Recycled Love Songs

thank you SO MUCH for these songs. music is a lifesaver!!!

Time is Running Out is one of my favorite music songs. Stars at ACL!!

obviously “Excerpts from Various Notes Strewn About the Bedroom of April Connolly, Feb 24, 1997″ by Cursive deserves a place more than “The Radiator Hums.”

No Haligh, haligh, a lie, haligh by Bright Eyes? I agree about a perfect sonnet, but that song also deserves a space.

Loveless by Okay, Wrecking Ball by Interpol, (As commercial as it totally is) Linger by the Cranberries, Asleep by the Smiths, Clear the Area, Headlock, and Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap, District Sleeps Alone Tonight by the Postal Service.

Nice list… however, the greatest breakup song in the history of mankind is I am the Cosmos by Chris Bell. Chris was the Lennon to Alex Chilton’s McCartney in Big Start, and this is the title track from his only solo LP (which I believe was released after he died).

Plz avoid the horrible cover of this song by This Mortal Coil… they should have left it alone.

“Every night I tell myself I am the cosmos, I am the wind.. but that don’t get you back again.”

What about The Good Life’s “Album of the Year”? It’s a great relationship portrait with a fantastic breakup section.

[...] break-up songs Filed under: Uncategorized — ginavivinetto @ 11:33 am The Recycled Love Songs site lists Top 25 Indie Break-Up [...]

I really highly recommend “No Children” by the Mountain Goats. Its so bitter.

What about some Carissa’s Wierd? I guess that’s my choice for downer music.

c’mon, gotta be bright eyes - “its cool we can still be friends”

we still watch moooooovies… but we dont share the couch

Great list, but “Happiness is a Warm Gun” isn’t exactly a break-up song. John wrote that one within a few months of first meeting Yoko, and it doesn’t have any specific meaning per se. The title came from a magazine-article title. John thought it was just madly cool that someone would write such a title, and ran with it.

Something about hob-nailed boots as well. Jolly good, those…

/ah

“Happiness is a Warm Gun”…what a delightful story. Before I posted this list, a friend of mine said that Happiness and The Radiator Hums should be on it. I put it in the “Honorable Mention” section to please him (as he is quite musically inclined, and mourns breakups rather well). However, I will now make certain to tell him that each has received an unfavorable comment, and that he needs to get his John/Yoko shit straight.

How bout Love Will Tear Us Apart?

Elliot Smith is love! <3 I Love Waltz #2.

You should look into ‘untied’ by “The One A.M. Radio” ^_^ lol

I think also “A Comet Appears” by the Shins is a good one.

I agree with Sierra… Asleep by The Smiths is thee saddest song in the entire known universe, and yes I think it is a break up song..why not?

Seriously, no Joy Division??? Really??? Come on, really???

If you want an angry break up song, “The Night I Lost the Will to Fight” by Cursive was a standby for me at one point.

Good list but it needs ‘About Today’ by The National.

THE LAST GOODBYE - JEFF BUCKLEY

yay for having a band from my town! Lawrence, KS home of Appleseed Cast

Song For the Dumped - Ben Folds

CMON!

“Song for the Dumped” Ben Folds. Clearly.

Jets to Brazil - Perfecting Lonliness
Jeremy Enigk - Been Here before

great well thought out songs wit true heart and honestly.

jeremy enigk…prrrrrrrrrr

Ben Folds= Epic Records (this is an indie song list, but yeah, that song’s good)

You Can Live Alone Now by Hüsker Dü.

i really good song is Miserable At Best by Mayday Parade.

No Damien Rice? SERIOUSLY?

Woke Up New by The Mountain Goats deserves to be on here so much it’s not true.

“The first time I made coffee for just myself, I made too much of it. But I drank it all, just ‘cos you hate it when I let things go to waste”.

One of the best couplets ever.

jplanet will be happy to know that Aaron Hollingsworth is also out of Lawrence, Kansas. Funny coincidence.

I LOVE!!! Jeremy Enigk. This makes me so so happy that someone else realizes his genius.

The Ataris - Summer Wind Was Always Our Song

Probably the ones that get me ever time are:

Ambulance LTD - Stay Where You Are
Heavy Lifting

I would have added “Honey Honey” by Feist.

I concur. Woke up new is surely one of the greatest break up songs ever written. As is, Breaking up by Rilo Kiley although it’s not very sad.

I love Mew. Shespider is an underappreciated, yet wonderful song. good job.

A Weather is a band that specializes in breakup mourning and cure.

The whole album Cove is amazing.

“I get gone on whiskey and cocaine
cough syrup and codeine
Watch me move like nothing you’ve seen”

If you haven’t heard the song Second Best by Pedro The Lion off the record Control it would be in your best interest to give it a spin. that is if you are going through a break-up of your own.

the best break-up song EVER is the smiths - i know it`s over.

“Good Woman” from Cat Power. Pity me, fools.

thank you :o)

omg I have been looking for this blog forever. AND THE RADIATOR HUMS SHOULD BE ON THERE, NOT JUST A MENTION :[

Carry You - Jimmy Eat World

Let me second the Mountain Goats. If not Woke Up New (which could be about someone leaving for a long period of time) then you could go for Half Dead.

“It was raining outside, so I cleaned house today.
Spent half of the morning throwing old things away. Try not to get caught up; try to think like a machine. Focus in on the task, try not to think about what it means.”

I’m also a big fan of Alpha Omega.

“On the morning when you went away, the air was humid and the sky was grey. I had boiled peanuts for breakfast from Cairo, Georgia.”

Also, I think that Symmetry is a much better breakup song than Shespider…

Also! For an (amicable) breakup, seriously how can you do without The Cooper Temple Cause - Blind Pilots? It is absolutely, mindblowingly, good.

Lovely little list here, I heart it.

Pedro the Lion - The Poison

Most heartbreaking song ever!

A better Tegan & Sara song would’ve been “Call It Off”

How about “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand” - Primitive Radio Gods.
The lyrics themselves aren’t all that heartbreaking. But the music plus the sample B.B. King singing “I’ve been downhearted, baby, ever since the day we met” is.

“Bad Diary Days” by Pedro The Lion/David Bazan. Definitely.

STARVING YOUR FRIENDS by ENVY ON THE COAST is one of the saddest breakup songs of all time…listen to it!

What a great list. Thanks for posting this, especially with the links to listen to them. I’d add the album “Shoot Out the Lights” by Richard and Linda Thompson. That is a game changer, really.

great list. a great addition would be “newsflash” by windmill

Rilo Kiley - Pictures of Success
Earlimart - Happy Alone

I think these are a few I’d highly suggest, bc it also gives a sorrow but independent feeling. a silver lining, I suppose, for break ups =)

this a really good playlist, especially bon iver’s skinny love. i’ve been listening to that one a lot lately.

i think that my favorite breakup song that isn’t on this list would gotta be ‘pink bullets’ by the shins

Breaking up sucks. I would rather be punched in the face repeatedly by a 300lb sumo wrestler.

Damien Rice - Cheers Darlin

how about “the ice is getting thinner” by death cab for cutie?

Secondhand Serenade

The Everybodyfields-Lonely Anywhere
Gone Away from Me- Ray Lamontagne
The Greatest Sum- The Avett Brothers

I think that my all-time favorite song could fit on this list; Never Meant by American Football.

“I just think its best
Because you cant miss what you forget
So lets just pretend
Everything and
Anything, between you and me
Was never meant”

But I have always agreed with Your Ex-lover Is dead and Fight Song as being in the top 5 best break-up songs ever. Good list.

Oh and that Radio Dept one, such a good pick, i havent heard that song in so long, i will have to get it back on my playlists.

Radiohead - There, There
Blur - No Distance Left to Run
Yo La Tengo - Damage
Feist - Let it Die
The Beatles - Yesterday
The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes

Stay Away by The Honorary Title:
no I can’t dance ‘less it’s slow or sad
to a song that’s far less obvious
if you’re using me, do it slowly
make it last until I have to go
or stay away from, stay away from, stay away from me

I also listened to Perfect Sonnet on repeat one summer. Toxic break up, GREAT song.

