A-M
· A Fine Frenzyhttp://www.afinefrenzy.com/"The poet's eye, in a fine frenzy rolling, doth glance from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven"
· Adelehttp://www.adele.tv/Adele pulls inspiration from failed relationships for her soulfully honest style.
· Agnes Obelhttp://www.agnesobel.com/Listing Chopin, Ravel, and Satie among her influences, Agres Obel's songs are beautiful with or without words.
· Angela McCluskeyhttp://www.angelamccluskey.com/Angela McCluskey teams up with Tryptich to create some melancholy jazz infused with hints of some of our favorite classical works.
· Antony and the Johnsonshttp://www.antonyandthejohnsons.com/Antony's highly-vibratoed voice distinctively weaves a story through each of a number of songs of melancholy.
· Arvo Pärthttp://www.arvopart.info/Estonian composer gives us pure, simple melancholy with "Spiegel im spiegel".
· Astrud Gilbertohttp://www.astrudgilberto.com/Accidentally famous jazz singer, Astrud Gilberto, is best known for "The Girl From Ipanema" and a silky smooth voice.
· Autour de Luciehttp://autourdelucie.artistes.universalmusic.fr/Autour de Lucie is smooth and refined with an occassional hint of sadness.
· Beckhttp://www.myspace.com/beckThough Beck is known for a wide variety of eclectic musical offerings, his LP, "Sea Change", is one of the finest collections of thoughtful, melancholy songs ever created.
· Billie Holidayhttp://www.cmgww.com/music/holiday/Billie Holiday's vocal style and deeply personal approach to her craft imparts melancholy like no other in her day.
· Bird Yorkhttp://www.birdyork.com/Actress, writer, singer-songwriter, Bird York wrote "In the Deep" for the movie Crash (2004).
· Brooke Fraserhttp://www.brookefraser.com/New Zealand native, Brooke Fraser, doesn't create much melancholy music, but a couple of her songs are sad and lovely.
· Coldplayhttp://www.coldplay.com/Coldplay, behind the talents of lead singer/keyboardist Chris Martin, have grown to immense popularity. Their early singles, "Touble" and "Yellow", are still our favorites.
· Conor Obersthttp://www.conoroberst.com/Conor Oberst has been in a number of bands with styles varying from Folk to Alt Country.
· Counting Crowshttp://www.countingcrows.com/Formed in 1991, this Bay area band has spanned two decades. The name comes from an ancient divination rhyme that uses magpies or crows (here in a more modern adaptation):
"Well I dreamt I saw you walking up a hillside in the snow
Casting shadows on the winter sky as you stood there, counting crows
One for sorrow, two for joy
Three for girls and four for boys
Five for silver, six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told."
· David Grayhttp://www.davidgray.com/Welsh singer-songwriter David Gray's album, "White Ladder", is him most melancholy.
· Damien Ricehttp://www.damienrice.com/Damien Rice is a quietly intense Irish singer/songwriter who has been described as "excruciatingly honest".
· Dandy Warholshttp://www.dandywarhols.com/The Dandy Warhols' alternative rock style is usually upbeat, but "Sleep" is perfectly melancholy.
· Dead Can Dancehttp://www.deadcandance.com/Dead Can Dance was the initial vehicle for Lisa Gerrard and where her Gothic, world-incluenced style first emerged.
· Dexter Gordonhttp://www.dextergordon.com/Dexter Gordon is known for being one of the first bebop tenor saxophone players, but his steamy and emotional version of "I'm A Fool To Want You" lands him in our collection of melancholy jazz artists.
· Echo Helstromhttp://www.echohelstrom.net/Echo Helstrom, the Portland band named for Bob Dylan's former girlfriend, covers Radiohead's "True Love Waits" better than the original.
· Elliott Smithhttp://www.sweetadeline.net/Paper-thin vocals and songs about rejection and disaster endear Elliott Smith to us.
· Emiliana Torrinihttp://www.emilianatorrini.com/With a breathy and pure voice accompanied by sparse instrumental treatments, Icelandic songstress, Emiliana Torrini, weaves some melancholy into her eclectic collection of songs.
· Erik Satiehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_SatieErik Satie was an eccentric classical composer whose solo piano works are stark, unique and have a hint of melancholy.
· Etta Jameshttp://www.legacyrecordings.com/artists/etta-jamesThe emotions of her sometimes troubled life come through clearly in Etta James' music.
