from Is This Desire?, although that whole record might qualify, come to think of it.

Gotta do some work now. Lots more later.
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