SAD BASTARD MUSIC?... or am I really a Sad Bastard?

Twice at AK fest , after I put on one of my CDs, it was pointed out to me that I must like ‘The Sad Bastard Music.’ Now I don’t actually consider myself a Sad Bastard, I mean I do have a good life that I am very grateful for, but looking at some my favorite music, I can see how others may come to the ‘Sad Bastard’ conclusion. I do like music that could be considered dark, downhearted, moody, morose or melancholy.

Are there others that have this condition and if so what is it that attracts us to this music?

This was the compilation playing that raised the question.

1. Cortez the Killer (Neil young) -- Carrie Rodriguez With Tim Easton
2. Baby Mine -- Bonnie Raitt & Was Not Was
3. Sweet Jane With Affection -- Two Nice Girls
4. Sweet Emotion -- Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon
5. Sweet Child Of Mine -- Luna
6. The Stolen Quiet -- Leo Kottke & Mike Gordon
7. She's Already Made Up Her Mind -- Lyle Lovett
8. North Dakota -- Lyle Lovett
9. Big Kiss -- Carrie Rodriguez
10. Big Log -- Viktor Krauss
11. Far From Enough -- Viktor Krauss
12. Goodbye -- Emmylou Harris
13. Fade To Black -- Dire Straits
14. Solid Air -- John Martyn
15. Quality Of Mercy -- Michelle Shocked
16. On Your Way Down -- Little Feat
17. Long Distance Love -- Little Feat
18. The Sky Is Crying -- John Martyn
19. Bury Me -- Alejandro Escovedo
20. Round The Bend -- Beck
21. Already Dead -- Beck
22. Galaxy Of Emptiness -- Beth Orton
23. Amazing Grace -- The Blind Boys Of Alabama
24. Everybody's Crying Mercy -- Bonnie Raitt


What ‘Sad Bastard’ tunes do you enjoy?

Oh, you have no idea! This is one area where I can claim to actually know something...I love sad bastard music and feel no reason to apologize. Happy music irritates me

"I see a Darkness", Bonnie Prince Billy.
"Amsterdam" John Cale.
"Somewhere there's a feather" Nico.
"Famous Blue Raincoat" Leonard Cohen.
"Colors and the kids" Cat Power
"New Friend" The Concretes.
"Baby Stones" Robert Forster (of the Go Betweens..great happy/sad song band).
"Make a deal with the city" East River Pipe.
"All mixed up" Red House Painters.
"Doortime" Fiel Garvie.
"Flowers" Galaxie 500 (I see you have Luna on your list...same singer/guitarist).
"Percipitate" Interpol.
"Lullaby" James.
"Andalucia" John Cale (also, same song as covered by Yo La Tengo).
"God Only Knows" Langley Schools Music Project (late '70s grade school class covering Beach Boys....amazing).
"Anesthesia" Luna.
"My Only Friend" Magnetic Fields.
"I've changed my plea to guilty" Morrissey.
"Your silent face" New Order.
"Lilac Wine" Nina Simone.
"The Viaduct" The Pastels (one of my most favorite sad-sap songs).
"Bulletproof. I wish I was" Radiohead.
"Alison" Slowdive.

And....

"Tiny Tears" "Raindrops" "A night in"... Tindersticks (perhaps the best sad-song band ever...in my opinion).

Endless Sleep - Nick Lowe
I'm a mess - Nick Lowe
Lately I've Let Things Slide - Nick Lowe

A current "sad, cynical bastid" recording is Justin Currie's new album. Check this bile-fest out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4b_dBMfBf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVmtie4JlPQ

Should you stand and fight?
Should you die for what you think is right, so your useless contribution will be remembered?

If you're asking me I say no- surrender.


je

A current "sad, cynical bastid" recording is Justin Currie's new album. Check this bile-fest out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4b_dBMfBf0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVmtie4JlPQ



je

I really liked the No Surrender video...I'm a sucker for really long single-take tracking shots in film, so even better....

