Top 20 Albums to Stare Into The Abyss to While Mending Your Broken Heart
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The post Top 20 Albums to Stare Into The Abyss to While Mending Your Broken Heart appeared first on Consequence.
For every great love tune, there’s an even better song about heartbreak. For every romantic, wedding-ready, feel-good jam, there’s a tear-jerking banger about that evil person who stomped and spat on your heart — and for good reason. Breakups are just as universal of an experience as romance, often bringing up even more intense emotions.
And those emotions suck. Feelings of loneliness, anger, and, perhaps most potently, loss seem like they’ll never end. The experience is utterly overwhelming, and it’s frankly not healthy to keep all of those emotions bottled up. The best way to get them out? The tried-and-true breakup album.
The history of heartbreak in pop music is as old as pop music itself. From classic country ballads to midwest emo, Jimmy Rodgers’ “Blue Yodel No. 1” to American Football’s “Never Meant,” artists and audiences alike have found solace in singing their lovesick blues away. As we pointed out in our recent roundup of great sad albums, there’s even scientific evidence that such music provides relief.
But, with respect, it doesn’t take some know-it-all scientist to understand the power of soundtracking your healing process with appropriately moody music. Anyone who’s been through a relationship or two can attest to that. So, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best breakup albums of all time… just in case. We only hope you won’t need it anytime soon.
Check out the full list of the best breakup albums below.
— Jonah Krueger
20. Noah and the Whale, The First Days of Spring
“It’s the first day of spring/ And my life is starting over again,” utters Noah and the Whale frontman Charlie Fink on the titular track of their second album The First Days of Spring. Written in the wake of his breakup with singer-songwriter Laura Marling, the record is a somber, melancholic, and pensive reflection on trying to be oh so totally fine as you deal with your head and heart cracking open in two. It’s a mellow record that wallows deep the darker corners of indie folk, where sadness, anxiety, denial, loneliness, and grief are all but one emotion. “Well, I don’t think that it’s the end, but I know we can’t keep going/ ’Cause blue skies are coming, but I know that it’s hard,” Fink laments on “Our Window.” Because when everything around you is steeped in grey, it’s impossible to look ahead to clearer spring days. – Cady Siregar
19. The Mountain Goats, Get Lonely
Tallahassee might be John Darnielle’s crowning ode to difunctional, toxic relationships, but Get Lonely, as the title might imply, is The Mountain Goat’s document of solitude. Darnielle and company lean away from the furious strumming and passionate yelps of a song like “No Children,” instead embodying the sound of loneliness with space, sparsity, and grace. It’s far from the loudest or most immediate record in The Mountain Goats’ discography, but if you’re tuned into the album’s acute distillation of being alone, it’s one of their most heartbreaking. — J.K
18. Hop Along, Get Disowned
Even beyond the album’s lyrical content, Frances Quinlan’s emotive, powerhouse voice is enough to land Get Disowned on this list. The dichotomy between their sweetness and grit just feels like an emotional whirlwind. But then, of course, there are the lyrics, which spin stories fit for any type of breakup, be it amicable, tragic, or angry. Whether it’s softly exiting with some grace, the mattress maker making his living by the minute, or the frustrated screams of “nobody deserves you the way that I do,” Get Disowned is here for you. — J.K.
17. Ariana Grande, thank u, next
Where were you when the cinematic music video for this album’s title track dropped? Yes, “thank u, next” was a moment in pop culture to remember, but the album as a whole is full of so many comforting treasures. Consider the fact that “needy,” a song about being clingy and wanting so much attention from a lover, leads right into “NASA,” where Miss Grande goes on to demand space. The album is a bit chaotic, extremely heartfelt, and all-around comforting. — Mary Siroky
16. Bob Dylan, Blood On The Tracks
Whether you take Bob Dylan’s word that the album has nothing to do with his relationship tribulations at the time or not, there’s no doubt that feelings of loss, loneliness, and the sense of something ending ooze from Blood On The Tracks. And really, Dylan’s background isn’t needed to find breakup companionship in the record; it’s all there for you to find. If you’re interested in an even deeper journey of such emotion, track down the original New York sessions, which pair Dylan’s poetry with slower, more meditative instrumentation, truly bringing out the pain in his words. — J.K.
15. Mac Miller, Swimming
As Mac Miller matured into one of the most talented musicians of his generation, it became apparent how important love was to the quality of his work. The Divine Feminine was recorded as a love letter to Ariana Grande, while its follow-up Swimming saw him process the aftermath of their breakup. Attempting to lift his spirits through music, the wounded rapper patiently explores his heartbreak without being too hard on himself. — Eddie Fu
14. Bright Eyes, Fevers and Mirrors
You can’t have a breakup albums list without some true-blue emo music, and when it comes to true-blue emo, it’s hard to beat Conor Oberst. Any number of Bright Eyes albums could have easily qualified (Lifted, with standouts like “You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will.,” comes to mind), but to really exercise your post-breakup angst, spinning Fevers and Mirrors is a must. Throughout borderline bitter tracks like “The Calendar Hung Itself…” and “Haligh, Haligh, A Lie, Haligh” Oberst sounds like he’s on the verge of an angry cry, singing of broken promises and intrusive thoughts. The damn record even starts with a storybook tale of someone leaving — what more could you ask for? — J.K.
