Music to Grieve to

March into the Sea – Pelican

27 September 2017

If you’re looking for a sad song this week I’m sorry but you’re shit out of luck.  If however you’re looking to get to grips with your grief, maybe take it out and show it what you think of it – this might be the perfect track.

Too Far Down – Hüsker Dü

20 September 2017

And so another musician dies and we look to their music for comfort.  I had read about Grant Hart dying of cancer at 56 and while I knew of Hüsker Dü, I’d never really listened to their music. It took Chris from the Burn A Million Miles playlist to hip me to this track.

Weathered – James Walker

5 September 2017

Break Ups – perhaps the “safest” form of grief there is – no-one actually dies or is maimed but yet – when you’re going through them – safe isn’t exactly the word that comes to mind.

What I like about this track is how we’ve all been there – how when you think you’re out the other side you start to speak to your ex again and – in many cases get back together, but here – James deftly steers us away and puts an additional melancholy spin on the whole process.

What About Me – John the Asian, E10

29 August 2017

Depression is still one of those things society doesn’t really like to talk about – hell – the people dealing with it don’t exactly like to broadcast it.  And yet, all the data that we’ve accumulated from studies along the way say the best approach is through socializing, through contact, through talking about it and working it through.

Eulogy – Simeon Walker

22 August 2017

Sometimes all you need is a bit of a space and a melancholy piano – hell – sometimes you don’t even need the space – a pair of decent headphones can be world building – especially if the soundtrack comes from Simeon Walker.

Grey Together – Tristâme

15 August 2017

The best bit about curating a Musicto playlist is when you come across a beautiful new track that you would otherwise never have heard.   It’s the beautifully measured voice that stands out in this track – the melody and subtle backing is reminiscent of Simon and Garfunkel’s version of “Scarborough Fair” but Rami’s gorgeous tone takes this to a different place.

Beam Me Up – Pink

8 August 2017

I don’t know about you – but when it comes to tracks like these – I totally become the singer – I get to feel what they feel and experience it as they do – I think most people do this in some way or another and it’s why songs are cool!

Minnesota Got Colder – Corey Koehler

1 August 2017

2009 was a rough year. I think I went to more funerals in that one year than in the past ten combined. One thing that really hit me was how hard it is to find something to say to people who are mourning the person they just lost. 

On and On – Longpigs

25 July 2017

Have you ever had a song that you found – that wasn’t recommended by a friend or a DJ or some hipster playlist curator – but that you yourself sourced from some weird and unlikely place, and it’s brilliant.  It’s the track that you love to introduce people to because it’s that good – yeah – this is that track for me.

Indigo – Matthew Mayfield

18 July 2017

I’ve gotta get more miserable!  The tracks in the last few weeks have been way too uplifting – oh sure – the subject matter’s pretty down but these songwriters somehow seem to make you feel better.  Torch songs coming soon!

Gold In Them Hills – Ron Sexsmith

11 July 2017

This is one of those tracks that just oozes hope.  It creeps up on you – slowly but surely, inexorably even, and before you know it, your hands are covered and there’s a small spark in your breast that might be, that just might be, the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sagres – The Tallest Man On Earth

4 July 2017

Like last week’s track, it’s the lyric that got me:

“It’s just all this fucking doubt…“

Yeah, yeah it is, isn’t it.