Oh, you have no idea! This is one area where I can claim to actually know something...I love sad bastard music and feel no reason to apologize. Happy music irritates me

"I see a Darkness", Bonnie Prince Billy.
"Amsterdam" John Cale.
"Somewhere there's a feather" Nico.
"Famous Blue Raincoat" Leonard Cohen.
"Colors and the kids" Cat Power
"New Friend" The Concretes.
"Baby Stones" Robert Forster (of the Go Betweens..great happy/sad song band).
"Make a deal with the city" East River Pipe.
"All mixed up" Red House Painters.
"Doortime" Fiel Garvie.
"Flowers" Galaxie 500 (I see you have Luna on your list...same singer/guitarist).
"Percipitate" Interpol.
"Lullaby" James.
"Andalucia" John Cale (also, same song as covered by Yo La Tengo).
"God Only Knows" Langley Schools Music Project (late '70s grade school class covering Beach Boys....amazing).
"Anesthesia" Luna.
"My Only Friend" Magnetic Fields.
"I've changed my plea to guilty" Morrissey.
"Your silent face" New Order.
"Lilac Wine" Nina Simone.
"The Viaduct" The Pastels (one of my most favorite sad-sap songs).
"Bulletproof. I wish I was" Radiohead.
"Alison" Slowdive.

And....

"Tiny Tears" "Raindrops" "A night in"... Tindersticks (perhaps the best sad-song band ever...in my opinion).

Great, this is just what I was looking for, I was actually listening to Covers by Cat Power when I wrote this. I am going to have to search out some Galaxie 500, and the Bonnie Prince Billy. The only thing I have by him is the Album he did with Tortise, 'The Brave and The Bold.' The only Tindersticks I have is 'Can our Love...'

I put up with having it called "that crying in your beer shit" for about 15 years from the Last Wife. I kept the music.

Hobo's Meditation playing as I type - Dolly, Linda, Emmylou

As I read this thread........

Alan

Sad is OK but is is doom that brings a smile here. :)



Carl

Sad is OK but is is doom that brings a smile here. :)

Would have never guessed!:D

Sad is OK but is is doom that brings a smile here. :)



Carl

Actually 'Doom Bastard' kinda rolls off the tongue!

Great, this is just what I was looking for, I was actually listening to Covers by Cat Power when I wrote this. I am going to have to search out some Galaxie 500, and the Bonnie Prince Billy. The only thing I have by him is the Album he did with Tortise, 'The Brave and The Bold.' The only Tindersticks I have is 'Can our Love...'

Galaxie 500 is quite a bit different than Luna, but I love them both. They're more lo-fi with swirly guitars and reverb. I really like the first Bonnie Prince Billy release, "I see a darkness", but all of his stuff is good to my ears, going back through the Will Oldham/Palace/Palace Brothers/Bonnie Billy catalogue. I really like 'Days in the wake", which I think is the first Palace Brother's album.

Can Our Love is not the best of Tindersticks, to my ears. I really like the second album, which is sometimes just called Tindersticks II, but it might just say "Tindersticks" on it, which is also the same for the first album (also good). It's the one with Tiny Tears on it. Waiting for the Moon is a more recent release that to my ears sounds the most like their early stuff. Tindersticks II is a bit much to digest...really mopey stuff, but beautiful nonetheless, and big/grand in a way that they failed to capture on Can Our Love. They are outstanding live if you ever get the chance. Same goes for Will Oldham/Bonnie Prince Billie. I had the pleasure of seeing him live from a distance of less than 5 feet in a crowded club. I had to duck when he swung his guitar.

I just noticed "Goodbye" by Emmylou Harris on your list....that is one of the best sad songs EVER. Not my opinion..it's just true, can't be debated :).

I put up with having it called "that crying in your beer shit" for about 15 years from the Last Wife. I kept the music.

A Man's Gotta Have Priorities. :D

I'm a bastard, but I'm not necessarily sad about it...Actually, I'm kinda happy about it most of the time...

Actually 'Doom Bastard' kinda rolls off the tongue!



:thmbsp:



Carl

Being a mere 25 miles north of DC and 535 sad bastards I don't need no music.

Being a mere 25 miles north of DC and 535 sad bastards I don't need no music.

