Line Out Music & the City at Night
The Stranger Suggests
Critics' Best Bets
Music Arts & Food
Slog
News & Arts
@SEAshowsTwitter feed of Seattle shows on sale now
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
The Weather Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the Winter
Posted by Grant Brissey on Wed, Dec 7, 2011 at 1:47 PM
I definitely suffer from it. In past years, I've usually drown myself in alcohol and depressing music, but this year, I'm changing it up. No alcohol, and no fucking depressing music. What do you listen to in the winter and why?
1
Yesterday I had to bust out a whole lot of Flesheaters, Divine Horsemen, anything Chris D. snarls about sex and death and crime and punishment on. Yes, depressing stuff, but also strangely empowering from all the spit and rage. And I lifted weights before I drank. So there's that. ("Anger can be power -- did you know that you could use it?" The Clash.)
2
I've found that really, really happy music is just exhausting and/or annoying when I'm feeling down, so I try to play it somewhere in the middle with stuff like Future of the Left (makes me feel like a badass!), Mogwai (especially Rock Action, which can be soothing and at times dramatic without making me want to drain a vein), and the Dismemberment Plan. Thoughtful lyrics and danceable beats. Also: Possum Dixon's self-titled album has been known to pull me out of a rut. Such a great record!
And the Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America is good because it has a couple bummer songs but more party songs--you get to wallow just a little, and then Craig Finn forces you to snap out of it.
And the Hold Steady's Boys and Girls in America is good because it has a couple bummer songs but more party songs--you get to wallow just a little, and then Craig Finn forces you to snap out of it.
3
You need a new hobby. Really. What really grabs you? I mean, besides masturbating. Start a new collection. Learn to redo your bath.
4
Last winter I was pregnant, depressed, and drowning in grad school. I made playlist after playlist of music that reminded me of running around in the summer during high school-- giddy pop and hip hop from when I didn't have to worry about, you know, being pregnant and paying bills and dealing with grad school.
Also, lots and lots of Kanye and Bon Iver.
Also, lots and lots of Kanye and Bon Iver.
5
I listen to Hawaiian slide guitar greats King Bennie Nawahi, Roy Smeck, and Sol Hoopii. And Cub's "Betti-Cola" CD.
8
Personal and the Pizzas! "Bored Out Of My Brains"
http://www.myspace.com/personalandthepiz…
singing along to anything by those bonehead Pizzas makes me feel better
http://www.myspace.com/personalandthepiz…
singing along to anything by those bonehead Pizzas makes me feel better
11
I've been listening to the Clams Casino instrumentals mixtape a lot this winter. Also: John Maus (silly, in a dark and moody but completely unserious sort of way), Com Truise (also moody but unserious), the new Neon Indian (ditto), Elite Gymnastics (and so on), The Radio Dept. (et cetera).
None of this stuff is outright depressing but if you're looking for stupid-fun then ^^AVOID^^
None of this stuff is outright depressing but if you're looking for stupid-fun then ^^AVOID^^
13
I'm definitely a fan of listening to anything Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon, Red House Painters) touches this time of year, particularly his Songs For A Blue Guitar album.
Though I'm the kind of geek who loves making little playlists for myself on grooveshark to listen to at work, and I have one aptly titled "Music for an autumn day". Feel free to peruse/enjoy.
http://grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Music+…
Though I'm the kind of geek who loves making little playlists for myself on grooveshark to listen to at work, and I have one aptly titled "Music for an autumn day". Feel free to peruse/enjoy.
http://grooveshark.com/#/playlist/Music+…
15
@11: Clams Casino, very nice.
I listen to cavernous dubstep, especially at night when it's cold and no one is on the street. I embrace S.A.D.
I listen to cavernous dubstep, especially at night when it's cold and no one is on the street. I embrace S.A.D.
17
Shrag is one of the best bands no one ever talks about. Their songs are mostly upbeat, driving art punk like a less annoying X-Ray Spex and they're great to go running to.
Other than that, mostly bizarre Christmas songs I burned off of April Winchell (of Regretsy)'s now defunct novelty music blog. An all maniacal laughter version of "Carol of the Bells" is one of my favorites.
Other than that, mostly bizarre Christmas songs I burned off of April Winchell (of Regretsy)'s now defunct novelty music blog. An all maniacal laughter version of "Carol of the Bells" is one of my favorites.
18
I like things that sound elemental or womblike. I like to feel snuggled by Brian Eno's more cozy works (Like his Plateaux of Mirror album with Harold Budd) and the dreamier side of Cocteau Twins. I am heartened by the sounds of wood and wire and will get into a serious Fleet Foxes, and Nick Drake zone, plus Dylan and scattered Waterboys tracks, especially the rather old-timey Room to Roam. Interestingly, every winter I get into a serious Canterbury mood and play all the Pentagle and Fairport Convention, which leads to Giles, Giles and Fripp, which in turn forces me to go all King Crimson and Can on things. Tago Mago is the sound of earthly forces willing the roots to come back to life and the bulbs to send forth shoots, like a subterranean war.