· Frédéric Chopinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic_ChopinFrédéric Chopin composed some of the most hauntingly beautiful and melancholy pieces ever written for solo piano.
· George Joneshttp://www.georgejones.com/Problems with alcohol, bad skin, and a series of tumultuous relationships have helped George Jones become the king of country melancholy.
· Gary Juleshttp://www.garyjules.com/Gary Jule's rendition of "Mad World" is haunting and beautiful.
· Glen Hansardhttp://www.theswellseason.com/Glen Hansard quit school and began busking at age 13. His musical and acting collaboration with Markéta Irglová for the movie "Once" has made him famous.
· Hope Sandovalhttp://www.hopesandoval.com/Hope Sandoval, the shy and always seemingly melancholy former vocalist for Mazzy Star, is one of this site's favorite artists. Her work from the early to mid-1990s still stands up beautifully and her new work is interesting and carries forth her point of view as an artist.
· Howlin' Wolfhttp://www.howlinwolf.com/Howlin' Wolf is an authentic and unique blues artist. Listen to a couple songs and you'll know how he got the name.
· Ingrid Michaelsonhttp://www.ingridmichaelson.com/Ingrid Michaelson is known more for upbeat and optimistic songs, but a few of her works are less lighthearted.
· Iron and Winehttp://www.ironandwine.com/Samuel Beam's smooth vocal style and varied story lines make his songs interesting listening.
· Jenny Lewishttp://www.jennylewis.comChild actress gone musician, Jenny Lewis, teamed up with the Watson Twins for an album, "Rabbit Fur Coat". "Melt Your Heart" has a great melancholy tone and theme.
· Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafterhttp://www.jessesykes.comJesse Sykes delivers beautifully stylized alt-country melancholy.
· Joe Purdyhttp://www.joepurdy.com/Singer/songwriter Joe Purdy strikes an emotional chord through his story-telling and the achingly beautiful sincerity with which he delivers his music. His intensely personal songs are mixed with nostalgic longing, bittersweet tales of love, and hardships of the past.
· John Williamshttp://www.johnwilliamscomposer.com/While John Williams is known for blockbuster soundtracks for "Jaws", "Star Wars", "Harry Potter", "E.T.", etc etc etc, we appreciate his haunting soundtrack for "Memoirs Of A Geisha."
· Joshua Jameshttp://www.joshuajames.tv/Folk singer Joshua James gets it. "I find solace and beauty in darkness and depression."
· Juni Jarvihttp://www.junijarvi.com/Juni Jarvi an ethereal dream that gives us a couple slightly melancholy pieces.
· Kaki Kinghttp://www.kakiking.com/Georgia native, Kaki King, has a unique style of playing guitar. We love some of her instrumental pieces.
· Kansashttp://www.kansasband.com/One of the great bummer songs from the 1970s is Kansas' "Dust In The Wind".
· Kate Nashhttp://www.myspace.com/katenashmusicKate Nash at first glance appears to be a cleaner Lily Allen, but dig a little deeper and you find "Nicest Thing" which has a beauty and substance beyond Allen's work.
· Katie Herzighttp://www.katieherzig.com/Katie Herzig has some melacholy works, the best of which is "I Hurt Too."
· Lana Del Reyhttp://www.lanadelrey.com/Lana Del Rey is highly stylized with elements of the early 1960s mixed with trip-hop beats.
· Leonard Cohenhttp://www.leonardcohen.com/Leonard Cohen has had a career spanning five decades. We are partial to his later work when his voice had grown lower and his work gone darker.
· Lhasahttp://www.lhasadesela.comLhasa de Sela sang beautiful songs in Spanish, French, and English before her life ended tragically.
· Lisa Gerrardhttp://www.lisagerrardmusic.com/Known for her Gothic, world-influenced music, and amazing vocal ability, Lisa Gerrard is able to transport us to another place and time.
· Lizz Wrighthttp://www.lizzwright.net/Soulful and smooth, Lizz Wright's jazz is modern, yet timeless.
· Lowhttp://www.chairkickers.com/Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is widely known, but our collection also includes some of his lesser known Diabelli variations which simple, elegant elegies.
· Ludwig von Beethovenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_van_BeethovenBeethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" is widely known, but our collection also includes some of his lesser known Diabelli variations which are simple, elegant elegies.
· Manchester Orchestrahttp://www.themanchesterorchestra.com/us/homeManchester Orchestra draws on feelings of alienation from leader singer, Andy Hull's, "small-town-Georgia, Christian high school".
