Lately Explosions in the Sky or Brian Eno. Or the kind of mellow Hawaiian slack key music that was always played at afternoon parties when I was a kid back in da kine.
My secret shame: The Wow Worship series.
My teenage daughter once called it “cheesy”.
My husband calls it “elevator music”.
I call it comforting. It’s like eating pudding.
The whole album, “Haunted” by Poe. I don’t know if I just found it at a terrible time in my life (true) and it was about her process of going through terrible, or what. But no matter the mood, “Haunted” is almost always the right answer.
Martyn Bennett’s Bothy Culture, and also his self titled first album. (Which is rather different than the clips would have you believe, but once I got over the differentness I began to dig the album. The snippets they chose don’t reflect the entire song’s “soul” is a way to put it.) It is a very solid first album, and I LOVE tracks one, two, three, four, six, and ten. Particularily tracks one and two. Here is a link to his official site, which has full length video clips in the media section.
If I’m depressed, I’ll listen to some Pink Floyd, or the Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. If I’m angry it’ll be something that vents my rage, like MSI or Combichrist, unless I’m upset with some type of law or government action, in which case it’s Anti-Flag all day.
It depends. If I’m sad, probably Collective Soul. If I’m angry, probably Ozzy. If I just want to chill, probably Hootie. In fact, when I sleep on the couch I fall asleep to Hootie.
Three things come to mind -
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - Certainly the best thing Hartman ever recorded, and John Coltrane displays incredible taste in his playing. I can’t find anything wrong with the world when I’m listening to this…
Cassandra Wilson - Belly of the Sun. Highly personalized arrangements of pieces that have no right working as jazz tunes, but oh, they do.
Johannes Brahms - Well, actually, lots of Brahms is just fine by me, but in particular, the last movement of the 4th Symphony - when the trombones come in solo with that exquisite chorale, no one can do me any harm (unless they interrupt!).
Listening to Lemon Jelly’s “Ramblin’ Man” at the moment. Puts me in a good mood.
Moxy Fruvous’ ‘King of Spain’ puts me in an irrationally happy mood, but for that reason I can only listen to it when I -want- to be in an irrationally happy mood.
(Totally off-topic: Been looking at this post, waiting to post it, and I’m not sure whether or not I should be hyphenating ‘irrationally happy mood’. Anyone?)
Boston by Boston (and their other stuff, but not to the same extent)
Is my “put it on repeat and crank it” if I’ve been in a fight with someone I care about or had an otherwise bad day music.
I love this topic.
When I was going through a particularly rough patch with my health several years ago, I was playing Recurring Dream, The Very Best of Crowded House so I could make it through my days at work. Even now, when I’m having a bad day or feel under the weather, I’ll play it and I feel more calm. It feels like a big hug.
I’m also enjoying their latest album, which my 2 year old likes too*.
My second choice would be the **Roxy Music ** box set or anything by The Shins (another favorite of the 2 year old).
*She’s not always that cool. She also likes Avril Lavigne, according to her babysitter (I don’t allow that shit in my home).
Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1947-1974, and particularly Disc 6 which is full of bouncy sweet fun love songs. “A Sweet Woman Like You” by Joe Tex is my favorite, and the first notes of “Teasing You” makes me smile every time.
I keep hoping to hear some of this on American Idol, but the songs are just too simple for showing off.
John Hiatt.
In the tradition of “comfort-inducing” not necessarily equalling “of good quality,” I turn to Motley Crue’s Greatest Hits for utterly mindless, forget-your-cares junk-food fun. I skip the horrid ballads.
Nick Cave’s Death is Not the End.
Well, it cheers me up.
After that…Ode to Joy. As my cite, take this clip from 1994’s Immortal Beloved, at 3:06, in particular.
Yeah. Like that.
Lamentations: Holy Week In Provence
Kind of a timely choice, too. I have to keep myself from listening to this all of the time so I don’t wear out its magic.
Marin Marais’ “Sonnerie De Sainte Genevieve Du Mont De Paris” aka “The Bells of St. Genevieve”, Holst’s “Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity” from “The Planets”, Chopin’s “Fantasie Impromptu”, or “Day Tripper” by the Beatles.
Birdhouse in your Soul-They Might Be Giants.
It is IMPOSSIBLE to stay in a bad mood with that song playing.
Delbert McClinton never fails to cheer me up. Unless he’s making me more depressed, but in a good way. Don Imus may be a jerk (he is) but 15 years ago his show introduced me to Delbert and I’ve always been grateful.
I have several, but I’ll put down Paul Simon - Rhythm of the Saints.
It’s comforting without being unbearably chirpy.