Okay did anyone mention Shearwater - My Good Deed
that one tore me up for a whilee.. ahhh

Some of these selections are really good, but I wouldn’t call MUSE or RADIOHEAD or anything else that was on the Twilight soundtrack Indie.

cheer me up thankyou- new buffalo
AND THE MOST BEAUTIFULL SONG IN THE WORLD IS “apples and pairs”- slow club (youtube)……

and /.. i adore you- melpe mene

also…
the big fight- stars

Frightened rabbit - poke
Owen - The sad waltzes of Pietro Crespi

with or without you by U2.

a really good one is “nothing better” by the postal service. the lyrics are amazing, very break-up song worthy.
“Will someone please call a surgeon
Who can crack my ribs and repair this broken heart
That you’re deserting for better company”

Pretty cool. You might also check out http://band.inyourshirt.tv as we’re working on promoting lesser known bands and that sounds like something we could have fun with.

what about chicken pox by i’m from barcelona?
“you can’t have it once you’ve had it…”

what about the honorary title-everything i once had

“don’t think twice, its alright” by Dylan really should be on here

Haha. I second bright eyes - it’s cool we can still be friends.

YAY IM GONNA GET REAL FUCKIN DRUUUUNK

SECONDHAND SERENADE. Pretty much anything; It’s Not Over is sufficiently depressing, I’d say. The Last Song Ever, Goodbye, etc. But overall; much approval. Happiness Is A Warm Gun, interesting choice. I never thought of it as a break up song, but now you mention it…. =)

Hurricane Jane by Black Kids… upbeat but tinged with sadness.

“It’s Friday night and I ain’t got nobody, so what’s the use of making a bed?”

no one’s gonna love you by band of horses

Pretty good list. Especially the Ryan Adams song.
Some of these may not be indie but they sure have helped me wallow in self-pity after a nasty break up.
Wonderwall - Oasis
Guardian Angel - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Scientist/Your Love Means Everything - Coldplay
Hurt - Nine Inch Nails
Some You Give Away - La Rocca
Pioneers - Tuung
Bullet and a Target - Citizen Cope
Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

konstantine by something corporate is amazing

There’s a great song that’s about breaking up and movin’ on. It’s
called “On My Way” by “Who Are Those Guys”. You can hear for
free on their website: http://www.whoarethoseguys.com or there’s also a link to
Broadjam where you can download it.
This is the the tune crying in your beer and moving on….Thanks for listening!.

I’m so happy with this. Thank you.

Ben folds - song for the dumped

Some great tunes on here, but one question, where’s Cat Power?

Ditto @ Emily’s comment.

You’ll Miss Me - Math and Physics Club
It’s really sweet!

“thinking about you” radiohead.

*sigh*

“made in the dark” by hot chip
“all i know” the pernice brothers
“love for granted” phoenix

Check out William Fitzsimmons, he has break up song after breakup song, they are epic. “I don’t feel it anymore” is stunning.
Also City and Colour - “constant knot”.

And while your at it keep a look out for these Australian artists:

Missy Higgins (songs - the special two, warm whispers)
Angus and Julia Stone
Bob Evans (song - flame)
Whitley (song - lost in time)
George (song - special ones)

“littlest things” by lily allen is a good one.

“No Children” by The Mountain Goats and about a dozen by The Magnetic Fields.

Broken Heart by Spiritualized was able to destroy me two years ago.

the honorary title-stay away
ben folds- you dont know me
(my favorite in particulair)vvv
saves the day-rock juice tonic magic
new amsterdams- worse for wear
the get up kids-no love
Cheers to all those lonely night, eh?
Lyd.

In a way, Radiohead’s Creep.

‘Sort it Out’ by the Caesers is pretty damning. I also think ‘See you in Hell’ by Small Brown Bike is bitter and angry too. That’s how I roll after a break up or a crushing dissapoint of male kind.

