Atmosphere and Music

[Hungryfreak]

Have you ever found a listening experience better or worse based on the environment you listened to it in? Which music goes well with which settings? Does it affect you at all? This is the thread to discuss those things.

One thing I find amazing is just laying in the dark, eyes open, while listening to some good doom, funeral doom and/or drone. I've spent nights just lying on the floor like that and it really brings the experience up to a new level. The music gains a new layer of both creepiness and comfort. It really does complement the genres well. The best album I've found to work with this was The Boris/Sunn O))) album, Altar. Each song, just fit perfectly. Even if some of the songs have different moods (I'm thinking mostly of The Sinking Belle), they all just work so well with that atmosphere.

[WhiffleBallTony]

Yeah, listening to some Sunn O))) in the middle of the night when it's pitch black is crazy. It makes you feel extremely uneasy, and yet you have this sense of comfort. Over time after listening to more and more dark ambient music, it just gets you to be very comfortable in almost any situation. It's very hard to explain. I always listen to doom when sleeping. It's very relaxing to me.

[afterstasis]

absolutely.

atmosphere is one of the most important variables in deciding what i'm gonna listen to next.

[Hungryfreak]

Another atmospheric thing that comes up a lot in conjunction with music... driving...

I always find that kind of upbeat and fast paced punk or rock is best for driving. Highway Star is always one of, if not THE quintessential driving song and it definitely fits my concept of a good driving song. I don't know why upbeat works better, it just sounds nicer with it. I guess it's the carefree nature of the music that goes along with the carefree feeling of cruising along i a car across the freeway, windows rolled down, wind blowing in your hair. "The Prisoner" by Iron Maiden is also a perfect one, even in a lyrical sense.

[WhiffleBallTony]

Another atmospheric thing that comes up a lot in conjunction with music... driving...

I always find that kind of upbeat and fast paced punk or rock is best for driving. Highway Star is always one of, if not THE quintessential driving song and it definitely fits my concept of a good driving song. I don't know why upbeat works better, it just sounds nicer with it. I guess it's the carefree nature of the music that goes along with the carefree feeling of cruising along i a car across the freeway, windows rolled down, wind blowing in your hair. "The Prisoner" by Iron Maiden is also a perfect one, even in a lyrical sense.

"Running Free" by Iron Maiden is also a great song like that. When I get my first car, that is TOTALLY the first song I'm blasting on the speakers. It is absolutely perfect for that situation and if you don't know what I mean, look at the lyrics and listen to the song.

[Alright_Computer]

Well, I used to listen to Rage Against the Machine while doing my math homework...

It was pretty much the worst combination of atmosphere and music ever, besides Cannibal Corpse at a funeral.

As for good combinations, I'll get back to you on that.

[Hungryfreak]

"Running Free" by Iron Maiden is also a great song like that. When I get my first car, that is TOTALLY the first song I'm blasting on the speakers. It is absolutely perfect for that situation and if you don't know what I mean, look at the lyrics and listen to the song.

There's definitely another one. Iron Maiden is one of the few metal bands I've found with great upbeat songs.


Well, I used to listen to Rage Against the Machine while doing my math homework...

It was pretty much the worst combination of atmosphere and music ever, besides Cannibal Corpse at a funeral.

As for good combinations, I'll get back to you on that.

At leasst Cannibal Corpse is downbeat. Now, if you listened to bubblegum music at a funeral, THAT would be a bad combination *pictures "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by Ohio Express playing at a funeral*

[WhiffleBallTony]

Well, I used to listen to Rage Against the Machine while doing my math homework...

It was pretty much the worst combination of atmosphere and music ever, besides Cannibal Corpse at a funeral.

As for good combinations, I'll get back to you on that.

At my funeral, I know exactly what I want played: "Funeralopolis" by Electric Wizard. The lyrics are perfect.

[afterstasis]

At my funeral, I know exactly what I want played: "Funeralopolis" by Electric Wizard. The lyrics are perfect.

oh man, is there not a "my funeral playlist" thread on this forum?

[WhiffleBallTony]

oh man, is there not a "my funeral playlist" thread on this forum?

Okay, someone needs to make that thread. NAO!

How has this never come up?

[Hungryfreak]

We need one. I think of that all the time, haha.

It's not a morbid thing, really, I just want like thinking about which song would make a good track for my end credits sequence.

[WhiffleBallTony]

We need one. I think of that all the time, haha.

It's not a morbid thing, really, I just want like thinking about which song would make a good track for my end credits sequence.

Same here. Although, I do find death to be a very interesting, so I guess you could say I am a morbid person. One thing I do is face death with open arms and life with an open mind. I don't understand necrophobia, and doom/drone metal has helped me become at ease with things like that. It's just death. You end there. Why fear it? Once it happens, you can't have any regrets or anything, you just cease existence.

Well, this has kind of gone off track with my ramblings. Back on topic.

[Insane3]

I like to listen to Revolution 9 in the dark at full volume (with headphones). I'm kind of freaked out after the whole song. I'm ultra nervous and every sound makes me jump. lol.

Dark and silent environnement lets you grasp every detail of a song and fully concentrate on it.

[Phobophobia]

the Boris/Sunn O))) "Altar" album as you described fit the atmosphere the best. Then I would say anything by Jesu, especially Heartache and Silver.

funny, im listening to Darkthrone's "Transylvanian Hunger" right now.