My mom speaks:
Can anyone recommend some CD’s that have a non frenetic beat, somewhat soothing, but upbeat music, style doesn’t really matter, jazz, hip hop, anything? (for an almost 50, overly stressed working mom to chill out while washing dishes.) Thanks.
me again:
Yea. Thanks. And I love my mom.
Tell her to try The Divine Comedy (A Secret History - The Best Of… would be my recommendation) or Cinerama (Va Va Voom or This Is Cinerama). Trust me, these are perfectly suited for what she wants. They might be somewhat hard to find, though (i.e., you ain’t gonna see 'em at Wal-Mart, but if you’ve got any kind of independent record stores around it should be no problem).
I recently bought a double CD called Chilled Ibiza, which despite a horrifically tacky name is a very nice compilation of laid-back dance/trip-hop from the last coupleof years (Massive Attack, Groove Armada, that sort of thing). It’s British, but should be easy enough to get hold of through HMV or Tower.
Go to your favorite purveyor of fine music, find “Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ” by Peter Gabriel and let nothing stay your hand. This album covers all your bases.
Enya might be a bit TOO soporific, but she otherwise fits the bill. Very soothing. Give her best of, “Paint the Sky With Stars” a spin. Her sister is the lead singer of a similar sounding band, Clannad. Also in the “vaguely celtic” archipeligo is Loreena McKennit, whose release “The Book of Secrets” is probably a good fit.
The Dead Can Dance Ouevre might also prove rewarding. Their best-of is “A Passage in Time”.
The Cocteau Twins “Heaven or Los Vegas” is tuneful, fairly light, and upbeat, thought the singer is (purposefully) unintelligible.
How closely does she listen to lyrics? The Beautiful South have release a half-dozen+ albums of mid-tempo, pleasant sounding rock music. The caveat being that they have two basic kinds of lyrics: heart-felt paeans to the glories of growing old (When I’m 84, Perfect 10, 'Til You Can’t Tuck it In) and incredibly bitter songs of betrayal, lust, and despair (Old Red Eyes is Back, Woman in the Wall, Mini-Correct). But the music is always lovely, bright, and upbeat no matter what the lyrics.
I can’t go through a music-recomendation posting without mentioning my favorite band, XTC. For what you’re looking for, try “Apply Venus Volume 1”, “Mummer” (except for the last song, which is a real knee’s up), “Nonsuch”, and particularly “Skylaring”, a downright beautiful album.
Howabout the Beatles? Is “Sgt. Peppers” too frenetic?
For more recommendations, what’s already in the collection would be useful info, along with what bands you know she already likes or dislikes.
Also, I think most of the bands I’ve mentioned above should be available at your local record store, regardless of size. You may want to download a track or three and run 'em past your mum for a thumb’s up or down before investing.
Go to your favorite purveyor of fine music, find “Passion: Music for The Last Temptation of Christ” by Peter Gabriel and let nothing stay your hand. This album covers all your bases.
Enya might be a bit TOO soporific, but she otherwise fits the bill. Very soothing. Give her best of, “Paint the Sky With Stars” a spin. Her sister is the lead singer of a similar sounding band, Clannad. Also in the “vaguely celtic” archipeligo is Loreena McKennit, whose release “The Book of Secrets” is probably a good fit.
The Dead Can Dance Ouevre might also prove rewarding. Their best-of is “A Passage in Time”.
The Cocteau Twins “Heaven or Los Vegas” is tuneful, fairly light, and upbeat, thought the singer is (purposefully) unintelligible.
How closely does she listen to lyrics? The Beautiful South have release a half-dozen+ albums of mid-tempo, pleasant sounding rock music. The caveat being that they have two basic kinds of lyrics: heart-felt paeans to the glories of growing old (When I’m 84, Perfect 10, 'Til You Can’t Tuck it In) and incredibly bitter songs of betrayal, lust, and despair (Old Red Eyes is Back, Woman in the Wall, Mini-Correct). But the music is always lovely, bright, and upbeat no matter what the lyrics.
I can’t go through a music-recomendation posting without mentioning my favorite band, XTC. For what you’re looking for, try “Apply Venus Volume 1”, “Mummer” (except for the last song, which is a real knee’s up), “Nonsuch”, and particularly “Skylaring”, a downright beautiful album.
