48 replies to this topic

[Viktor Lanius]

Was just sitting and thinking the other day about the types of music I listen to while I sim. If there are exciting or captivating moments occuring on the ship, I tend to pick up the Independance Day soundtrack, specifically the composition entitled, "The Darkest Day". Not to mention I find the soundtrack to Star Trek: First Contact to be quite enjoyable as well.

So, what does everyone else listen to?

[Necessity]

I don't tend to listen to music when I sim/write. I find it distracting.

Generally though, I listen to a variety of stuff... mostly power/folk metal though. Blind Guardian, Helloween, Sonata Arctica, Rhapsody of Fire, Edguy/Avantasia, Hammerfall, Turisas, Korpiklaani, Kiuas etc, etc. Mostly northern European stuff.

I like more chilled stuff too... White Stripes/Mumford & Sons, Steve Earle, Seasick Steve etc.

[T'Mihn Ah'mygahn]

I listen to a mix of music. It could be the Star Trek 2009 sound track, any of the classical, or Christian alternative /rock/heavy metal /et cetera.

[KNicholotti]

I tend to listen to soundtracks/scores when writing, or something otherwise instrumental. Some of my favorites are:

Crimson Tide Score (Namely a song called Alabama)
ST: First Contact Score
The Assassination of Jesse James (Song for Bob is pretty awesome)
Halo (Unforgotten)
Titanic's Hymn to the Sea
Bach/Pachabel/Beethoven/Motzart and some remakes (The Cello Song)
Apocalyptica
Pretty much anything compsed by Hanz Zimmer

I can't sim without music...for the same reason Necessity doesn't sim with it. >.<

[T'Mihn Ah'mygahn]

The "Hero" sound track is good,or "The Last Samurai ". For space battles,Battlestar Galactica sound track from the latest series.

[Liam Frost]

Bach/Pachabel/Beethoven/Motzart and some remakes (The Cello Song)

Just saying

Edited by Liam Frost, 29 February 2012 - 01:34 PM.

[KNicholotti]

So why listen to it in other songs when you can just listen to the song in all its glory?

[Whale]

Really enjoying the Star Wars: The Old Republic soundtrack right now.

[T'Mihn Ah'mygahn]

Husband had two of the PC games whose sound track rocks. KOTOR. I and II. We haven't gotten the latest game....yet.

[Aron Kells]

I sometimes get into the spirit with T'Pau. What can I say? 80s kid, right here.

[Whale]

I sometimes get into the spirit with T'Pau. What can I say? 80s kid, right here.

I have to admit, "Heart & Soul" is one of my all-time favourite songs.

[T'Mihn Ah'mygahn]

Hadn't heard T'Pau yet. Off to find you tube vids.

[T'Mihn Ah'mygahn]

Wait I amend that,I have heard T'Pau,enjoyed them too.

[Aron Kells]

I have to admit, "Heart & Soul" is one of my all-time favourite songs.

Yep, mine, too. I don't much care for the '97 mix, but since I saw it, I've been a fan of the music video.

Wait I amend that,I have heard T'Pau,enjoyed them too.

Ah, yes, they are lovely! When I was rediscovering new wave about a year ago, I couldn't believe I didn't recognize their name!

[T'Mihn Ah'mygahn]

Amazing of how many songs are known without remembering the name of the band.

[Hannibal Parker]

Since I have about 200 movie and TV soundtracks to choose from, I am drawn to certain ones when I sim..::

1. Mission:Impossible, the first movie

2. Predator: When Parker is doing his thing....

3. StarWars-for some reason for the bar scences..

4. S.W.A.T. The Movie Soundtrack - Action scenes...

5. Aliens- For strange new worlds...

6. Star Trek The motion Picture: Klingon Theme

Those are the main ones.

[Aron Kells]

Much as I do like T'Pau, I don't listen to 'em exclusively (though there was one weekend...). Here's some random choice tidbits -- mostly rock of some sort, with some electronica --

The Alan Parsons Project is always a fave. Spacey, experimental, definitely progressive. Check out their "Greatest Hits" -- great place to begin.
'Course, I can't reference space rock without giving a shout out to Pink Floyd. The album "The Wall" is an absolute must, but also check out great songs like "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun," "Learning to Fly," and "Welcome to the Machine."
Fleetwood Mac has been one of my favorites forever and a day. The "Rumours" album is absolutely wonderful, and 1975's "Fleetwood Mac" and 1987's "Tango in the Night" are both albums worth a listen, and if you want some nice relaxing ambient songs, check out some of their very early songs, especially "Albatross," "Future Games," and "Woman of 1000 Years."
If you like FM's folky sound, try out America -- known by most for "A Horse with No Name," but I think "Ventura Highway" is a much superior song. Also, and vaguely in that area, are the Fleet Foxes, a contemporary folk-rock band, with a very earthy sound. I find them great to listen to while writing because every song tells a very wonderful story.
Ladytron is great electrosynth new wave -- any of their albums are great, but if you want to check out some songs, try "Blue Jeans," "I'm Not Scared," "CMYK," and "Aces High."
Lush was a wonderful late 80s/early 90s shoegaze rock outfit -- try "Sweetness and Light," "De-Luxe," "Scarlet," and "Light From a Dead Star" to get an idea of some of their best sounds. Shoegaze in general is a wonderful, laid-back, and often spacey-sounding genre, and very suited to the kind of writing we do here. Other bands to check out include The Daysleepers, Echo & the Bunnymen, and My Bloody Valentine.
Goldfrapp is one of my very favorites, and one of those bands that hasn't yet produced a poor album or even, in my opinion, a poor song. They're electric and, again, quite spacey at times, but don't expect any song to be like the one before. To get an idea of what they're about, check out the songs "Crystalline Green," "Strict Machine," "Utopia," "Pilots," "Dreaming," "Little Bird," "Satin Chic," and "Time Out From the World."
and, last and very much not least, Arcade Fire. Any of their albums is worth a listen, but their most recent album, 2010's "The Suburbs," is brilliant and beautiful. Definitely worth investigating if you want something with which to write, as it's listening to music and poetry at the same time.

--

I've noticed a lot of folks calling out soundtracks in this thread. If you're in the need for a few new good ones, check out radioIO Soundtracks and Cinemix -- they're both free, streaming radio stations available online or through iTunes that play only soundtracks. What I like about Cinemix in particular is that it doesn't have ads and it plays plenty of soundtracks from old movies, movies from around the world, etc -- very nice when you're looking for something new that tells a story via instruments only!

[Reinard]

I don't tend to listen to music when I sim. I find it too distracting.

Not only that but I don't have a lot of music on my machine, or even CD's to put on, so sometimes even finding something that sets the right mood in the first place is challenging.

[Jack Mancuso]

I'm a 50-50 split. Sometimes the music is just a distraction. But other times, I really find something that vibes with the mood. It just depends what I'm writing I suppose. Everyone has mentioned some decent music, and diverse as well. I am often surprised at the inspiration some music gives me. Be it the tune itself, or the lyrics. So, whatever works for you, I say just keep doing what you're doing.

[Nathan Baker]

I've put together a nice collection of Star Trek and Star Trek-esque music (classical, sci-fi soundtracks) that I usually throw on when I SIM.

My favorites when I write are:

"Stealing the Enterprise" - Star Trek III

"Battle in the Mutara Nebula"/"Genesis Countdown" - Star Trek II

"Inner Light Suite" - probably the best piece of music from TNG (aside from the music from "Best of Both Worlds")