Spending Valentine’s alone was not part of the plan, but after my three-year relationship ended I find myself riding solo through the month of love. However, music became my companion, like an embrace, a place to vent, and even an escape from reality. Here are the best albums to help you get through different stages of a breakup.
Right after a breakup:
If you’re still in that raw phase of the breakup when you might feel angry or resentful, there’s no better album than Olivia Rodrigo’s debut, SOUR. The album is unapologetically direct and it has hits like “Traitor” and “Good 4 You” that will help you scream your frustrations out.
For something more reflective but just as emotional, you can listen to the ultimate breakup classic: Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. Songs like “Go Your Own Way” capture perfectly the essence of a recent breakup.
For lonely nights:
When loneliness creeps into your bed at night, put your headphones on and close your eyes to listen to Radiohead’s Kid A. This album will give you an otherworldly experience, feeling like you are all alone in space with its eerie production. Great to disconnect from reality for 47 minutes.
When you miss your ex:
Are you constantly checking your phone hoping it’s them who messaged you? Listen to Blue by Joni Mitchell. There’s nothing like this album to reflect on love lost. The album is personal, making you feel like Mitchell is narrating your own heartbreak.
Similarly, Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan delivers vulnerable emotion with poetic storytelling. Songs like “If You See Her, Say Hello” mirror perfectly the pain of love slipped away.
For moving on (or longing):
At some point, you’ll decide to either move on or hold on to the past.
All Things Must Pass by George Harrison is the perfect album for grief. Written in the wake of The Beatles’ breakup, the album reflects on loss, but remains hopeful of better things to come. It reminds you to cherish the moments behind you, and, as Liam Gallagher once sang, “don’t look back in anger,” rather learn from what’s been lived. Songs like “I Live for You” and “Sweet Lord” turn heartbreak into something almost beautiful, a life lesson rather than a loss.
Breakups are tough, but music will always be there for you, even when no one else is.