Does amazing music justify the grief that produced it?

jastrub · 11-19-2011, 09:02 PM

It is almost unanimously accepted in the art world that loss, despair, loneliness, alienation, fear and grief can contribute to the creation of beautifully profound finished products that would've never come into being without said negative emotions being experienced by the artist.

The most striking musical example of this is Nick Drake. Drake's first two releases (Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter) were lush and, although not lacking darkness, upbeat records oriented around Joe Boyd's slick production style and his mellow Donovan-esque songwriting. Although these two albums are quality records in my opinion, they still come off as dated, and some of the songwriting is undeniably generic. However, after the commercial and critical failure of his second album, Drake spiraled even deeper into his ever-present depression, becoming something of a recluse and declining to tour at all. This all translated into Pink Moon, a brief but utterly astounding album which expresses the existential melancholy and solace that Drake was experiencing at the time. It is, no doubt, his greatest achievement, and is one of the most profound albums I've ever listened to. After producing the record, however, Drake speedily expired (many claim that it was a result of suicide and there is sufficient evidence to back that up).

Other songwriters, such as Tom Waits and Van Morrison, produced some masterworks in times of great loneliness and despair. In a more detached way, John Lennon's solo work was greatly influenced by the alienation he felt as a child and the estrangement from his family. Would Plastic Ono Band be nearly as amazing as a record if it weren't for John's abandonment as a child? How about the entire Grunge movement? Or look at Rush. After nearly 5 years of extremely poor songwriting, Neil Peart's daughter and wife died. Facing the onset of a deep depression, Peart disappeared for some time on a cross-country bike ride to rid himself of his grief. When he finally returned into the studio, he brought with him some of his richest songwriting since the Signals/Grace Under Pressure sessions.

So what do you think? Does an amazing artistic product justify the depression and brooding despair of the individual artist?

11-19-2011, 09:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
jastrub Groupie Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 47	Does amazing music justify the grief that produced it? It is almost unanimously accepted in the art world that loss, despair, loneliness, alienation, fear and grief can contribute to the creation of beautifully profound finished products that would've never come into being without said negative emotions being experienced by the artist. The most striking musical example of this is Nick Drake. Drake's first two releases (Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter) were lush and, although not lacking darkness, upbeat records oriented around Joe Boyd's slick production style and his mellow Donovan-esque songwriting. Although these two albums are quality records in my opinion, they still come off as dated, and some of the songwriting is undeniably generic. However, after the commercial and critical failure of his second album, Drake spiraled even deeper into his ever-present depression, becoming something of a recluse and declining to tour at all. This all translated into Pink Moon, a brief but utterly astounding album which expresses the existential melancholy and solace that Drake was experiencing at the time. It is, no doubt, his greatest achievement, and is one of the most profound albums I've ever listened to. After producing the record, however, Drake speedily expired (many claim that it was a result of suicide and there is sufficient evidence to back that up). Other songwriters, such as Tom Waits and Van Morrison, produced some masterworks in times of great loneliness and despair. In a more detached way, John Lennon's solo work was greatly influenced by the alienation he felt as a child and the estrangement from his family. Would Plastic Ono Band be nearly as amazing as a record if it weren't for John's abandonment as a child? How about the entire Grunge movement? Or look at Rush. After nearly 5 years of extremely poor songwriting, Neil Peart's daughter and wife died. Facing the onset of a deep depression, Peart disappeared for some time on a cross-country bike ride to rid himself of his grief. When he finally returned into the studio, he brought with him some of his richest songwriting since the Signals/Grace Under Pressure sessions. So what do you think? Does an amazing artistic product justify the depression and brooding despair of the individual artist? __________________ We can walk our road together If our goals are all the same. We can run alone and free If we pursue a different aim. Let the truth of love be lighted, Let the love of truth shine clear. Sensibility, armed with sense and liberty, With the Heart and Mind united In a single, perfect Sphere [Links removed by moderator] And in the end, The love you take Is equal to the love you make The New Liberterian Left: Liberty, Equality, Freedom, Joy, Security, Non-Aggression, Compassion, Direct Action, Rationalism, Reverence, Respect, Socratic Questioning, Harmony, Acceptance, Institutional Change, Social individualism and economic collectivism