Tragic Masterpieces
| Tragic Masterpieces | |
| Created by: | KimMathers |
| Tracks: | 12 |
| Length: | 00:11:33 |
| Keywords |
1. Tragic 2. Haunting 3. Elegiac |
| Created on | 2/11/08 12:02pm |
| Level | 4 |
| Points | 1874 |
| Total visitors | 37 |
| Unique visitors | 21 |
description:
Lately I've been listening to a lot of Judee Sill, the brilliant, underrated singer/songwriter of the Laurel Canyon era who was the first artist on David Geffen's label, and who died of a cocaine overdose, young, unrecognized, and destitute in the mid-70s. Her albums are heart-shakingly gorgeous, and this got me to thinking about music by artists largely identified by their tragic lives -- Sill had been a teenage heroin-addicted prostitute who did prison time for armed robbery, and she eventually died of a massive overdose -- but whose music somehow manages to transcend self-pity and morbidity and cynicism, and make something truly beautiful. (Not that there isn't great stuff that IS morbid and cynical...) Anyway, I tried to pull some of that music together here. I really hope you enjoy it.
tracklist
| 1 | Judee Sill : The Kiss |
|
The whole sound of this song defines the quality I was going for in this mix. Check out the clip on "YouTube" of her singing this in the early 70s. It's devastating. And I can't recommend the rest of her music enough.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 1 from Heart Food
|
|
|
Track Description:
The whole sound of this song defines the quality I was going for in this mix. Check out the clip on "YouTube" of her singing this in the early 70s. It's devastating. And I can't recommend the rest of her music enough. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 2 | Judy Garland : Over the Banister |
|
The OTHER Judy with the tragic life. And, no, it's not "Over the Rainbow" this time, but a little song that she sings in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis" that I've loved since childhood. Brief, but exquisite.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 2 from Meet Me in St. Louis
|
|
|
Track Description:
The OTHER Judy with the tragic life. And, no, it's not "Over the Rainbow" this time, but a little song that she sings in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis" that I've loved since childhood. Brief, but exquisite. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 3 | Alice in Chains : Nutshell |
|
So, a song that Layne Staley wrote about his losing battle with heroin. (I'm not sure how long before his death this was written.) To my mind, this is richer and more emotionally complex than anything Kurt Cobain ever did (and I like him, but talk about self-pity). But perhaps the comparison's unfair. It stands on its own.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 3 from Unplugged
Length: 00:04:59 Year: 1996 |
|
|
Track Description:
So, a song that Layne Staley wrote about his losing battle with heroin. (I'm not sure how long before his death this was written.) To my mind, this is richer and more emotionally complex than anything Kurt Cobain ever did (and I like him, but talk about self-pity). But perhaps the comparison's unfair. It stands on its own. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 4 | Joy Division : Atmosphere |
|
This is as far as Goth optimism goes... but it's still pretty damn far, especially for Ian Curtis. Gorgeous.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 4 from Substance
Length: 00:04:11 |
|
|
Track Description:
This is as far as Goth optimism goes... but it's still pretty damn far, especially for Ian Curtis. Gorgeous. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 5 | Mary J. Blige : No More Drama |
|
Totally unexpectedly, this song really got under my skin when it came out. Mary J. Blige's really been through it, and the emotion in this song is no B.S. At 2:56 it takes off into the stratosphere -- I dare you not to get chills.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 5 from No More Drama
|
|
|
Track Description:
Totally unexpectedly, this song really got under my skin when it came out. Mary J. Blige's really been through it, and the emotion in this song is no B.S. At 2:56 it takes off into the stratosphere -- I dare you not to get chills. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 6 | Eminem : Mosh |
|
However you feel about Eminem, he's a tragic guy. But while he might be overrated in certain ways, his best work is actually pretty underrated -- like this song. Really, what's so powerful to me here isn't so much the political message as the profound disinterest in himself... it's not empty ego-posturing, but something more complicated. Don't know quite what to make of the "mosh through the marsh" double entendre, but that line seems to sum up what I'm trying to put my finger on.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 6 from Encore
|
|
|
Track Description:
However you feel about Eminem, he's a tragic guy. But while he might be overrated in certain ways, his best work is actually pretty underrated -- like this song. Really, what's so powerful to me here isn't so much the political message as the profound disinterest in himself... it's not empty ego-posturing, but something more complicated. Don't know quite what to make of the "mosh through the marsh" double entendre, but that line seems to sum up what I'm trying to put my finger on. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 7 | Blind Willie Johnson : God Moves on the Water |
|
This is about the Titanic. Creepy as his songs tend to be, especially as he describes the ship sinking, while all the while, "God moves on the water."
