4 Dark and Disturbing Albums From the 1970s

When one thinks of the 1970s, one often thinks about upbeat psychedelic rock and pop albums. However, the era was also known for its darker, more disturbing experimental works. Let’s take a look at a few dark albums from the 1970s that may be difficult to listen to, but are ultimately incredible pieces of art.

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‘Plastic Ono Band’ by John Lennon

This debut solo record from The Beatles’ John Lennon is quite a famous piece of work. However, it’s also loaded with darker, very sad themes. Couple that with an avant-garde sound that Lennon had come to find interest in with his wife and collaborator, Yoko Ono, and the result is a fascinating and legendary album that is not for the weak. 

Plastic Ono Band feels like a therapy session for Lennon, especially on songs like “Mother” and “Working Class Hero”. Lennon explores themes of suppressed trauma, childhood abandonment, pessimism, societal shortcomings, and a lot of emotional agony tying each song together. The way he screams on “Well Well Well” is almost shocking.

‘Suicide’ by Suicide

New wave was already in full swing by 1977, and Suicide decided to take the newest evolution of music and do something nightmarish with it. Their self-titled debut album offers insane atmospheric sounds that blend with rock music in quite an unnatural way, but it was groundbreaking at the time. The lyrics are almost psychotic, adding to the chaos of the album. “Frankie Teardrop” is one of the darker songs on this album, and “Rocket USA” is pure chaos.

‘Unknown Pleasures’ by Joy Division

This one’s a shoo-in. Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division defined angst in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and few albums from that era have stood the test of time quite like this one. Ian Curtis would go on to become the godfather of post-punk in a way. Sadly, a lot of the darker themes of struggling with mental illness found on Unknown Pleasures would warn of his eventual demise the following year.

‘Pink Moon’ by Nick Drake

This entry on our list of dark albums from the 1970s might be an odd selection at first glance, considering the pretty, folky sound of it from the get-go. However, ultimately, this album is quite disturbing. 

The lyrics of Pink Moon are melancholic and eerie, and Nick Drake is ultimately talking about a very difficult truth. The artist was suffering greatly, and this album was likely his attempt to make his pain known. Drake would later check into a facility after finishing this record, and he would sadly die by taking his own life a few months later. To really understand how dark this album is, you need to have some nuance of thought.

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