I loves me some overly melodramatic folk. Sometimes. I also loved Harold and Maude. One of the greatest movies ever about what everyone who listens to Cat Stevens wants to do: Attempt suicide.
2. Trouble-Pearl Jam. An Eddie Vedder emoting twofer!
3. Here Comes My Baby-Yo La Tengo. From their fabulous “Fakebook” album.
4. Father and Son-Leigh Nash. When I was in college, I was listening to this song over and over. I was massively depressed, and I couldn’t figure out where he “had to go” to. My roommate came in and saw me sitting in the dark hitting rewind on the tape deck, and I asked him: “Where is this guy going?” My sadistic and dry roommate pondered for a few moments, and then said: “He’s going to die.” I don’t think he’s right anymore, but at the time death seemed like a great idea. OH! The joys of heroin!
5. If You Want To Sing Out-Ghost Mice. A very strange singalong.
6. Trouble-Kristin Hersh (of Throwing Muses). I loved loved loved! this band! And Kristin’s solo work is nothing to sneeze at, either.
7. Mr. Brownstone (Guns N’ Roses) & Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne) & The Wind (Cat Stevens)-Tenacious D. Jack Black singing Cat.
8. Trouble-Elliot Smith. The only singer/songwriter MORE depressing than Cat!
9. Plastic Jesus/Where Do the Children Play-Jack Johnson
10. Peace Train-Gary Jules. Remember how Gary turned Tears For Fears’ funeral dirge “Mad World” into a slow-burning, mystical somewhat-less-depressing pop song that instead of making you want to die, it just made you want to hit yourself in the face with a shovel? (See the soundtrack to Donnie Darko.) Well, now he takes the most optimistic, upbeat Cat Stevens chant and turns it into a slow-burning, mystical somewhat-less-depressing pop song that instead of making you want to die, it just made you want to hit yourself in the face with a shovel. Great job!
