# Strange, Dark Music Suggestions?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [January 10, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760 "2003-01-10T16:25:11Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/1 "2003-01-10T16:25:11Z")
I’m looking for some new music to get into, but I’m becoming increasingly hard to please.
What I’m looking for basically is bands that are traditional, unconventional, dark, depressing and perhaps a bit silly, absurd or ironic. I’m also on a bit of a “dark Western” vibe lately.
I have a fairly large music collection already (view it at [http://www.stormclad.com/musiclist.asp](http://www.stormclad.com/musiclist.asp) if you want an idea of the stuff I listen to). I have sort of moved from metal to goth to experimental and hit all of the stops in between.
Some of my favorites over the last few months, and representative of what I’m looking for, are **Naervaer, Antony & The Johnsons, The Tiger Lillies, The Coffinshakers, Myssouri, Slightly Satanic, Ghoultown** and **Sixteen Horsepower**. I also enjoy bands like **The Gathering, Katatonia, Solefald, Devil Doll, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Tindersticks, Diamanda Galas,** etc.
I’m also a big fan of weird vocalists. I like powerful singers who have their own way of phrasing things or just weird tonal qualities. But still, it has to be dark music on some level. I really don’t like happy, cheery music 99% of the time.
What I’d really like to move towards is novelty music, but done with a straight, sad face and with conviction. Absurdity is fine, but no humor. That’s why I like **The Tiger Lillies** and **Antony & The Johnsons** ’ _I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy_ so much.
Any suggestions?
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### Author:  [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/2 "2003-01-10T17:45:06Z")
Oh, yeah.
[Clem Snide](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,678322,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Clem+Snide) They’re depressed, they’re strange, they’re incredibly brilliant, and they’re insanely talented. Lush, dark, countrified, and occasionally absurd.
You might also find [Trailer Bride](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,583299,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Trailer+Bride) interesting; much more in a country vein, but in a graveyard-out-back, way-too-much-whisky, haunted-swamp kinda way.
The first and so far only release by [Shivaree](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,899260,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Shivaree), _I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump_ is pretty amazing, with some pseudo-funk basslines wandering into sad, wistful country-like territories.
This next one is one of those personal favorites that nobody, and I mean nobody else likes, but I’m a big fan. [Farmer Not So John](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,568853,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Farmer+Not+So+John). They’re pretty distinctly country, but with a depressed pall hanging over them. They do the most depressing song I’ve ever heard, which is saying a lot. It’s called _For You I Will Pretend_.
And on the weird but intricate and depressing vocals subject, if you haven’t heard much [Rufus Wainwright](http://ubl.artistdirect.com/music/artist/card/0,,550138,00.html?src=redirsearch&artist=Rufus+Wainwright), please give him a shot. Opreatically trained voice, given to bizarre theatricality and hearbreaking longing, but always twisted in some strange way.
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### Author:  [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/3 "2003-01-10T18:34:34Z")
If you like Sixteen Horsepower and Nick Cave, you might like [**Firewater**](http://www.jetsetrecords.com/bands/firewater/default.asp). It’s a band led by former Cop Shoot Cop frontman Tod Ashley, and much of the music has a rough-hewn, Eastern-European-ish, drunken, so-depressed-you’re-happy vibe. The lyrics are usually irreverent, black-hearted, intelligent, and frequently humourous.
Please, though, please…stay far, far away from their last album, _Psychopharmacology_, and stick to their fabulous first and second albums – _Get Off the Cross…We Need the Wood for the Fire_ and [_The Ponzi Scheme_](http://members.rogers.com/adandi/ponzi_scheme.htm), respectively.
You say you like “dark Western” music…have you tried **Calexico**?
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### Author:  [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/4 "2003-01-10T18:46:52Z")
PS. I see you explicitly said, “no humor,” so let me clarify that Firewater’s humor is strictly of the gallows vein (no pun intended). _So long, Superman / Got a suggestion for ya / Check for kryptonite before you try to break a horse_…like that.
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### Author:  [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/5 "2003-01-10T19:55:47Z")
Impressive list…Quite the investment if they are mostly vinyl/CD…{grumble, grumble, my lousy 500 LP/CDs, grumble…}
You are a little out of my league…okay way out, but here are some that could fit into the list without being too out of place. I can’t help you with your current list, as I haven’t heard any of them. _sigh_ I need to find a good alternative college radio show to listen to…
Notable omissions-
Cocteau Twins - Garlands (1980) - a little more raw than the ones you already have
His Name is Alive - Livonia (1989?)
