“Frustrated” by Dawn Olaniyi
I think most people who know me would say I have a sunny disposition. I’ve thought about why this is, but I’m not sure whether it’s genetic, or the fact that I received a lot of familial support while my frontal lobes were developing, or because over time I’ve randomly been dealt lots of good hands by the uncaring cosmos — or some combination of these or other factors.
I do think about this from time to time, because it seems that most of my friends seem to have a 50/50 split between sunny and sour, and some seem to be sour most of the time — which I would guess is more par-for-the-course among the great mass of humanity as a whole. I still like all of my sour friends, and feel a strange compulsion to try to make them feel sunnier.
But even I, with a sunny disposition of indeterminate origin, have sour days. I had one yesterday, and it’s going to roll right into this day like the stench from a West Texas feedlot.
I began yesterday thinking that my fucking day job was going to send me to Alaska today for almost two weeks, to work about 18 hours a day that whole time. And then I thought the trip was going to be canceled — which got me on a real sunny high — and then right at the end of the day I found out I might have to go anyway.
And I’m still up in the air this morning about whether I have to go, or get to stay, and I probably won’t find out for hours — and in the meantime I have to prepare for what I have to do if I go, and that will make a hash out of my blogging plans for this Wednesday. So I’m expecting, for most of today, to be as sour as a week-old corpse in a shallow grave.
I know this little upheaval is a very small turd compared to the toilet-clogging shits that fall upon the heads of many of you, sometimes on a regular basis. And so to be clear, the point of this post isn’t to do a “poor me” whine. It’s to ask a question:
Since everyone has their sour moods, and since metalheads tend to resort to music to get them through those moods (I know this because I are one), I want to solicit your suggestions. When you’re in a really foul mood, regardless of the cause, what do you listen to? Music to settle you down? Pissed-off music? A soundtrack to a mass slaughter?
To be clear (again), I’m not looking for vague, general answers. I’m looking for specific song suggestions — your favorite audio ways of dealing with really sour moods. Because I have a feeling I’m going to need some help today, especially if I have to get on a fucking plane to Anchorage tonight after all.
Sound off below! Please. And thank you.
46 Responses to “MUSIC FOR SOUR MOODS?”
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It depends on if I’m wallowing or just grumpy as hell. If I’m wallowing, I like to listen to Zoe Keating’s albums. Actually, I like to listen to her music regardless of the mood I’m in, but it’s great sitting and stewing music.
When I’m mad as hell and I’m not gonna take it anymore, I really like Aborted (any album) or Cannibal Corpse (usually Kill or Torture). Sometimes the Warrior’s Code by the Dropkick Murphys, since it’s so uptempo. No Gods, No Managers by the Choking Victims is great for grumpy-face-kicking-babies time as well.
I realize those aren’t specific songs, but I usually listen to full albums when I’m really pissed, so it’s like one long hate song. Or something.
Makes me realize that I’ve let way too much time go by since I last listened to Dropkick Murphys — and I guess I need to explore Zoe Keating and the Choking Victims.
If you do nothing else, listen to Zoe Keating. She plays cello. Her music is just the cello, but she creates full soundscapes with that single instrument and tons of layering.
It might be the most beautiful music I’ve heard in the last year.
http://music.zoekeating.com/music
Yeah I love her use of sampling her own cello line, hitting repeat, then adding another layer on top… and on and on. Nice concept and she really comes up with some off-the-beaten-track approaches to the instrument.
You really do. Choking Victim-No Gods, No Managers is one of my favorite records ever!
It’s a masterpiece of the genre! Whatever the genre is…
Anaal Nathrakh
Strong suggestion.
Yeah, pretty obvious answer, now that I think about it.
Typically I don’t think I have any real ‘go to’ music based on mood. However, my mood tends to be in the sour spectrum I’d say.
Ok, I lied. Spazz and melt – banana tend to cheer me up.
Familiar support or familial support? Familiar support by familial relations might be improper and illegal. But I’m not sure what the custom is where you grew up.
Shit. Goddamn autocorrect.
When im in a sour mood, i tend to go with angry / hateful
Sauron – Universe of Filth
Rage Nucléaire – Unrelenting Fucking Hatred
Marduk – anything really
DIabolicum . Ia Pazuzu
Nightbringer – Ego Dominus tuus
Sinmara – Aphotic Womb
Sulphur Aeon – Gateways
Svartidaudi – Flesh Cathedral
Tsjuder – desert Northern Hell / Legion Helvete
Slagmaur – Von Rov Shelter (a bot more on the trippy side)
Lately i have been listening to Mglas exercise in Futility and little else. Right now it would fit any mood. Just a ridiculously good album start to finish!!
That album has made it very difficult for me to carry on with my mission of listening to new music in search of things to write about.
Crap I need to buy that album. I plan on getting something physical at their November Chicago show, but at least something digital for the time in between seems necessary.
Oh, that’s a very nice play list, one I need to make for myself before I hurt someone today.
Marduk always does the trick.
I listen to the same music regardless if my mood, mostly death and some thrash. I know that’s kind of Boeing answer 😛
Boeing?? Lol 🙂 *boring*
Boing?
Boing! 😀
And “of” my mood, not “if” my mood. Also, there should be an “a” between boring and answer.
Wow.
Burial Shrouds by Sivyj Yar
Well, there’s a reminder that I really need to listen to this album. Thank you.