· Marissa Nadlerhttp://www.marissanadler.com/Combining both folk and ethereal dream-pop, Marissa Nadler's music is wonderful (and is slightly reminiscent of Hope Sandoval - our highest compliment).
· Matthew Ryanhttp://www.matthewryanonline.com/Still largely unknown, Matthew Ryan is sometimes folk, rock, or alt country with a hint of Tom Waits in his vocal stylings.
· Maurice Ravelhttp://www.maurice-ravel.net/Maurice Ravel's "Le Gibet" from "Gaspard De La Nuit" is a musical description of a man hanging from the gallows and is probably the most melancholy of all piano music.
· Mavis Stapleshttp://www.mavisstaples.com/Mavis Staples has been a fixture on the soul, gospel, and R&B scene since 1950.
· Mazzy Starhttp://www.mazzystar.nu/Mazzy Star, lead by Hope Sandoval's drowsily pure and painfully shy vocals, supplies us with enough slow-tempo melancholy to occupy an entire afternoon.
· Meikohttp://www.myspace.com/meikoAfter moving from rural Georgia to Los Angeles, Meiko Sheppard has begun to get noticed. She's more pop than folk, but some songs have a melancholy theme.
· Miles Davishttp://www.milesdavis.com/Miles Davis was a Jazz innovator whose style was sparse, quiet, and often melancholy in tone.
· Morrisseyhttp://www.itsmorrisseysworld.com/Former lead vocalist of The Smiths, Morrissey sings about failed relationships, hopelessness, and his bleak view of popular culture.

 
N-Z
· Nancy Sinatrahttp://www.nancysinatra.com/intro.htmlNancy Sinatra is included in our collection of melancholy songs for the Sonny Bono-written, "Bang Bang".
· Natalie Merchanthttp://www.nataliemerchant.com/Natalie Merchant exposed the simplicity of her pleasant, vulnerable vocals and piano with interludes of orchestration.
· Nazarethhttp://www.nazarethdirect.co.uk/nazareth/"Love Hurts" by Nazareth is one of the standards against which all other melancholy classic rock tunes must be measured.
· Nick Cavehttp://www.nickcaveandthebadseeds.com/Nick Cave has had a wide variety of musical styles in his career. We're featuring his movie soundtrack (instrumental) work which is beautifully melancholy.
· Nick Drakehttp://www.nickdrake.com/While Nick Drake's music failed to gain popularity during his short lifetime, he has gained wide acclaim years after his death. Drake's music is sparse, haunting, and with a hint of sadness.
· Nina Simonehttp://www.ninasimone.com/Known also as the The High Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone was an artist who drifted into the melancholy with emotion and a low, distinctive vibrato.
· Ólafur Arnaldshttp://olafurarnalds.com/Iceland native, Ólafur Arnalds' hauntingly beautiful and modern classical pieces are often melancholic.
· Paolo Nutinihttp://www.paolonutini.com/Working his way up from roadie to headliner, Paolo Nutini is now atop the UK charts.
· Patrick O'Hearnhttp://www.patrickohearn.com/Former Frank Zappa bassist, Patrick O'Hearn, turned to new age for his solo career. From those new age pieces, we've found a couple jewels.
· Patsy Clinehttp://www.patsycline.com/Patsy Cline, whose life was tragically cut short in an airplane crash in 1963, was the queen of melancholy country music with songs of broken relationships and unrequited love.
· Pink Floydhttp://www.pinkfloyd.com/Pink Floyd's rock opera, "The Wall", is one of the greatest albums of all time and a melancholy masterpiece.
· P.J. Harveyhttp://pjharvey.lucidwebs.co.uk/British singer/songwriter P.J. Harvey often dwells in a grungy melancholy.
· Rachael Yamagatahttp://www.rachaelyamagata.com/Rachael's soft and breathy style is as comforting as a Mother's voice - weathered, tender, and so beautifully unassuming.
· Radioheadhttp://www.radiohead.com/Radiohead's first hit, "Creep", set the stage for now nearly two decades of music by public schoolmates from Oxfordshire.
· Raveonetteshttp://www.theraveonettes.comWith their Lesley Gore meets the Jesus and Mary Chain sound, the Raveonettes periodically go sad, but in a cool sort of way.
· Ray LaMontagnehttp://www.raylamontagne.com/Ray's raspy vocals and introspective lyrics usually give him a folk influence, but he goes dark at times with our appreciation.