The Way You Want It- Keane

so so good.

Fabulous set of songs - thank you!

Seren

none of these lists EVER mentions We Looked Like Giants by Death Cab For Cutie. it’s got me through many a break up.

3 libras - a perfect circle

“All Hail the Heartbreaker” - The Spill Canvas

… like a page from my diary if I kept a diary

How the hell is Nothing Better by The Postal Service not on here

YOU OUGHTTA KNOW - ALANIS MORISSETTE

Best breakup song

ever.

“Album of the Year” - The Good Life
“Happy in Love” - Dear & the Headlights

oh my god…crying so hard
if you here any song in your life
make is this one

Across Five Aprils[artist]- A Year From Now[song]

Instead of “A Perfect Sonnet,” I would’ve chosen “It’s Okay, We Can Still Be Friends.” It’s very directly related to this theme. But “A Perfect Sonnet” is an amazing choice too.

When I saw the Weakerthans and thought of break up songs, I thought first of Sun In An Empty Room. I love that song as a break up song.

“All My Friends”- LCD Soundsystem, “The Great Escape”- Patrick Watson, “Lose You”- Pete Yorn, “On Tour With Zykos”- Okkervil River, “Homesick”- The Vines, “Everything I Build”- The Stills, “Heartbreaker”- Metronomy

We all know there are enough sad indie songs to make a Top Billion Sad Indie Song lists. Bravo on picking a very nice 25. =]

Sunset Rubdown’s ‘Us ones in Between’ is not a breakup song, nor is happiness is a warm gun. Those are ones I know just from skimming the list. The Beatles and Muse are also not “indie” bands

Missy Higgins - where I stood

*tear*

Songs that have gotten me through heartbreak. Hope I don’t seem presumptuous for posting a long list. Also not really Indie or in playlist order, but still good… I think…

“Don’t Let It Bring You Down” - Neil Young
“She’s Not There” - Zombies
“Homesick” - Kings Of Convenience
“Honey Won’t You Let Me In” - The Tallest Man On Earth
“Breathe Me” or “The Girl You Lost To Coccaine” - Sia
“English Girls Approximately” - Ryan Adams
“Without You I’m Nothing” - Placebo
“Cannonball” - Damien Rice
“Shoulda Woulda Coulda” or “Shape Of You” - Beverley Knight
“A Million Miles Away” - Rihanna
“Allah Hu” - Faiz Ali Faiz/Chicuelo/Miguel Poveda/Duquende
“I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” - Wilco
“One” or “Save Me” - Aimee Mann
“Fuck You Lucy” - Atmosphere
“Fall To Pieces” - Velvet Revolver
“Heartbreak Hotel” - Elvis Presley
“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” Led Zeppelin
“Rosalita” - Gomez
“Hurt” - Johnny Cash (Nine Inch Nails cover)
“Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” - Nancy Sinatra
“Days Go By” - Dirty Vegas
“Don’t Walk Away” - Youssou N’Dour/Sting
“Con Te Partiro” - Andrea Bocelli (AKA “Time To Say Goodbye” - Paul Potts)
“Ribcage” or “Fugitive Motel” - Elbow
“My Favourite Game” - The Cardigans
“Somebody To Love” - Queen

also, Aicha, Layla, Adrienne, Angie (and anything with a girl’s name as a title really)

I never wanted you by David Bazan

no radiohead? “let down” hehehehe, awesome songs though =)

the format’s ‘dog problems’ should have made it past honorable mention. and the streets’ ‘dry your eyes’ should also be on there.

yeah “no children” by the mountain goats is probably my favorite break up song.

Magnetic fields-if you don’t cry.
The motels-only the lonely.

Basically any azure ray song, they are all so terribly sad and got me through a break up

probably one of the best playlists i’ve found on the internet

“Look What You’ve Done” by Jet, not really indie but matching perfectly

Hymn for the alcohol - Hefner

The ultimate in my opinion.

No distance left to run - Blur

Close second