Ten Songs for Sept. 11

I woke up this morning on the ninth anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, with a list of songs in my head.

Last year, I posted the songs that I listened to on that terrible morning.

This year, a list of songs that have helped me process what happened. Some of these are topic specific. Some help with depression and PTSD. I hope they help you if you lost someone, or if you just have trouble dealing with today. That's what music is for, right?



1) Metallica: The Day That Never Comes
Not so much the song as the video, which depicts a "traffic stop" in wartime Iraq.

2) King's X: Black Flag
Tremendously effective for depression. Thank you, Ty Tabor.

3) Porcupine Tree: Lazarus
Aching, beautiful, and from the band's superb Deadwing.

4) Bruce Springsteen: The Rising
Springsteen's 2002 album is about 9/11 from different aspects and viewpoints. Highly recommended.

5) Dream Theater: The Spirit Carries On
"Sacrificed Sons" from Octavarium deals directly with the tragedy. But this song is more uplifting and healing.

6) Rush: Peaceable Kingdom
Neil Peart uses tarot imagery to explore his thoughts on the attacks. From Vapor Trails.

7) Iron Maiden: The Longest Day
Nominally about World War II but it also asked questions about the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

8) Marillion: This is the 21st Century.
This song came out six months before 9/11.

9) U2: "Beautiful Day."
The leadoff track from All That You Can't Leave Behind helped this writer heal after 9/11.

10) Green Day: Wake Me Up When September Ends
From American Idiot. Need we say more?