Let's face it, most of us have gone through a breakup or three. The thing that I've noticed is that, regardless of whether you're the one delivering the fateful blow or you happen to be on the receiving end of "We're through!", it tends to do your head in, so to speak. If you're anything like me, there are a couple records you associate with every painful romantic crash-and-burn because those were the records that got you through it.
Of course, there are also those records made by artists who, at the time, were going through some romantic turmoil of their own. You don't have to be going through your own private hell to love those records, though. In some cases, the artists pain is akin to a car crash that you can't not stare at as you drive by, thanking your lucky stars it isn't you.
This list is a gathering of the most essential breakup records of all time.
Aimee Mann/Til Tuesday
Okay, I'm just gonna come right out and admit that it is darn near impossible to pick just one Aimee Mann CD for this list. Heck, one could list them all, but then, of course, there'd be no room for any other albums. I'm not writing an encyclopedia here, folks. From her debut effort fronting til tuesday to her most recent effort, Fucking Smilers, Aimee has carved out one helluva niche as a woman who sings about the worst parts of romantic entanglement; the arguments, lies, and nuclear fallout that most of us experience at one time or another.
Of course, if I had a dollar for every "art chick" who got dumped and, as a result, decided to pick up a guitar with the idea of "writing some songs", my bank account balance would put Bill Gates' chump change to shame. Aimee, of course, was no different in that respect. What soon set her apart from her heartbroken six-string brethren was that she actually wrote some fucking great songs.
Thankfully for us, she also went through what seems to have been quite the revolving door of busted relationships, affairs, and the like, and has seemingly documented every last one of them in song.
With a career that now spans three decades, Aimee has become a master of sorts and painting vivid and sometimes haunting images of love having run its course and, in doing so, she has come to all but wash her hands of her earliest work. Either that or maybe there's some other reason she no longer performs her biggest hit single EVER in concert. It is obvious that she views such songs as "Voices Carry" and "Looking Over My Shoulder" as pedestrian, but I beg to differ. One doesn't have to be Van Gogh to still be brilliant and, when speaking of the human heart, sometimes the more direct approach - free of abstraction for abstraction's sake - is a helluva lot more effective and endearing. With that in mind, I point you in the direction of "Don't Watch Me Bleed" from til tuesday's
Voices Carry album.
Of course, by the band's second album,
Welcome Home, Aimee was already moving away from the "ripped from my diary" realism of her debut and beginning to paint with a plethora of subtle tones. While it was a commercial disappointment for not repeating the formula of their debut, that album is a stunning display of Mann's burgeoning songwriting talent. "Coming Up Close", in fact, remains one of the best songs Aimee has ever written.
Snow Patrol - Eyes OpenUnlike Aimee Mann, who seemingly has one heart-wrenching song for every time her heart has been injured in the game of love (Wow, a Donnie Iris reference, who saw that coming?), Snow Patrol leader Gary Lightbody wrote not one, but two startlingly confessional albums about a single relationship that, to hear him tell it, ended quite badly.
Over the course of an entire album, you think you’d get a little tired of the subject matter, but Lightbody has a real knack for coming at it from all sorts of different angles and, in doing so, comes close to capturing the multitude of nuances that encircle the human heart in the wake of a bad split. He wrestles with anger, sorrow, and his continuing love for the woman even though things are wrecked beyond repair. To know the door is forever closed and still muster the courage to say “I'd give my left nut for just one more moment with you” is the sort of bravery for which most soldiers receive a Medal Of Honor.
Considering the fact that three years passed between albums, one couldn’t blame Lightbody for moving in if he chose to do so. Thankfully, for
Eyes Open, he did not. Turns out the wounds were still just as fresh in his mind and that there was many songs of heartbreak left to be sung. What truly helps sell the material, I believe is Lightbody’s self-deprecating manner and cherubic voice. It’s as innocent and open a voice as I’ve ever heard in rock music and one can’t hear a Snow Patrol song without believing that Gary is one of the good guys. How he could have done his lady so wrong is a thought few ever stop to consider because his voice doesn’t ever contain a bit of anger or betrayal, even when expressing anger at his own betrayal.
