The Most Disturbing Rock Albums From The 1970s
English musician, singer and guitarist with the Beatles, John Lennon (1940-1980) pictured during production and filming of the British musical comedy film Help! on New Providence Island in the Bahamas on 2nd March 1965. (Photo by William Lovelace/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
When we think of the 1970s, we generally picture disco beats, psychedelic rock, and happy pop songs. But the decade also had a darker, more experimental side. Some of the best records from that time are hard to listen to, but they stay with you. Here are four albums from the 1970s that are both eerie and wonderful.
‘Plastic Ono Band’ by John Lennon
John Lennon’s first solo album, Plastic Ono Band, is a far cry from the feel-good hits of The Beatles. Instead, it’s like a personal therapy session set to music. This record dives deep into Lennon’s emotional pain—everything from childhood abandonment to deep-rooted trauma and social disillusionment.
He lets his most honest thoughts out in songs like “Mother” and “Working Class Hero.” The primal scream in “Well Well Well” is also quite chilling. Lennon made an album that is brutally honest and impossible to forget, and it’s not for the faint of heart. This album also reflected the avant-garde art influence and his work with Yoko Ono.
‘Suicide’ by Suicide
Suicide’s self-titled 1977 debut might be one of the most unsettling records of the decade. This duo took the rising new wave sound and turned it into something dystopian. Industrial synths, minimal beats, and dark, chaotic lyrics make for an eerie experience.
“Frankie Teardrop” is perhaps the most infamous track—a horrifying tale set to harsh, repetitive electronic rhythms. “Rocket USA” isn’t any lighter. The whole album sounds like the inside of a panic attack, but in the most artistically daring way possible.
‘Unknown Pleasures’ by Joy Division
You can’t talk about dark music without mentioning Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division. Released in 1979, it helped shape the post-punk movement. Ian Curtis’s vocals are distant and haunting, filled with despair and vulnerability.
Tracks like “She’s Lost Control” and “New Dawn Fades” explore themes of isolation, illness, and inner turmoil. The emotional weight of this album hits hard—especially knowing Curtis died by suicide the following year. It’s a bleak listen, but also deeply moving.
‘Pink Moon’ by Nick Drake
Nick Drake’s Pink Moon might sound soft and folky at first, but listen closely and you’ll hear the sadness woven into every note. It’s just Drake and his guitar—no flashy production, no distractions. And that stripped-back style only highlights the heartbreak.
The lyrics are ghostly and reflective. Drake was suffering quietly, and this album was likely his way of reaching out. After finishing the record, he checked into a psychiatric facility, and tragically, he died by suicide months later. Pink Moon is delicate and beautiful—but also devastating when you realize what’s behind it.
These albums might be tough to sit through, but they’re proof that music can be more than entertainment—it can be a powerful reflection of human pain, truth, and courage.
