There’s only one feeling more universal than the sensation of being in love: the soul-crushing agony and hopeless despair of being brokenhearted.

Lucky for us (and less lucky for musicians), that includes everyone capable of taking stock of their swirling emotions and channeling them into a coherent, listenable song. Whether they write to make sense of their own personal existential crises or to provide cautionary tales for the rest of us, one thing is certain: Heartbreak is far more interesting than happiness.

With Valentine’s Day propaganda in full swing, we thought it would be a good time to take a look at a few albums that wouldn’t exist if their writers hadn’t just had their tender hearts put in a blender. And while they’re all far more eloquent about it than Fred Durst, the underlying sentiment remains the same.

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