Most heartbreaking of all is a song such as "You Could Be Happy", in which he imagines his ex having gone on to all new heights of happiness and knowing he'll never be sure one way or the other, being no longer a part of their world.
One almost wishes that he never truly gets over it, so that each new Snow Patrol album continues to breathe wonderful new life into the most universal of themes.
Elvis Costello - Blood And ChocolateWith his first marriage lying in tatters, Costello - still churning out an album every six months, it seemed - seemed to turn his songwriting sights upon his ex-wife. As a singer with a penchant for writing songs that were concise, emotionally-charged hand grenades of their own, Costello now had a renewed sense of purpose and, well, a new target in his ex-wife.
With the Attractions providing the necessary muscle as needed, there is venom in spades to be found throughout the album. For Costello to pull any punches, of course, would have been akin to “insult comic” Don Rickles resisting an easy target. Still, there are few more capable of conveying the anger and hurt of unexpected betrayal than Costello and no single song showcases his ability to convey simple, universal thoughts in ways that can startle even those who have been there more than "I Want You".
Admittedly, his previous album, King Of America, had been recorded after the end of his marriage, but the Elvis that recorded that album seemed to still be reeling from the event. While it may have led him to momentarily declare a separation from his stage name in favor of the one he’d been given at birth, Declan MacManus, it wasn’t until he began writing songs for Blood And Chocolate that he turned anguish into art.
Chris Isak - Forever BlueVery few would ever think smooth crooner Chris Isaak – he of the boyish charm, rugged good looks, and way with a song - would ever get his heart’s bell rung, least of all Chris himself. But that’s what happened and, as a result, Isaak’s fifth album, Forever Blue is a soul-baring collection of songs. The wearing of heart-on-sleeve doesn’t stop there, as the liner notes include a farewell note to the woman that scorned him.
Let’s face it, in a lesser artist’s hands, such full-on wallowing in one’s own misery would be a recipe for disaster, but Isaak does quite the opposite and turns in the best, most consistent album of his career.
I am sure there are hundreds of women who would agree and who came to adore Isaak even more upon hearing songs like “Somebody’s Crying”, “Graduation Day” and the irresistible “Baby Did A Bad Bad Thing”.
Frank Sinatra - Sings For Only The LonelyFor a guy who had once so groovily sang Songs for Lovers and Songs For Swingin’ Lovers, urging others to come fly with him, the somber tone of Sings Only For The Lonely was a new Sinatra revealing pain, anger, and confusion in a way no other artist of his stature had ever dared to attempt. At the time, admitting such weakness was akin to Babe Ruth striking out without taking a swing, or Sonny Liston taking an intentional fall.
Of course, the entire world seemed to know almost as much about his private life as he did when his marriage to Hollywood starlet Ava Gardner came to an end. Additionally, his arranger Nelson Riddle had suffered the loss of his own mother and daughter. Together, he and Sinatra chose material that centered around sadness and loss, creating an virtual concept album of sorts.
While he working relationship with Riddle seemed almost one of convenience at the time, Sinatra has often spoke quite highly of this album, and well he should, as there remains no other album from that genre that so fully and proudly expresses the pain of immense heartbreak. To have a star of Sinatra’s magnitude willfully appear as human as the rest of us certainly endeared him to a lot of people who would not have gravitated to his music otherwise, myself included.
Phil Collins - Face ValueWidely considered Phil's "divorce album", this career-defining effort was recorded mostly in Collins' home studio in the aftermath of his first divorce. While "In The Air Tonight" is best-known for its atmospheric tom tom's and appearance in an iconic scene from "Miami Vice", it and most of the album speak to the level of heartbreak Collins had been going through. "If Leaving Me Is Easy" is a beautiful, weary realization that, no matter how great we think we are, sometimes we can lose our biggest fan and confidant in the bid to reach for something more. Collins, of course, chose Genesis and extensive touring over his wife and paid a heavy toll.