23 Skidoo - The Culling is Coming (1983?) - early industrial
Nurse with Wound - Sylvie and Babs collection (1985?) - songs that evolved as different artists recorded their own ideas on the same tape at different times
Einsturzende Neubauten (1981- ) - true industrial, guitars and tools…
Skinny Puppy/Tear Garden (1984-90) - early industrial/techno
Throbbing Gristle/PsychicTV (1970s-90?) - Genesis P. Orridge was way far ahead of everybody…now he’s just way out there…
These may be too punk for you…
Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys (1980-87?)
Henry Rollins/Black Flag(1980?-)
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### Author:  [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/6 "2003-01-10T21:30:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by gallows fodder \*
> **I see you explicitly said, “no humor,” so let me clarify that Firewater’s humor is strictly of the gallows vein**
That’s cool, I just didn’t want to encourage humor too much when mentioning novelty music. I envisioned people suggesting things from the Dr. Demento show. While there’s nothing wrong with the Dr. Demento style novelty music, it’s not what I’m on the hunt for at this time.
MrVisible and Gallows, I’ve never heard of any of the artists you guys suggested. I’ll see what I can find. Sounds promising!
Cantara (from the Dead Can Dance tune maybe?), I have a few of those bands on cassette (the music collection page I linked only lists CDs, mp3s and CDRs). The problem I grew to have with industrial music is that so much of it is just _too_ experimental for me. I suppose it’s the traditionalist in my heart, but I find that I can connect with music much better if it has a little more of a conventional structure. Just done unconventionally, if that makes sense. I’m also not crazy about the sound of electronic music in general. I’ll try out the ones from your suggestions that I haven’t heard yet.
> [@](#):
>
> Quite the investment if they are mostly vinyl/CD
No, most of my collection is culled from trading. To be honest, most of it isn’t worth making a cash investment in. I only actually love about 10% of it. I keep the rest for its value to other traders and just for occasional background music. I’m trying to get over that habit though.
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### Author:  [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/7 "2003-01-10T22:20:03Z")
If you haven’t heard it, I’ll suggest Mark Lanegan’s Whiskey for the Holy Ghost. I just ordered his album Field Songs, which I’m hoping is as good. He was lead singer for Screaming Trees, but his solo work is more dark and sedate.
I see you have some Tom Waits; you might try Swordfish Trombones, or Early Years vol. 1 & 2.
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### Author:  [@fizgig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizgig)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/8 "2003-01-10T22:22:34Z")
Oh, I forgot to mention Sparklehorse. I’m not sure if that’s quite what you’re looking for, but It’s a Wonderful Life is spectacular, and Linkous does some superb things with the production on all his albums. The best description of their music I’ve read is that it’s “beautiful like a rotting rose.”
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### Author:  [@Ich\_Bin\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ich_Bin_s)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/9 "2003-01-10T22:35:12Z")
The first thing I thought of was **Calexico**. If you have none, get thee out and buy Blacklight, please. Mostly instrumental. It is the soundtrack for the southwest. Excellent.
Please also listen to MrVisible, especially his recomendation for Rufus Wainwright.
If you’re a sixteen horespower fan, you can’t go wrong with **Denver Gentlemen** , mr. Edward’s first band, with some members who would go on to **Slim Cessna’s Auto Club**. DG is fairly hard to come by, by what I understand, but very, very good. It’s really grown on me and it sounds like it would be right up your alley. Very old, vaudville-style percussion, an almost unrecognizable edwards singing with excessive vibrato, lots of acordians and piano, female vocals… a real gem. Also look for **Woven Hand** , a mr. Edward’s solo project from last spring, on Glitterhouse (I don’t think it’s been released in the US). It’s pretty somber, like the last 16HP, so it may be a bit restrained. Slim Cessna is good stuff, but they’re a bit more literal in their religion, so you may or may not like that.
Some others: **Pinetop Seven** is an instrumental outfit, with a zylophone! What about **Wayne “the Train” Hancock**? I’ve heard him compared to Hank Williams, and to my passing ears, that seems to fit well.
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### Author:  [@Ich\_Bin\_s](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ich_Bin_s)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/10 "2003-01-10T22:38:38Z")
Second fizgig’s **Sparklehorse**. Amazing stuff, with nice guest appearances. It’s a Wonderful Life is a must have.