I've got the apolitical blues
And that's the meanest blues of all

Galaxie 500 is quite a bit different than Luna, but I love them both. They're more lo-fi with swirly guitars and reverb. I really like the first Bonnie Prince Billy release, "I see a darkness", but all of his stuff is good to my ears, going back through the Will Oldham/Palace/Palace Brothers/Bonnie Billy catalogue. I really like 'Days in the wake", which I think is the first Palace Brother's album.

I really like the second album, which is sometimes just called Tindersticks II, but it might just say "Tindersticks" on it, which is also the same for the first album (also good). It's the one with Tiny Tears on it. Waiting for the Moon is a more recent release that to my ears sounds the most like their early stuff. Tindersticks II is a bit much to digest...really mopey stuff, but beautiful nonetheless, and big/grand in a way that they failed to capture on Can Our Love.

Thanks JohnVF, I just Amazon'd used copies of both the second 'Tindersticks II' and 'I see Darkness.' (I do miss going to the good old fashoned funky used record stores)

Which Galaxie 500 Disc would you recomend?

Thanks JohnVF, I just Amazon'd used copies of both the second 'Tindersticks II' and 'I see Darkness.' (I do miss going to the good old fashoned funky used record stores)

Which Galaxie 500 Disc would you recomend?

You might want to give a brief listen to them on iTunes or whatever if you can, just to see if you like them. Of what I've listed, they're probably one of the more acquired tastes (but one of my favorite bands right off the bat, just really up my alley). They did three albums in the late '80s, after listening to them for 15 or so years "On Fire" is my favorite (their second album). When I first started listening to them, "Today" was my favorite. Dean Wareham's odd vocals are something you either love or hate. He sang a bit differently in Luna.

You might also want to try out the album "L'Avvenura" by Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham (both formerly of Luna). Looking at your list it may or may appeal to you more (not sure, just guessing by what you've listed). It's a really good collection of mostly covers they did, acoustic/electric, a bit of Velvet Underground influence.

Also, the album "At Dawn" by My Morning Jacket. They swung a little Skynyrd on later albums for my taste, but this was less rawk and more sad... I used to put songs from this album right after "goodbye" by Emmylou on mix CDs and they fit right in. They recorded it in an old grain Silo for a big natural reverb. The singer has a fantastic southern-tinged voice.

The other two members of Galaxie 500 went on to record and perform as Damon & Naomi. I actually like their music better than either Galaxie 50 or Luna.

there's also M. Ward:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh0pJsyS9mQ&feature=related

You might want to give a brief listen to them on iTunes or whatever if you can, just to see if you like them. Of what I've listed, they're probably one of the more acquired tastes (but one of my favorite bands right off the bat, just really up my alley). They did three albums in the late '80s, after listening to them for 15 or so years "On Fire" is my favorite (their second album). When I first started listening to them, "Today" was my favorite. Dean Wareham's odd vocals are something you either love or hate. He sang a bit differently in Luna.

Hard to get a feel of what they sound like listening to Napser. Not sure if what I am hearing is poor recording or MP3, but then with songs like Decomposting Trees I am pretty sure I will like this.

The other two members of Galaxie 500 went on to record and perform as Damon & Naomi. I actually like their music better than either Galaxie 50 or Luna.

They've made some really fantastic albums, actually probably mopier than either Luna or Galaxie 500 if that's possible. Nice people from what i hear word of mouth. I just don't like when Damon sings, if he'd just let Naomi take vocals on all the songs, I'd buy more of them! A lot of the sound of Galaxie 500 and the first Damon & Naomi records are due to their producer, Kramer. I think he also did a number of albums by Low (now theirs a sad sap band if their ever was one...people actually sit on the floor at their shows. I fell asleep at one).

I recommend My Dying Bride, Virgin Black, and Theatre Of Tragedy.


Doom Bastard :smoke:

there's also M. Ward:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh0pJsyS9mQ&feature=related


And also 'Blue Moods of Spain.' especially Spiritual

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000003BKZ/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music

Hobo's Meditation playing as I type - Dolly, Linda, Emmylou

As I read this thread........

Alan

That whole Trio album is excellent! :thmbsp:

But then again, I have been a huge LR fan for years, and her collaboration with DP and ELH is very nice!

I recommend My Dying Bride, Virgin Black, and Theatre Of Tragedy.