Marvin Gaye - Here My DearNot only was Marvin Gaye coming off of a pricey divorce from, he was forced to make an album in order to help pay off the settlement. This, of course, is that album and Gaye pulls no punches. While there had no doubt been heavy breakup albums before Gaye threw his hat in the ring, nobody came at it in quite the way Marvin did, creating songs that were almost open conversations between he and his ex, albeit there'd be know getting a word in edge-wise for the former Mrs. Gaye. This was Marvin's chance to set the record straight once and for all and, well, he did just that and then some on tracks such as the succinct lament "You Can Leave But Its Going To Cost You".
Jon Brion - MeaninglessBrion's best known as a composer of music for films such as
Magnolia,
I Heart Huckabees and
Punch Drunk Love (to name just a few), but the simple truth is that Brion came west from the Boston area to try to get a revamped (and ill-fated) 'til Tuesday line-up off the ground. When that failed, he and Aimee Mann each opted for solo careers, but, from the sound of his first solo album (one that was recorded for Atlantic then shelved for what seemed an eternity), he and Aimee share an innate ability to turn heartbreak into one great song after another.
Whether its love in the process of unraveling, or reeling from the blow of old wounds reopened, Brion paints one portrait after another that bristles with universal recognition. We've all been there, but Brion was taking notes. No song nails it more perfectly than the riveting "Ruin My Day", with dead-on lines such as "I don't wait by the phone like I used to/I don't hope for kind words you might say/You don't prey on my mind like you used to/But you can still ruin my day."
Destroy The Heart - Destroy The HeartThe title says it all. The end of a decade-long relationship and finding out that not only do you have cancer, but that this particular doctor says you have only two months to live. Even spaced apart a few years, those things could mess with your head. When they happen in the same week, though, "fuck...dude...you okay, man?" just doesn't cut it.
The truth is that if this album had been released at a time when the industry wasn't in shambles and radio & MTV still played more cool stuff than crap, this album would be known the world over as one of those albums you pop in the player after your heart has been run through the ringer. Listen to "My First Night Without You" and you too will be convinced, not to mention left wondering how you are only just now finding out about such a great tune.
Bob Dylan - Blood On The TracksOver the course of a career that now spans five decades, Dylan has covered a lot of ground and done the near-impossible by very rarely repeating himself. On this effort, Dylan was bringing his candid and oft-sharp tongued poetry to the subject of his recent divorce. Never before had Dylan worn his heart so brilliantly upon his sleeve, giving the music world an intimate glimpse into the psyche of a man knocked down by love, but far from out.
Whether its love in the process of unraveling, or reeling from the blow of old wounds reopened, Brion paints one portrait after another that bristles with universal recognition. We've all been there, but Brion was taking notes. No song nails it more perfectly than the riveting "Ruin My Day", with dead-on lines such as "I don't wait by the phone like I used to/I don't hope for kind words you might say/You don't prey on my mind like you used to/But you can still ruin my day."
Adam Schmitt - IlliteratureHaving parted ways with a longtime flame AND having been seriously injured in a car crash, Adam Schmitt was feeling a bit blue. Thankfully, he had a recording studio in his living room and a lot of time on his hands...not to mention a Warner Brothers recording contract. The result of that troubled time is this record that only a few discerning souls seem to know about. For much of the album, Adam puts on the bravest face he can muster, but there are cracks in the facade noticeable to anyone who listens closely. Then, on the album's last three cuts, the proverbial levee breaks and Adam comes clean...completely clean. "Shreds" is the best song John Lennon never wrote, much less sang and Schmitt absolutely nails the vibe of Lennon's Lost Weekend. On "Thanks For Showing", though, he sarcastically thanks his ex for a whole angry grocery list of things. It's an incredible listen.