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 7 from Every Day I Have the Blues
|
|
|
Track Description:
This is about the Titanic. Creepy as his songs tend to be, especially as he describes the ship sinking, while all the while, "God moves on the water." SHOW LESS
|
|
| 8 | Marianne Faithfull : Ain't Goin' Down to the Well No Mo' |
|
A weird, wonderful a cappella cover of a Lead Belly song. Putting this song with this voice is a surprising but totally inspired combo.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 8 from Strange Weather
|
|
|
Track Description:
A weird, wonderful a cappella cover of a Lead Belly song. Putting this song with this voice is a surprising but totally inspired combo. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 9 | Marvin Gaye : You Can Leave, But It's Going to Cost You |
|
From "Here, My Dear," one of the greatest, strangest albums ever. Marvin Gaye wrote it during his very expensive divorce from Berry Gordy's daughter, Anna; he couldn't afford the judgment, so had to make this record. And because he had to write the record, he wrote it to her. Don't miss it.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 9 from Here, My Dear
|
|
|
Track Description:
From "Here, My Dear," one of the greatest, strangest albums ever. Marvin Gaye wrote it during his very expensive divorce from Berry Gordy's daughter, Anna; he couldn't afford the judgment, so had to make this record. And because he had to write the record, he wrote it to her. Don't miss it. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 10 | George Jones : A Good Year for the Roses |
|
Sheesh, he really put Tammy Wynette through it. But that voice... it's wonderful, and this song nails the "beautiful heartbreak" genre perfectly.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 10 from The Essential George Jones
|
|
|
Track Description:
Sheesh, he really put Tammy Wynette through it. But that voice... it's wonderful, and this song nails the "beautiful heartbreak" genre perfectly. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 11 | Richard & Linda Thompson : A Heart Needs a Home |
|
Okay, I might be cheating a little here, since I'm pretty sure this song was written before their long, acrimonious breakup (chronicled in "Shoot Out the Lights," which they recorded WHILE breaking up and toured behind for months). But it's my favorite of their songs.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 11 from I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight
|
|
|
Track Description:
Okay, I might be cheating a little here, since I'm pretty sure this song was written before their long, acrimonious breakup (chronicled in "Shoot Out the Lights," which they recorded WHILE breaking up and toured behind for months). But it's my favorite of their songs. SHOW LESS
|
|
| 12 | Elliott Smith : Between The Bars |
|
What is there to say? To my mind, this is the male counterpart to Judee Sill's "The Kiss." So sad, but so not at the same time.
SHOW MORE
|
|
|
Track 12 from Either/Or
Length: 00:02:23 Year: 1997 |
|
|
Track Description:
What is there to say? To my mind, this is the male counterpart to Judee Sill's "The Kiss." So sad, but so not at the same time. SHOW LESS
|
Tag Board
Team Robot Member
This is a magnificent mix. Richard & Linda Thompson were one of my all time favorite acts. I am glad Linda is recording again, and still follow Richard (and Teddy's) work. I need to listen to some Judee Sill. I got to see Joy Divison a couple of times, and watching Ian Curteis onstage was compelling but heartbreaking. To end with Elliott Smith...Man, this is such an excellent mix!
2/13/08 2:40am
Level 8
Oh, jeez, I completely spaced on that. Forgive me - I'm still getting the hang of the ins and outs here. And I hate to ask what's probably a stupid question, but I haven't been able to figure out how to edit my mixes once they're live. Is there a way to get back in? Thanks for setting me on the right track...
2/12/08 6:24pm
The Yay! Badge VII
Any chance you're going to go back and add the track time Length to these tracks? The twelve track, eleven minute mix was a tip-off. Other than that, this is a really compelling mix.
2/12/08 5:23pm
Stuff
Rate Mixtape