Doom Bastard :smoke:

My new favorite quote, Doom it!

And also 'Blue Moods of Spain.' especiall Spiritual

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B000003BKZ/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music

Great song. Yep, that's some sad bastardness.

About half of Big Star's 3rd (sometimes called Sister Lovers) is some of the most beautiful sad music ever. "Blue Moon" "Stroke it Noel" and "Nightime" especially. The other half is only slightly more up-beat.

As for Galaxie 500, decomposing trees kind of sounds like the rest of their music...all kind of sounds the same. It's not the best recorded music around, it's not audiophile candy by ANY means. They could barely play their instruments, so it's not a jazz lover's dream, either. Naomi, the bass player, just kind of made things up as she went and because of it, gave them much of their sound...a droning bass played like a guitar. It's often off-key, but always sad-bastard. I'm a big fan of droney/swirly music so that influences my recommendations to some degree.

Hey Olson,

I guess it's better than being a Rat Bastard, eh. :D

Or is it? :scratch2:

I recommend My Dying Bride, Virgin Black, and Theatre Of Tragedy.


Doom Bastard :smoke:

You're going to make me dig out my "Death in June" tunes, if I still have any.

Actually, saddest music: Henrik Goreki's Symphony No. 3 with Dawn Upshaw as Soprano. I believe it was about the Holocaust. Very beautiful, though. If you ever want to woo any little goth girls, this is your golden ticket. :thmbsp:

Great song. Yep, that's some sad bastardness.

About half of Big Star's 3rd (sometimes called Sister Lovers) is some of the most beautiful sad music ever. "Blue Moon" "Stroke it Noel" and "Nightime" especially. The other half is only slightly more up-beat.

.a droning bass played like a guitar. It's often off-key, but always sad-bastard. I'm a big fan of droney/swirly music so that influences my recommendations to some degree.


When I bought my first and only (so far) Tindersticks CD I was in in Duluth Mn, at Amoeba Music and the clerk said to me, "Boy your going to make someone happy this Christmas with a 'Tindersticks, a 'My Bloody Valentine,' and a 'Tom Waits' CD,” when I told her that they were for me she about crapped, she was thinking I had invaded her private, pink sweater, punk music, listening space!

Hey Olson,

I guess it's better than being a Rat Bastard, eh. :D

Or is it? :scratch2:

Darren, Only you would know!

How did you like the beer sampler?

Save that Sierra Nevada Bigfoot for a couple of years and your wait will be rewarded with a super super smooth Barleywine!

Moody Blues :tears:

Darren, Only you would know!

How did you like the beer sampler?

Save that Sierra Nevada Bigfoot for a couple of years and your wait will be rewarded with a super super smooth Barleywine!

It was supposed to be dmax99's beer. He was pissed I drank it all. ;) j/k

I did drink a Founders Centennial IPA though. Love those IPAs. You gonna be at the next SMAC meet? Be there or be square. :tongue:

Actually I am going to be at a Redneck Reunion in Penn that weekend, dirt bikes during the day, shooting skeet during the late afternoon and sad bastard country music & beer at night!

If the weather looks bad in Penn (we did have a hurricacane once) I will make it to the SMAC meet.

Some of my favs. off the top of my head.


Big Red Sun Blues – Lucinda Williams
Old Man – Neil Young
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
My old friend the blues – Steve Earle
California – Led Zepplin
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness – John Prine

RC

Actually I am going to be at a Redneck Reunion in Penn that weekend, dirt bikes during the day, shooting skeet during the late afternoon and sad bastard country music & beer at night!

If the weather looks bad in Penn (we did have a hurricacane once) I will make it to the SMAC meet.

Sounds like my kinda weekend.Better dig out some old George Jones....

Hasten Down The Wind ~Zevon

On The Nickel ~ Waits

Gallo del Ciello ~ Tom Russell

Idiot Wind ~ Dylan

Ruby's Two Daughters ~ Waly Wilkins

I flew Over Our House Last Night ~ Roger Miller

River ~ Joni Mitchell

Husbands & Wives ~ Roger Miller

The Sound of Music ~ Julie Andrews

Girlfriend thought I might like an Elliot Smith Cd. I did not but I would nominate his work for this thread.
opt80 mentioned Warren Zevon. On his last cd The Wind:
Knocking on heaven's door
Keep me in your heart
Townes Van Zandt:
Tecumseh Valley
Waitin' round to die
And if no one mentioned it already either Hank Williams or Cowboy Junkies version of: (like you don't already know)
I'm so lonesome I could cry

Some of my favs. off the top of my head.



California – Led Zepplin
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness – John Prine

RC

My Hi School girlfriend couldn't understand my attraction to 'California – Led Zepplin' I must have put that on to many of the assorted tapes I made her!

I am not a big Nanci Griffith fan, but I really like her version of 'Speed of the Sound of Loneliness' from Other Voices Other Rooms. Always wondered who plays bass on that tune, I thought it might be Mike Manring but never saw his name in credits??

Solid Air by John Martyn is on that list WTF! :twak:
One of Johns finest R.I.P john

Solid Air by John Martyn is on that list WTF! :twak:
One of Johns finest R.I.P john
Have to agree Modge, the playlist listed was just music I wanted to hear on different systems at AK Fest. When I want real 'Sad Bastard' John Martyn I listen to the 'Church With One Bell' CD especially the 'Strange Fruit- Sky is Crying - Glory Box' tracks.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Joy Division, American Music Club, Galaxie 500, Lucinda Williams, Dirty Three, Gram Parsons, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra, This Mortal Coil, Syd Barrett etc. All this is party music for me! :tears:

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Joy Division, American Music Club, Galaxie 500, Lucinda Williams, Dirty Three, Gram Parsons, Leonard Cohen, Tim Buckley, Neil Young, Nick Drake, Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra, This Mortal Coil, Syd Barrett etc. All this is party music for me! :tears:

Jaygee, I thought you were kidding about Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra. Went to Youtube and checked out 'Some Velvet Morning.' I remember hearing this song, but thought it was Johnny Cash singing. Interesting video for 1967!

So anyways while at Youtube I check out a couple of other versions of 'Some Velvet Morning' and end up finding a bunch of versions of a song called 'Gloomy Monday' by many different female artists. WOW talk about Sad Bastard Music!

I had a bunch of 'This Mortal Coil' CDs but sold them off years ago, they reminded me of someone I did not want to be reminded of at the time. Might have to search them out again

Here Comes a Regular - Replacements
Yesterday Is Here - Tom Waits (i'll stop there)
Someone to Pull the Trigger - Matthew Sweet
Michaelangelo - Emmylou Harris
Codeine (Waitin Around to Die)- Townes Van Zandt
Did She Jump or Was She Pushed? -- Richard and Linda Thompson (again, I'll stop)

Yesterday Is Here - Tom Waits (i'll stop there)
)

Oh yes, Mr Waits is way up there on my hit parade, will have to check out the Townes Van Zant song, the title sounds intriguing.

Thanks

The Smiths are an excellent, maybe even underrated band. Johnny Marr is an incredible guitarist. His rhythm playing is extremely imaginative. However, if already depressed, I highly advise NOT listening to Morrissey. That might just push one over the edge.

The Smiths are an excellent, maybe even underrated band. Johnny Marr is an incredible guitarist. His rhythm playing is extremely imaginative. However, if already depressed, I highly advise NOT listening to Morissey. That might just push one over the edge.

I actually get less depressed when listening to Morrissey, after realizing that somebody is more sad than I am. Plus, I think a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek to some extent. The Queen is Dead is a fantastic album that I always revisit.

I love me some Interpol and Joy Division. As for doom, Ahab and their Moby Dick inspired doom is amazing. Large sound stage is a must with Call of the Wretched Sea.:yes:

The Smiths are an excellent, maybe even underrated band. Johnny Marr is an incredible guitarist. His rhythm playing is extremely imaginative. However, if already depressed, I highly advise NOT listening to Morissey. That might just push one over the edge.

I actually get less depressed when listening to Morrissey, after realizing that somebody is more sad than I am. Plus, I think a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek to some extent. The Queen is Dead is a fantastic album that I always revisit.

"Meat Is Murder" is the tougher one for me. I still like it; but... ...a very dark sounding record. "Still Ill" from their "self-titled or Hatful of Hollow" album has this deceptively intricate, happy sounding rhythm guitar while Morrissey sings about the light at the end of the tunnel... that burns out! LOL!

"I decree today that life is simply taking and not giving
England is mine and it owes me a living
ask me why and ill spit in your eye..."

"does the body rule the mind?
or does the mind rule the body?
I DUNNO....
ask me why and ill die"

"for there are brighter sides to life
and I should know because ive seen them
but not very often"

-The Smiths 'Still Ill'

I equate "The Smiths" experience to a local newspaper printing the obituaries on bright yellow paper with a flower border... Since we all like this kind of stuff, I guess we're just sad bastards with sick minds. :D

Since we all like this kind of stuff, I guess we're just sad bastards with sick minds. :D

Yep, and I beleve that someone once said "You can't argue with a Sad Bastard with a sick mind."

I really like the first Bonnie Prince Billy release, "I see a darkness", but all of his stuff is good to my ears, going back through the Will Oldham/Palace/Palace Brothers/Bonnie Billy catalogue. I really like 'Days in the wake", which I think is the first Palace Brother's album.

Can Our Love is not the best of Tindersticks, to my ears. I really like the second album, which is sometimes just called Tindersticks II, but it might just say "Tindersticks" on it, which is also the same for the first album (also good). It's the one with Tiny Tears on it.

School is still out on the second Tindersticks but I am diggin the First Bonnie Prince Billy.

An ex gf called it Ken's slow and depressing music

just a few to add to the list

Led Zeppelin - 10 Years Gone
Jets To Brazil - Sea Anenome
1945 - Someday I'll End It All
Hush Harbor - Looking For A Ladder (predecessor to 764-Hero which also has several)
Magnolia Electric Co - North Star
Wilco - Via Chicago
My Dad Is Dea- Seven Years
Tom Verlaine - The Scientist Writes A Letter
Bob Mould - Black Sheets of Rain

don't particularly care for him but the entire Mountain Goats discography may qualify

Mr. Waits does it for sure. As does certain Neil Young, Springsteen, Depeche Mode, and Skynyrd. :tears:

The entire "Pornography" LP by The Cure.

Being a mere 25 miles north of DC and 535 sad bastards I don't need no music.
Nice to see someone form Mercedes shop here.

All of these posts about dark music and only two of Leonard Cohen. How about Boogie Street or Everybody Knows for starters. Famous Blue Raincoat mentioned earlier is classic.

Regards,

D-Ray

Suzanne by Leonard Cohen freaked me out even as a kid hearing Judy Collins sing it. (My parents liked Judy Collins, played some of her LPs from time to time). It still haunts me somehow, even though I've consciously decided to remain unconscious about the lyrics... I don't want to listen to them and fully understand them. I prefer the mood and feeling the song conjures for me.

The saddest love-lost song I know (and love) is Melt by Phil Roy. Selected lyrics (maybe I'll post the whole song in the Lyrics thread):


You’re so alive
It makes me numb
I could survive
But I don’t want to
You’re the ruby
And I’m the lead
I’m feelin’ heavy
Am I dead?


You’re not around
I’m lost
Seems all I do anymore
Is hit the sauce
But at the end
Of another glass
Is a drop of gin
And I’m sinkin’

The music and arrangement are a perfect fit. Poor, sad bastard.

River of Deceit-Mad Season
Here Comes the Flood- Peter Gabriel
Broken Barricades- Procol Harum

Dark music makes me feel good. Especially blues. Look at the lyrics at most blues, punk, lots of rock and psychedelia, country, and much of it is "downer' themed.
Bauhaus, Echo and the Bunnymen, Husker Du, Chameleons, The Catherine Wheel are some of my favorite alt rock bands.
cool thread idea

Oh crap, you picked two tunes from Bonnie, Lyle, Leo and Little Feat? You sad bastard! :D

I actually get less depressed when listening to Morrissey, after realizing that somebody is more sad than I am. Plus, I think a lot of it is tongue-in-cheek to some extent. The Queen is Dead is a fantastic album that I always revisit.

Yes there's nothing like Morrissey lyrics to put a smile on one's face.