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### Author:  [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)
#### Post date: [January 10, 2003, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/11 "2003-01-10T22:55:38Z")
I immediately thought of [Renaissance,](http://musicsojourn.com/AR/Folk/page/r/Renaissance.htm) an amazing 60s-70s band with one of the most talented femae vocalists ever (IMHO). They’re an excellent blend of classical with an eclectic flair.
The link will lead to to some music clips: for “strange” and “dark,” scroll down to the album _Turn of the Cards_ and listen to “Cold is Being.”
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### Author:  [@rsvp9146](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsvp9146)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/12 "2003-01-11T00:07:18Z")
Im surprised no one has mentioned the Residents.
They are proabably the most unique band I have ever heard, musically and conceptually.
Nobody knows who they really are. They all wear giant eyeball masks on stage, and for a while it was thought it was the Beatles in disguise.
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### Author:  [@MrVisible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrVisible)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/13 "2003-01-11T06:55:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sacrilegium \*
> MrVisible and Gallows, I’ve never heard of any of the artists you guys suggested. I’ll see what I can find. Sounds promising!
Hey, if you think of it, stop back by this thread and let us know how you liked the recommendations you tracked down.
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### Author:  [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/14 "2003-01-11T07:01:40Z")
In case nobody has mentioned them yet, ‘Mazzy Star’ and ‘Cowboy Junkies’ seem to fit what the OP is looking for.
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### Author:  [@crinklebat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crinklebat)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/15 "2003-01-11T07:10:14Z")
Right on with the Residents. If you’re ever in the mood for instrumental stuff, go with anything that utilizes the theremin (an early electronic music that you’ll probably have heard as a spook-house effect). I like Lydia Kavina.
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### Author:  [@Mith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mith)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/16 "2003-01-11T07:12:25Z")
butthole Surfers
fantomas
“P”
crash vegas
portishead
faith no more
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### Author:  [@Blackhawkeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackhawkeye)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/17 "2003-01-11T07:22:16Z")
looking for dark and unusual? Looks like hip hop genius El-P is right up your alley. Unconventional, evil beats, and depressing subject matter all over the place. In particular the tracks “Stepfather Factory” and “Last Good Sleep”.
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### Author:  [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/18 "2003-01-11T12:12:43Z")
You absolutely can’t go wrong with the late lamented **Paradise Motel** - another Australian band (from Tasmania, actually) in the Nick Cave vein. Very beautiful and wild.
**Lee Hazlewood** has released many influential and great dark country/western records, some of which are coming out again (some courtesy of Steve from **Sonic Youth** ). There are some really good songs with him on the Nancy Sinatra compilation _Lightning’s Girl_ on Raven records from Australia - just rereleased with a new cover and one or two extra cuts.
I’d recommend the early **Leonard Cohen** records _Songs From The Room_, _Songs of_ (his debut), and _Songs of Love and Hate_ (I see you already have some of his 80/90s records - his 60s/70s records are quite different).
For depressing singer/songwriter music, you can’t go wrong with any of the records by **Nick Drake** or **Tim Hardin** (for the latter, again Raven records from Australia has an excellent midprice CD covering the best of his whole career).
If you want to go to the (late 60’s) roots of gothic/experimental/suicidal music, give a listen to the first four records by **Nico** , after she parted ways with **The Velvet Underground** - _Chelsea Girl_ (more acoustic); _The Marble Index_ (European avant-garde meets severe death wish); _Desertshore_ (beautiful avant-garde meets stifling drone music) and _The End_ (indescribable record, based on both the Doors song {She was hanging out, so to speak, with Jim Morrison at the time} and the banned German national anthem).
And finally, I can recommend a band that I was briefly in (but not for this record) - **Where Echoes End** , and their debut _By The Pricking Of My Thumb_ - read some reviews of it at their site
[here](http://people.myplace.net.au/~echoes/reviews/reviewsbythe/reviewindex.html). This album combines dark ambient electronica with samples and stories describing the decay of the twentieth century. A truly stunning record.
I’ll try to think of some more for you, but those should keep you off the street for a day or two 😉
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### Author:  [@Sacrilegium](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sacrilegium)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/19 "2003-01-11T13:13:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> those should keep you off the street for a day or two
Boy, you’re not kidding! This is a much better response than I was expecting, and I thank you all. I’ll post my reactions to them as I hear more of it. It’s going to take me a while to absorb this stuff.