13. Beck, Sea Change
When Beck discovered that his fiancé had been having an affair just weeks before his 30th birthday, he doubled down and released Sea Change, a stripped-down, meditative, folk-oriented album that addresses the slow, debilitating nihilism that only deep heartbreak is responsible for. The record is obviously very dark; Beck’s lyrics explore feelings of crippling loneliness, emptiness, and alienation head-on: “It’s only lies that I’m living It’s only tears that I’m crying/ It’s only you that I’m losing/ Guess I’m doing fine,” he mourns. Sometimes, in the midst of the worst kind of pain, the only way to get better is to just feel everything. — C.S.
12. Lorde, Melodrama
People process breakups in different ways. For some, it’s easiest to withdraw; others get angry. For those of us who lean into the theatrics — one might say the melodrama — Lorde’s 2017 album is up for the challenge. Some of the magic of this record is that its writer feels so wise beyond her years, but Lorde gives so much dignity to young heartbreak. “Supercut” in particular pierces like a knife to this day. — M. Siroky
11. The Cure, Disintegration
The Cure’s magnum opus Disintegration might not have been written as a traditional breakup record per se — Robert Smith is still happily with his lifetime love and forever muse Mary Poole — but it’s definitely about a different kind of breakup: A wistful goodbye to your twenties as you approach the next chapter of your life. Smith was facing an existential crisis prior to turning 30, and so he did what only legends do: he took a bunch of psychedelics and wrote Disintegration. The record is expansive and something magical, both heavy and shimmering, the kind of album that sparkles with a specific poetic gloom.
Hot tip: Follow in the steps of Mr. Smith and listen to “Pictures of You” lying on your bed during a shroom trip. You’ll have the best damn, most cathartic, sob-fest of your whole life. — C.S.
10. Fiona Apple, When The Pawn…
Fionna Apple has no shortage of biting tracks reflecting on less-than-healthy relationships, and When the Pawn… might be the purest distillation of her feelings on the topic. From the jittery “Fast As You Can” to the endlessly quotable “Paper Bag” (“He said it’s all in your head/ And I said so’s everything, but he didn’t get it/ I thought he was a man, but he was just a little boy”), Apple somehow finds the intersection of contemplative musing and emotional angst. — J.K.
09. Converge, Jane Doe
Sometimes after a breakup, you need a quiet, understanding musical companion to offer you solace. Other times, you need the company of a foundational metal record to mosh your feelings the fuck out. Luckily, Converge’s Jane Doe is here to help. What might be lost in the screams and crushing guitar tones is the overarching theme of a relationship’s end, as songwriter Jacob Bannon drew from his dissolving relationship during the writing process. What’s not lost, however, is the utter catharsis Jane Doe brings with it, offering a safe space to manage any lingering feelings of anger. (Side note: it also works as an impeccable album for the post-breakup gym spurt.) — J.K.
08. Slowdive, Souvlaki
When the crushing separation of a breakup leaves you no other option than to get stoned in your room and wallow, Slowdive’s Souvlaki is right there with you. The ’90s shoegaze classic possesses layers and layers of sound that are full of rich, emotive choices, and the ebb and flow of vocalist Neil Halstead and Rachel Goswell’s duets are enough to make you question whether you really are better off alone.
At the center of the passionate malaise within Souvlaki is a deep love and longing, but there are several moments where the band sounds frozen in place; opener “Alison” finds acres of space between its two oscillating verse chords, and Halstead’s fraught vocals feel almost dragged out of his body, paralyzed by heartbreak. But even though Souvlaki’s sounds can be harsh and occasionally droll, there’s a magnificent beauty in the band’s guitars and blissful dream pop language, and it’s a timeless reminder that even the heaviest pain can turn into something wonderful. — Paolo Ragusa
07. Marvin Gaye, Here, My Dear
It’s only fitting that the man synonymous with love (and love-making) also has a defining document of what it’s like when that love is dead and buried. As the legend goes, Marvin Gaye begrudgingly agreed to award his ex-wife half of his next album’s royalties during divorce proceedings. Though he briefly toyed with the notion of phoning it in, perhaps as a final middle finger, the situation proved simply too fruitful for the Motown great. The result is over an hour of slightly bitter, somehow still loving, expertly constructed R&B, over which Gaye lays it out plainly: Here it is, my dear. — J.K.