Streamed it once yesterday – I tend to not be a fan of the type of BM vocals these guys go for (that weird yelpy thing that can’t really be described as a typical BM snarl), but the melodies on the album overshadow the vocals enough for me to overcome them.
If I’m pissed, normally some good sludge will get me going, like Eyehategod or Iron Monkey. The new Eyehategod could be a good one to go to, especially since the faster numbers on that record are even better for a pissed off mood. I’d also suggest something punk-y like Obliterations or Baptists. Young and in the Way’s newest should do the trick too.
All good ideas. I would pay for a YAITW/Baptists/Obliterations show.
I would donate limbs for that show.
NAILS is great when you are pissed off as well.
No list of music to listen to while pissed is complete without Suffocation (particularly “Catatonia”). My lovely day job has also significantly increased my Misery Index intake as well. As for music to settle down to rather than vent, High on Fire and Crowbar have been welcome audio balms.
I could list a bunch but here are a few of my favorite go to songs/albums for when I’m in a sour mood:
Converge. I have a lot of go to tracks but let’s go with Thaw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeRMvNzUD2k&list=PLakWTacMzsKgkDE8Y2UfHGCe6SJzkdn_I&index=11
Agoraphobic Nosebleed- Frozen Corpses Stuffed With Dope album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ewzj_OuG-c
Fuck The Facts- Cold Hearted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_4fO9DOIN4&list=PLc6L-SyzWLvuh6fW3Alhv14JZZuF2G86h
Psyopus-2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaGs_e_a_c8
Ion Dissonance- Breathing Is Irrelevant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr20QBoB5aE
Cephalic Carnage- Pseudo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBEqlIgKOWo
Hate Eternal-Art Of Redemption https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHoc2UHk90E
Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza- You won’t https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS_8pEBaPSk
Suffocation-Torn Into Enthrallment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDiEGbA-uwA
Spawn Of Possession- Render My Prey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M64Id09CBZc
There’s something about the name “Frozen Corpses Stuffed With Dope” that’s just so perfect.
I totally agree! The song titles and lyrics are just as fantastic!
I find that mixing my metal with a little power electronics really does the trick. That last Indian album is a good resource, as is the live version of “The Evil One Which Sobs” by Boris/Merzbow. In dire straits, about a half-hour of any noise-wall makes me feel lighter in the aftermath. If you’re curious, check out Cory Strand’s bandcamp page for a ton of classic metal reworked in HNW style. A little dab’ll do ya.
Well, since I’m now on my way to the airport after all, I’m gonna need all the help I can get. I have so many good ideas from this comment thread, and now can add Cory Strand to the list.
Last Indian album is a fantastic idea. Might add the last Lord Mantis as well.
Yeah, totally forgot Indian and Lord Mantis. Both are so damned ugly, bitter, and nihilistic. Perfect.
If I’m in a really down and shitty mood, nothing does it like Rune- in particular the songs “Wilt” and “This Sorrow”
If I’m pissed off- gotta second the post from above- Ion Dissonance- the first two albums work great.
It depends on the kind of sour mood as they can be of a variety, however, as a more general kind of list I’ll give you some of my go-to’s, not all of them are metal, hope you enjoy them!
Metal:
Aborted – Your Entitlement Means Nothing: No explanations needed, I actually got into this song way more cause of this blog. https://youtu.be/fEYTngXPH6w
All Shall Perish – My Retaliation: Fucking anger personified IMO. https://youtu.be/i_houfpI7ms
Deathspell Omega – The Shrine of Mad Laughter: Tortured hails in the vocals, for tortured and messy moods. https://youtu.be/wpvg7WawKfw
Fleshgod Apocalypse – All the piano outros from every album. They make me feel calmer.
Hatebreed – Most if not any of their songs, if you have never heard them be aware that their ‘motivational’ schtick may not everyone’s cup of tea. I like it, I think it’s energetic and pumping-up. One of my favs: https://youtu.be/oJed2tZRonk
Napalm Death
Thy Art is Murder – Reign of Darkness: more deathcore here, pumps me up too, I like the vocals and the stupid lyrics hehe. https://youtu.be/I_d0TEwhAXo
Non-metal:
Foo Fighters – Monkey Wrench: This song always cheers me up, something about the line in the chorus “I’ll never be your monkey wrench”. https://youtu.be/UiRGVD2CNpw
Linkin Park – Lies Greed Misery: I like the simple lyrics and singing along to it, LP has been a pleasure of mine since a very young age. https://youtu.be/9Dq9q6afIP8
HANDLE WITH CARE
Jason Mraz – Who’s Thinking About You Now: As gay as I’ll get, reminds me of a girl, good memories. https://youtu.be/gyo6JOI4ELc
Jack Johnson – Better Together: Same reason stated above, both of them cheer me up. https://youtu.be/RfoqELZWcp8
I love Monkey Wrench. Finally seeing the Foos live next weekend – I’m pumped!
Fuck This Life – Young and In The Way
Red Wolves of Stalin – Hail of Bullets (anything with his vocals, really)
Of Eating Disorders and Restraining Orders – Coffinworm
Scorn – Primitive Man
Enion – Obese
25 Years – Pantera
Cthulhu – ALKALOID
And finally my album recommendation: Verderf by Nihill
Apart from the other good suggestions in this thread, I’d recommend Thy Catafalque – Rengeteg
It’s not possible to go wrong with that song, regardless of mood. I will never get enough of it.
For the i hate my life it’s hard to top Abyssic Hate’s Suicidal Emotions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyROzaiaFvs