What's the most depressive album you have ever heard? And why is it Lou Reed's Berlin?

Sometimes I would say that it's the Purple Mountains s/t, at least in recent history.
Took me a long time before I could revisit it after the initital release.
All the more so because it is not an oppressive record, the music is not depressive in that sense, it's uplifting in its resignation.
But DCB didn't make it in spite of his talent and wit and insight and community. And that hurts. A lot.

Hard to say what is the most depressing album I've heard.. I probably heard it once and didn't pursue it any further.

I'd say that the most depressing album I know and own from front to back is Joy Division's Closer, with "Isolation" being the only song on that album that is remotely uplifting.

The storyline of Berlin is depressing, for sure, but there are quite a few upbeat tunes, particularly on side one, that make it a less depressing listen for me than Closer.

In terms of sonic palette I'd probably go for some Univers Zero or Brighter Death Now, but in terms of life of the artist against the content, probably latter Jake Thackray.

Not sure about a particular album mind. Most likely Heresie for UZ.

A Crow Looked At Me. I haven't heard the whole album, but I listened to the first couple of songs and, wow, it was depressing.

Pornography, The Cure. A clichéd answer, but holy hell that album is unrelentingly bleak.

Low's Drums and Guns

Stonewall Jackson - Country

Just look up the song list. “there’s no reason to be living (since you’re gone)”

Gramsci wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 8:34 am Pornography, The Cure. A clichéd answer, but holy hell that album is unrelentingly bleak.

Shit, forgot about that one. I have it but haven't listened to it in a while.

jimmy spako wrote: Tue Feb 06, 2024 6:18 am Sometimes I would say that it's the Purple Mountains s/t, at least in recent history.

This was one of the first ones to come to mind for me as well.

I'll add Smog's "Doctor Came at Dawn" and "Watching From a Distance" by Warning.