Set the Mood: Introspection

Sometimes, I just want to lay down and think. When I’m too lazy to find something deep to think about, I usually turn to music. Below are albums that tackle some deep subjects and big questions.

Carrie and Lowell

By Sufjan Stevens

Written after the death of his mother, Carrie & Lowell is a sad album. It is a mix of all the good and bad of childhood and how that affects one later in life.

Pure Comedy

By Father John Misty

A satirical take on 21st century society, funny and harrowing, the album is a sobering look at ourselves.

The Lonesome Crowded West

By Modest Mouse

A loud and grating album about modernity creeping into rural America as suburbs start to spread,while grating, it is a beautiful album.

Ladies and Gentlemen, We are Floating in Space

By Spiritualized

The combination of heartbreak and copious inebriants are what crafted Ladies and Gentlemen. It is a desperate look at love, anxiety, anger, depression and self-destructive behaviors.

In Rainbows

By Radiohead

Smooth instrumentals and poetically sparse lyrics dominate In Rainbows. Like most Radiohead albums, it is a sad affair, all the while being extraordinarily catchy.

Crack-up

By Fleet Foxes

A dense and layered folk rock opus, Crack-up is an album that needs to be given full attention. Filled with as many references to ancient stuff as a T. S. Eliot, the album needs a magnifying glass. Even with its hard entry point, dissecting and interpreting the album can lead to many self-reflections and revelations.

Pink Moon

By Nick Drake

Short and soft, sad and radiant, simple and complex, Pink Moon is an oddity. It is the combination of contradictions that work amazingly well.  

Skeleton Tree

By Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Recorded after the death of Nick Cave’s son, Skeleton Tree is a dark album. It is a reflection on death. Filled with ambiguous lyrics, the album’s meaning changes depending on the listener. It is a great album for an introspective look at one’s life.

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

By Wilco

Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a personal album about alcoholism, depression and heartbreak. It is a stellar fusion of electronic, rock and folk influences.

Teens in Denial

By Car Seat Headrest

Teens in Denial is all about the struggles of early adulthood. The album is filled with anxieties and insecurities about life and the social scene. It is incredibly relatable.