Matthew Sweet - GirlfriendFor many, Matthew Sweet is just one of those power pop guys who has been lucky enough to score a couple near-hits and eek out a rather lengthy career. While these days, he's only too happy to record cover tunes with Bangles singer Susannah Hoffs (and, hey, what guy wouldn't give his left nut for that gig?), back in '90, he was wondering if he'd ever find a label willing to put out his latest record,
Nothing Lasts.
Renamed
Girlfriend and released at the tail-end of '91, Sweet was soon all over MTV as the album's title cut clawed its way up the singles charts. It was a nifty little single that wormed its way into a lot of people's heads, but those that dug a little deeper and listened to the rest of the album found that things in Sweet's world were anything but happy. This was a guy reeling from a bad, bad breakup, getting crushes on movei starlets, and trying to find his way out of the abyss. Some songs were hauntingly beautiful ("Your Sweet Voice"), others were cringe-inducing ("You Don't Love Me"), but, oddly enough, such honesty was impossible to deny.
Elliott Smith - XOWith a voice as angelic as Smith's, you could sing the phone book and still find yourself humming along. So when you realize that the majority of songs on Smith's breakthrough album seem to center around the sadness and confusion of failed relationships, it's hard to not find yourself siding with Smith and seeing a lot of your own experiences in such songs as "Oh Well, OK".
A friend of mind once said that a lot of people may have bought this album, but none of them will actually get the album until they've had their heart broken. Sadly, Smith passed away much too early and one can't help but wonder what he would have accomplished had he not perished under highly questionable circumstances.
Material Issue - Telecommando AmericanoThere's not much to say about this album that hasn't been said before. The band's singer/songwriter committed suicide in 1996, but not before he and his band recorded an album's worth of demos while trying to secure a new record deal. Many of the songs show Ellison still trying to make some sense of a recent breakup, but, sadly he never found the resolution necessary to move on with his life.
Knowing such circumstances makes songs like "You Were Beautiful", "What If I Killed Your Boyfriend?" and "Satellite" difficult to listen to and the lyrics all the more emotionally charged.
The Posies - Dear 23The Posies are nothing if not their own band. Of course, by bucking the trend of being from Seattle, but not playing grunge, they pretty much guaranteed their own major label demise, but did stick around long enough to release three pretty great records for Geffen.
The first of those records,
Dear 23, is easily one of the most overrated rock gems of the last thirty and a helluva great breakup record. With my own young and ill-conceived marriage on the rocks at the time, when I heard the album, I was amazed by the similarities between my situation and that portrayed songs like "Suddenly Mary" and "Apology". Was Jon Auer and/or Ken Stringfellow going through the same hell as me? It sure sounded like it.
John Leckie's production acts almost as another member of the band, helping to create a stunning and varied musical clarity throughout.
Don't believe me? The next time you see the CD in the used bins, drop a few bucks and listen for yourself. My hunch is that you'll thank me later so, with that in mind, you're welcome!
Here, compliments of the fine folks at imaginary record label He's A Whore Records, is the imaginary hit compilation World's Best Breakup Songs. Enjoy!
Adam Schmitt-Thanks For ShowingBob Dylan-If You See Her Say HelloChris Isaak-Baby Did A Bad Bad ThingDestroy The Heart-My First Night Without YouElliott Smith-Oh Well, OKElvis Costello-I Want YouFrank Sinatra-Guess I'll Hang My Teardrops Out To DryJon Brion-Ruin My DayMarvin Gaye-You Can Leave But It's Going To Cost YouMaterial Issue-You Were BeautifulMatthew Sweet-You Don't Love MePhil Collins-If Leaving Me Is EasyThe Posies-Suddenly MarySnow Patrol-You Could Be Happy
Til Tuesday-Don't Watch Me BleedTom Petty & The Heartbreakers-This One's For Me