> [@](#):
>
> let us know how you liked the recommendations you tracked down
Sure thing! I’ve grabbed some tracks from some of them already, though I haven’t listened to most of it yet. I’ll go through what I’ve got so far. This is stream-of-consciousness as I get my first impression of some of these:
I just listened to a couple of **Residents** tracks. They seem hard to sum up on the basis of that limited exposure, so I’ll have to delve deeper and see if they get under my skin (in a good way) or not.
I’m listening to a **Calexico** track right now. Yeah, I dig this. The vocals are a bit too subdued, but I have a feeling I’ll get used to that.
**Clem Snide** just came on. The track is “Let’s Explode.” It’s not bad, but the mood seems a little light for me.
Hmmm, I see that I have another Clem Snide track. (Where did that come from?) It’s “Chinese Baby.” I like it more than “Let’s Explode,” but I’m not thrilled about the vocals in either track. They sound too…well, _normal_. They’re not a turn-off, but I’d enjoy it more if they had more energy and/or uniqueness.
**Trailer Bride** now, the track _Ghost On The Highway_. Man, this mp3 is horrible quality. The song itself is kinda cool though. It reminds me of **Tarantella** a little. I’ll definitely try out more of their stuff.
**Rufus Wainwright** ’s “Greek Song” now. I don’t hear any “bizarre theatricality” here. Am I on the wrong material of his? It is kind of nice in its own right, but a little more normal than what I’m looking for at the moment.
**Shivaree** now. They made me laugh right off the bat with “Cannibal King” (in a good way). Now the track “Bossa Nova.” Hmmm. I think this might be a bit too poppy for me. I’ll have to see if it gets under my skin after repeated listens.
**El-P** ’s “Stepfather Factory” up now. I think one of the guys I work with would like this. I tend to steer clear of electronic music in general and hip hop in particular, but this is good as that stuff goes. The only song I have found that holds up to repeated listens for me in this style is **Arcturus** ’s “Master of Disguise (Phantom FX Jungle Remix).” I’ll give it more listens and suggest it to my cow-orker.
**Sparklehorse** ’s name sounds familiar, but I can’t recall hearing them until now. I’m listening to “Apple Bed.” At the moment, the only adjective that comes to mind is “mellow.” Time will tell if it affects me more than that.
**Mark Lanegan** ’s “Borracho” now. I recall hearing this guy before, actually. Sounds a little too normal. This is another case where it’s not blowing me away but might grow on me with time.
That’s all that I’ve managed to get so far. Those are just my first impressions and could change. I think I’m going to dedicate a WinAmp playlist to the suggestions from this thread and see what sticks to the ol’ ribs.
Oh, and a few more have been mentioned that I do already have - **Woven Hand** (like them, but can only seem to get into a couple songs), **Denver Gentlemen** (like them, but they’re more “background music” for me whereas **Sixteen Horsepower** really forces me to pay attention and participate emotionally), **Faith No More** (like them, especially _Angel Dust_), **Mazzy Starr** (like them, but can only seem to get into a couple songs), **Butthole Surfers** (I love _Independent Worm Saloon_ but don’t own anything else by them. I guess it’s time to fix that.), **Portishead** (loved their debut, thought the self-titled album was a bit dull), **Fantomas** (I only have the soundtrack covers album, but I really like a few tracks on it).
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### Author:  [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)
#### Post date: [January 11, 2003, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/strange-dark-music-suggestions/147760/20 "2003-01-11T13:56:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Sacrilegium \*
> **Butthole Surfers** (I love _Independent Worm Saloon_ but don’t own anything else by them. I guess it’s time to fix that.)
Hell yes it is! IWS is not one of thier better releases, IMO. Try _Rembrant Pussyhorse_ or _Hairway to Steven_. Keep in mind it these may not even sound like the same band that released _IWS_.
Cool that you already found **Calexico** , they are pretty good.
I really can’t seem to shutup about **Black Heart Procession’s** new album _Amore Del Tropico_. It may be my favorite release of the past 12 months.
A weird little album that I would up playing a lot over the past couple years was **Kev Hopper’s** _Whispering Foils_. Kind of hard to do it any justice with a few short words, check out the Amazon reviews for it.
Also, check out either of the **Godspeed you black Emporer** releases, _Lift Yr Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven_ or _f#a#_. They have others but these are the only two I’ve heard, I recommend both.
I can list more if any of these tickle you in the right spots.
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