Howabout the Beatles? Is “Sgt. Peppers” too frenetic?
For more recommendations, what’s already in the collection would be useful info, along with what bands you know she already likes or dislikes.
Also, I think most of the bands I’ve mentioned above should be available at your local record store, regardless of size. You may want to download a track or three and run 'em past your mum for a thumb’s up or down before investing.
She doesn’t listen to lyrics. She’s currently wearing out my “Save the Last Dance” soundtrack. (and I want it back.)
Beatles are “a little too frenetic”
Thanks for the answers!
try “selected ambient works volume II” by Aphex Twin. i would assume theres a volume I too, but i’ve not heared it, so i can’t recommend it.
i probably wouldn’t recommend any other Aphex Twin, though. its a little too dark to be properly relaxing. its good, but dark and somewhat scary, from what i’ve heard.
or, as always, i’m going to recommend Death in Vegas. either album. “Dead Elvis” or “The Contino Sessions”. they’re both great. not all relaxing music, though, so Aphex Twin are probably your best bet for relaxation.
Bought one of his albums teh day i left school
best thing i ever did.
he puts me to sleep if i am in my bed, adn puts me in a funny state of mind if i am walknig about.
i love it.
most relaxing thing i have ever listened to ( on CD anyway )
well, thats about all i can say. eagleys cherry - desireless is underrated too. but Nick Drake is great
Obv. anything 60-soul related cant be bad, but i would hope you have already tried that
I recommend Ready to Die by the Notorious BIG. Upbeat songs like “Juicy” “Ready to Die” “Everyday Struggle” “Gimme the Loot” and “Suicidal Thoughts” are just perfect to groove to.
A friend of mine is named Karl Blau and he makes some very nice music. My own mother likes him very much so I am pretty sure yours will as well.
Listen to the song Blue Street it takes 5-10 seconds to download. If you like it I can tell you where to get a CD.
http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/58/karl_blau.html
If you’d like, I could let her borrow some my jazz CD’s for a week or two… I don’t really have a large collection yet, but I’ve a couple different parts of the spectrum.
Let me know…
HI,
Whether this man is singing, pop, rock, country or gospel (and he has had many #1 hits in all these categories)
,there is something in this mans voice that is so incredibly SOOTHING. All of his songs are very uplifting,easy to listen to and I guarantee you will sing along…
Who? B.J. Thomas.
Last time I checked, his second to the last release was in all the stores, it’s called B.J. Thomas/Old Fashioned Love.
Of course ANYTHING available with his greatest hits on it is always a treat.
Mom will be thrilled, trust me… 
One of my favorite slow/ambient songs is “Letting the Cables Sleep”, by Bush. It’s the only Bush song I’ve ever heard, but it’s on an album called Cafe Del Mar #7. This series of albums is a compilation of music heard in a beachside café in Ibiza, according to this site. I’ve only heard two tracks (I can send you the Bush song, if you like), but they’re both of the same soothing tempo, and it’s on my list of music to check out.
Midge Ure. The Breathe album. Absolutely calming and beautiful.
Thank you guys very, very much.
I’m printing this thread out at intervals for her, but she probably won’t be able to get out and buy any of it until Saturday. (she’s kinda a busy person.)
But at least we have a place to start looking.
Miles Davis’s “Kind of Blue” - This one of the most famous jazz records ever produced. Fun, smooth, cool, relaxing.
That’s one of CD’s I could let her borrow for a bit… I also have his “Birth of the Cool”. And some Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, and Diana Krall. I’ve also got that two CD Gershwin set–one CD is all instrumental, the other is vocal, mostly done by jazz greats (which is what I listened to this morning).
Of course, I don’t want to let go of all these for too long.
Most of the jazz suggested here would be very worthwhile, but being in your mom’s age group, I think I might have a slight clue as to what she’s craving. If you can find it, buy her “Changes” by the Modern Folk Quartet, or “Modern Folk Quartet”, both recently remastered released on CD. I think they’re available through Amazon, although via special order only. Buy them, she’ll love you for it, I promise.
My favorite chill out CD is Sade’s Greatest Hits. Her voice is so soothing, and it is a good mix of slow songs and songs that have an upbeat tempo, but nothing frantic.