Dec 18th, 2008 · Department of Eagles recently returned with its second album, In Ear Park. It's a stimulating and lively disc that conjures up precious childhood memories, evoking a sense of nostalgia, joy and, at times, melancholy. Hear a session from WXPN.
Dec 3rd, 2008 · Ra Ra Riot features swooning strings, pop hooks and sinuous rock rhythms in a session from WXPN. After the tragic death of drummer and songwriter John Pike in 2007, the recording process for The Rhumb Line proved to be cathartic. The album takes a positive outlook on the darker side of life.
Nov 25th, 2008 · The Chicago rapper's new album, 808s and Heartbreak features him singing instead of rapping, but he's filtered his vocals through the voice processing system known as Auto-Tune, an increasingly popular trend among pop artists. The result is a melancholy, intimate and decidedly quirky effort.
Nov 10th, 2008 · After the stunning array of color begins to fall in autumn, all that's left is the slow march to winter. There's something inherently melancholy about watching the leaves drop. Let these five confessionals prepare you for a season of the high lonesome — a time before a chilly mood meets the rake's progress.
Jun 3rd, 2008 · Teitur is a musician from a tiny island near Sweden. His sound? Folky pop is delivered with a twist of melancholy. Music journalist Christian Bordal has a review of Teitur's new album, The Singer.
May 28th, 2008 · As dark as it gets, "Skinny Love," with its unforgettable steel-guitar hook, is too gorgeous to function as a true downer. Shout-along fodder for melancholy late-night drives, it announces Bon Iver as a budding powerhouse, not so much promising as fully formed.
May 6th, 2008 · The music of Noble Three is filled with longing. Hearts are broken, days are lonely, promises are broken. But the Nashville, Tenn. duo tempers their melancholy with an infectious dose of finger snaps and claps, bouncing rhythms and tinkling pianos. Their debut EP, Shipwrecked, is both breezy and haunted, with gently plucked guitars and incredibly rich harmonies.
May 2nd, 2008 · With the apple-pie wholesomeness of a Norman Rockwell painting, but with a touch of melancholy, Barber created an American classic when he composed Knoxville: Summer of 1915. Carolyn Sampson sings it in concert with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.