· Red House Paintershttp://www.sunkilmoon.com/Mark Kozelek leads the Red House Painters with slow, haunting guitar and lingering vocals.
· R.E.M.http://remhq.comR.E.M., the Athens, Ga band that helped spawn alternative music, has some occassional melancholy moments.
· Richard Butlerhttp://www.myspace.com/richardbutlermusicFormer Psychodelic Furs lead vocalist and painter, Richard Butler's self-titled album is superb.
· Sadehttp://www.sade.com/Sade is the greatest Jazz vocalist of her generation. Her greatest songs are melancholy and we are thankful.
· Sara Bareilleshttp://www.sarabmusic.com/Having worked her way up through school choirs and the local open mic circuit, Sara Bareilles has started to get noticed. One of her first successes, "Gravity", is one of our favorites.
· Sarah McLachlanhttp://www.sarahmclachlan.com/Lilith Fair founder, Sarah McLachlan, has been producing emotional ballads for more than two decades. Her album, "Solace", is our favorite.
· Serena Matthewshttp://www.serenamatthews.comSerena Mathews is one part folk, one part old Americana, and one part Natalie Merchant. The combination is perfection.
· Sheryl Crowhttp://www.sherylcrow.com/Sheryl Crow is known more for upbeat, popular hits, but occassionally she ventures into a sadder place, much to our delight.
· Siahttp://siamusic.netFormer Zero 7 vocalist, Sia, has made a name for herself as a solo artist. Her best works are melancholic.
· Sigur Róshttp://www.sigur-ros.co.uk/The ethereal and minimalist icelandic group many times carries a slow-core beat and high, falsetto vocals saying who knows what, but it sounds melancholy.
· Spainhttp://www.saghaug.no/spain/With simple melodies and memorable lyrics, Josh Haden leads Spain with songs of intimacy and relationships.
· The B-52'shttp://www.theb52s.com/Sometimes a melancholy song can found in the strangest place. The B-52's, the dynamic party dance band from Athens, GA, is known for upbeat dance grooves, thrift-store chic, and beehives. Still, we managed to find a melancholy piece in their library.
· The Curehttp://www.thecure.comThe Cure has been producing hits since the mid-1970s, but in their release of "Disintegration", they moved more into a realm of Gothic desperation and melancholy, just the way we like it.
· The Moody Blueshttp://www.moodyblues.co.ukThe Moody Blues was part of the original British Invasion and had a career spanning decades. All we care about is one of their songs.
· The Nationalhttp://www.americanmary.com/The National is a politically-conscious American band, whose music is polished, dark and sophisticated.
· The Perishershttp://www.perishersmusic.com/Swedish indie rock band, The Perishers, has been heard in a number of television show soundtracks.
· The Shinshttp://www.theshins.com/Known more for great songs like "Caring Is Creepy", The Shins are featured here for "Black Wave".
· The Smithshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_SmithsLead by poet/singer Morrissey and guitarist Johnny Marr, The Smiths created the best melancholy alternative music of the 1980s.
· The Twilight Sadhttp://thetwilightsad.co.uk/The Twilight Sad, whose entire collection is melancholy, is most accessible in their album, "Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did", a refined reworking of earlier, noisier material.
· The xxhttp://www.thexx.info/Sparse and reminiscent of the Cure, The xx exhibit a melancholy undertone across much of their first album.
· Tinderstickshttp://www.tindersticks.co.uk/Tindersticks feature the deep, soulful vocals of Stuart Staples and rich orchestrations that are almost always perfectly and sadly beautiful.
· Tom McRaehttp://www.tommcrae.com/Tom McRae's slow and heartfelt songs are a good listen when you're in the mood for melancholy music.
· Tori Amoshttp://www.toriamos.com/Tori Amos is a talented singer and songwriter whose songs many times include emotion and social commentary.
· Trifonichttp://www.trifonic.com/The Trifon brothers with singers Amelia June and Christina Courtin combine to create wonderfully melancholy downtempo electronica.
· Vetiverhttp://www.vetiverse.com/Vetiver gives us some melancholy with an easy, slightly folksy twang.
· William Fitzsimmonshttp://www.williamfitzsimmons.com/Talented singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons features melancholy in his smooth, breathy folk style punctuated with electronics not normally paired with folk.
· Zoe Keatinghttp://www.zoekeating.com/Former Rasputina member gone solo, Zoe Keating plays haunting contemporary works on the cello.