Georg Pedersen

From Scotland — land of the Kings of 90s Sad Bastard Music, Belle & Sebastian — comes another strong entrant for Saddest Band of the 21st Century: Camera Obscura. Since 2001 they’ve cranked out four solid albums of completely depressing, yet still toe-tappingly catchy indie pop music.  

Lead singer Tracyanne Campbell probably isn’t quite in Edith Piaf territory so far as making people cry by singing the phone book, but she’ll probably make you think that everyone from Aaron Aardsman to Zachary Zavracky broke her heart in the last three months.

An example from the new album:

What? Not sad enough for you? Okay, you asked for it:

You would do well to grab some chamomile tea and stare wistfully out the window for awhile… Otherwise we will all see you cry!

Was is it with Swedish songwriters?  Maybe something about socialized medicine and six months of darkness gives you ample time to turn the sadder aspects of love and life into art.

Maple Leaves is terribly sad and oddly funny:

A very intimate version of Pocketful of Money:

They even depress themselves!

Do you like to feel badly about yourself?  Do you enjoy passing afternoons, lying in bed, sighing?  Then the Weeping Willows is the band for you!  They are the perfect soundtrack for depressing moments that need to be made MORE depressing, and are making some of the finest Sad Bastard music since Morrissey was in his prime.

Check them out if you can gather the strength to get out of bed and click a button.

www.myspace.com/weepingwillowsfansite