19
Quit being such a pussy. Listen to DRI "Dealing With It" and stop complaining about how the weather is making you sad.
20
@19
look, dickface, if I want to relive the first winter I lived here and listen to nothing but the Joy Division box set, A Perfect Circle and Discordance Axis, that's my fucking right as an American, m'kay?
lately I've been trying really hard to appreciate Freur outside that "Doot Doot" song. it's doubtful this will maintain for any kind of long-term, seasonal thing. oh, and lots of Dutch hardcore.
look, dickface, if I want to relive the first winter I lived here and listen to nothing but the Joy Division box set, A Perfect Circle and Discordance Axis, that's my fucking right as an American, m'kay?
lately I've been trying really hard to appreciate Freur outside that "Doot Doot" song. it's doubtful this will maintain for any kind of long-term, seasonal thing. oh, and lots of Dutch hardcore.
22
You should listen to this music while sitting next to a happy light.
And I don't really know why, but the last two winters I've listened to Broadcast a lot.
And I don't really know why, but the last two winters I've listened to Broadcast a lot.
23
Music-wise, Guided By Voices Glad Girls cheers me up, agree on The Hold Steady Boys and Girls...and The Undertones...BUT the best thing to combat the gray skies IMO is donning bright colors on the darkest days...I go super tacky Orange Lucien Pellat Finet Skull sweater
25
good weed. punk and power pop. reggae (vile or no), brazilian funk, afro-cuban jazz. smooth shit from warm places. good beats. taken outdoors when possible. when inside, zombie flicks and housecleaning. nothing groundbreaking here.
a friend gave me a chunk of red jasper too to hold onto too and that's been cool. i say go all out and get some crystals.
a friend gave me a chunk of red jasper too to hold onto too and that's been cool. i say go all out and get some crystals.
26
I often put on VNV Nation in the Winter because it goes perfectly with my mood and environment ~ dark, lonely, and bleak.. but deep within these recesses there's still a glimmer of hope, a spark that will ignite and inspire for a little while. Then yesterday I did a pop/punk revisit to my teenage faves like Violent Femmes, Pixies, Dead Milkmen it was okay. Bad Religion always motivates me to vacuum and clean. Always into Ween.
27
Generally, i pour myself a hot cup of earl grey, and I listen to winter. I crack a window and listen to the wind in the trees, and the rain coming down. I hear the sparrows talking, and the quick staccatto of squirrels climbing in the branches. I hear the cold air coming in, and welcome it as it makes my skin tight as it passes me. Then i close the window, stoke the fireplace, and go get my cat forca quick snoogle.
Then i make some breakfast and generally go about the day.
I grew up in the arctic. This place is perfect. If you are 'depressed' here, maybe learn to appreciate how awesome the pcnw is.
Then i make some breakfast and generally go about the day.
I grew up in the arctic. This place is perfect. If you are 'depressed' here, maybe learn to appreciate how awesome the pcnw is.
28
@27, how charming. I hope you're joking. That's great that it works for you, but we can't all help our brain chemistry, and for many of us extra darkness during winter= depression. Who says we don't enjoy the NW as much as you? I think that by asking for some uplifting suggestions that's pretty much what Grant is doing.
31
it's tough to find life affirming music that gets me out of winter doldrums, but on usual repeat is Ted Leo, Titus Andronicus, Superchunk, Replacements
32
Tropicalia/Bossa Nova, Blank Dogs, Flying Lotus, Buena Vista Social Club, DR, MF Doom, The Jet Age of Tomorrow, Spaceghostpurrp, smoke dro, play scrabble, have sex, watch foreign films, visit family in miami, go outside when sunny, look at greenry, need a dog tho.
33
I prefer to embrace the womb of gloom: Low-Long Division , Stars of the Lid-Gravitational Pull Vs. the Desisre for An Aquatic life, Richard Skelton-Landings, Roy Montgomery-Scenes from the South Islands, Grouper/Roy Montgomery- Split, Lambchop-Is a Woman,Cocteau Twins-Victorialand
Most Commented on Line Out
-
What Do You Think Of Tom Cruise's "Rockin' New Look?" by Kelly O
-
UPDATE: Bumbershoot to Skip Flatstock This Year[?] by Grant Brissey
-
Rob McKenna's Favorite Band Is Nickelback by Grant Brissey
-
chicBuds: EARO OR ZERO? by Dave Segal
-
Have You Seen This Bass? by Dave Segal
-
Word on the Street Is That Tonight Is Mad Rad's Last Show Ever by Grant Brissey
-
Ongoing List of Defunct Seattle Clubs by Grant Brissey
-
HOLY SHITBALLS...Die Kreuzen Reunion!! by Mike Nipper
-
Today in "What Won't Henry Rollins Do?" by Grant Brissey
-
Punk As Folk Weekend @ The Funhouse by Kelly O
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (34) RSS