Need some cheering up? Sorry - this isn't for you
Charlie Teasdale

13:59 3rd August 2012

Everyone likes to wallow in self pity from time to time, and you can rest assured that when you do, there'll be plenty of bands and artists that can act as the perfect soundtrack to your misery.

In honour of feeling low, we've put together a list of the 25 most depressing bands and singers for you to sift through and use next time you get dumped. From depressed divas to miserable rockers - no matter what you're after, we've got the bleakest, most pessimistic artists of all time. Hurrah! And also boo hoo hoo...

So, next time you get fired, stub your toe, or your cat goes missing, look through this list for some melancholic inspiration. Enjoy. (But not too much, or that would defeat the object...)

  • Nick Cave: Soloist and Frontman of Grinderman and the Bad Seeds is famous for his miserable, monotone voice. If you can get over the misery, he''s one of the most important songwriters of his generation.

  • Radiohead: Tracks such as ''Fake Plastic Trees'' and ''How To Disappear Completely'' attest to Thom Yorke and co''s sadness. Ironically, off stage Yorke is said to be one of the funniest men in the industry.

  • Billie Holiday: One of the most influencial singers of all time, the feelings of sadness and loss were ever present in Holiday''s voice.

  • Iron and Wine: Raised in the Bible belt of America, the now agnostic singer songwriter is has been described as a "latterday prophet". Oh and he''s got a big bushy beard to hide all his sadness in.

  • The Smiths: "Heaven knows I''m miserable now..." Morrisey; truly the king of whinge.

  • City and Colour: Emo-kid fans of Alexisonfire were (nearly) happy when it turned out band member Dallas Green''s solo project was suitably miserable.

  • Perfume Genius: Second album ''Put Your Back N 2 It'' was released earlier this year, and as wonderful as it is; it''s pretty heavy going.

  • Son House: Pioneering blues singer Eddie James ''Son'' House jr was one of the first artists to use slide guitar in the genre. Listen to ''Death Letter Blues'' to beat the happiness out of you once and for all.

  • Maximillian Hecker: The German musician describes his music as ''melancholy pop hymns''. S Club Juniors this ain''t.

  • Anthony & The Johnsons: The UK-born singer is most famous for his bands Mercury Music prize winning album ''I Am a Bird Now'', featuring the track ''Hope There''s Someone.

  • Nina Simone: The ''Sinnerman'' star''s talent as a singer was discovered by accident when she auditioned for a job as a pianist and was told if she wanted it, she''d have to sing as well.

  • Martha Wainwright: Rufus'' sister was once mistaken for Cerys Matthews by N Dubz idiot, Dappy. It was both hilarious, and cripplingly embarrassing.

  • Sia: It took a collaboration with David Guetta to truly showcase Australian Singer Sia Furler''s talents to the UK. But make sure to look past that terrible song, and listen to 2004 album, ''Colour The Small One''.

  • Joy Division: The memory of one of the most important British bands of all time will always be marred by the tragic suicide of lead singer, Ian Curtis. Tracks such as ''Disorder'' and ''Isolation'' are perfect examples of their ominous electro punk sound.

  • Bright Eyes: Famous for being one of the fundamental creators of the ''Omaha Sound'', Conor Oberst''s shaky voice is synonymous with heartache and melancholy.

  • Elliot Smith: Track ''Needle in the Hay'' famously accompanied Luke Wilson''s suicide attempt scene in Wes Anderson''s film ''The Royal Tenenbaums''. It''s literally suicide music.

  • Leonard Cohen: Jeff Buckley''s rendition of ''Hallelujah'' is actually a Leonard Cohen original, so he officially wrote one of the saddest songs of all time. Well worthy of the list then...

  • Sonic Youth: Taking inspiration from The Velvet Underground and The Stooges, Sonic Youth bucked the trends of contemporaries R.E.M. and Husker Du and experiemented with free-form sounds.

  • Manic Street Preachers: The self-styled ''Generation Terrorists'' make a particularly miserable brand of political rock n roll. Listen to ''Motorcycle Emptiness'' and ''If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next''.

  • The Velvet Underground: ''Pale Blue Eyes'', ''Venus In Furs'', ''Here She Comes Now''. Need we say more?

  • The Antlers: The lo-fi folk collective''s album ''In the Attic of the Universe'' is just one long ambient track, and album ''The February Tape'' was recorded in a bath tub in an hour.

  • Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor and co are famous for bringing the ''Industrial'' sound to a mass audience, making Mr Reznor singer the icon of a previously faceless genre.

  • The Cure: Robert Smith''s ''little hairy goth'' (Ricky Gervais) appearance is as much a part of the band''s image as their gloomy misery-pop.

  • Editors: One of the main bands in the post-punk revival of the 21st Century, Editors have been compared to Joy Division and Echo and the Bunnymen.

  • Deathcab for Cutie: Lead singer and lyricist Ben Gibbard has recently announced a solo career. The ''What Sarah Said'' writer was also prolific with electro-indie outfit The Postal Service.


Photo: wenn.com