06. Mount Eerie, Lost Wisdom
In case you haven’t cracked the code, go ahead and substitute the word “love” for “wisdom” in Lost Wisdom’s title to get a gist of what the record is about. Phil Elvererum’s beat-inspired, nature-obsessed poetry and abstract folk instrumentation lend themselves to a deconstruction of lost love so touching you’ll find yourself booking a secluded cabin in the Pacific Northwest just to get the full effect. Add in Julie Dorion for devastating harmonies on transcendent lines like “Your hand on my heart pumping blood went limp,” and you’ll realize you might need to buy more tissues. — J.K.
05. Smog, Knock Knock
Knock Knock almost plays like a bona fide concept album, encompassing the full arc of a relationship from the naivety of new love to learning to live with that love’s loss, from letting yourself be held for the first time in your life to lonely contemplative drives that could last forever. By presenting such a complete picture, the final blow of “Left only with Love,” the defeated but unangry closer, hits with poignant, devastating truth. “I hope you find your husband/ and a father to your children,” Bill Callahan nearly whispers. It might not deliver catharsis in the same way a loud “fuck you!” would, but instead reflects the reality of mourning the end of something special. — J.K.
04. Taylor Swift, Red
As soon as the first chords of “State of Grace” ring out, it’s nearly impossible not to feel transported to a crisp fall setting surrounded by crunching leaves, warm coffee, and essential scarf accessories. Not only is Red one of the definitive autumn records of our time, it’s an incredibly comforting breakup listen, with many of the stories held in its tracks having been prompted by some of Taylor Swift’s most intense heartaches. There’s still nothing quite as cathartic as yelling: “You call me up again just to break me like a promise/ So casually cruel in the name of being honest.” — M. Siroky
03. Frightened Rabbit, The Midnight Organ Fight
Scottish legends Frightened Rabbit have no shortage of deeply moving songs across their catalog, but they seem to pack the greatest emotional punch of 2008’s The Midnight Organ Fight. It’s an album best appreciated after reviewing Scott Hutchison’s lyrics, which unpack masculinity, loneliness, and the aching desire to connect with the people around him. The songs haunt you without ever tilting too far into morose territory, painting a textured portrait of love and loss in the era of your life where you’re forced to grow up and figure out who the hell you actually are. From “My Backwards Walk” to “Good Arms vs Bad Arms,” The Midnight Organ Fight sticks with you long after you hear it. — Spencer Dukoff
02. Fleetwood Mac, Rumours
Fleetwood Mac Rumours
Rumours has the distinct honor of being an album written by a band about all the other members of the band — but not necessarily about their musical differences or the usual bandmate disagreements. This one goes deeper, with each of Fleetwood Mac’s principle songwriters vulnerably dealing with the aftermath of their romantic entanglements, the beauty, ugliness, and all.
There are angry, stubborn, anxiety-ridden tracks — of course, “The Chain” brings its fiery convictions, but it’s Stevie Nicks’ “Gold Dust Woman,” very likely written about Lindsey Buckingham, that perhaps best summarizes the fury and gaping wounds of love lost. On the other hand, there’s Christine McVie’s stunning “Songbird,” a gentle ode to a partner that floods the album with devastating beauty, and Nicks’ “Dreams,” a harmony-laden mission of acceptance and peace. In the face of heartbreak and personal turmoil, Fleetwood Mac created one of the greatest works of all time, and it continues to serve its purpose in shining a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. — P.R.
01. Adele, 21
Adele’s debut record, 19, introduced the singer as an exciting young talent. Her follow-up, 2011’s 21, cemented Adele as a world-conquering, commercial superstar. Looking back at that album’s string of mega-hits — “Rolling in the Deep”, “Someone like You” and “Set Fire to the Rain” all were international chart-toppers — 21 functions as Adele’s coronation as the modern queen of the mass-market breakup ballad. Her songs, with swelling strings and operatic crescendos, encapsulate the all-consuming emotions that come with a breakup: the regret, the hurt, the self-doubt.
Those three aforementioned songs all can help you out with the different phases of a breakup. “We could’ve had it all,” Adele declares mournfully on “Rolling in the Deep,” tapping into the unmet potential of a love gone wrong. “Nevermind, I’ll find someone like you,” Adele tells a former lover, capturing both the sense of possibility and sense of despair contained within each split. And on “Set Fire to the Rain” is the scorched-earth vent session, trading sentimentality for rage in the aftermath of a relationship.
That the record was written as a way to move forward after an actual breakup by Adele, along with collaborators like Paul Epworth, Fraser T. Smith, and Ryan Tedder, feels somewhat inconsequential to classifying this as a “breakup album.” It’s all there in the record’s wall of sound, which washes over like a balm when you’re getting over a love lost. — S.D.
Read more about Adele’s 21 on our 100 Greatest Albums of All Time List here.
Top 20 Albums to Stare Into The Abyss to While Mending Your Broken Heart
Consequence Staff
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