Insert musical montage here

[alee_grrl]

In movies storytellers are able to indicate a long period of intense, often boring, overwhelming amounts of preparation and work into a musical montage, giving a hint of time and effort but focusing on inspiration. In reality two months of hard intense work is still two very long months. But, music is still inspirational and can help carry us through that long hard slog. My study soundtrack is huge as I own a rather large amount of music. But as a break from studying I thought I would do a quick top fifteen. You can listen to the mix here. Links below are to youtube videos if you prefer that form of playback. :)

1. Bottom of the River by Delta Rae


2. The Distance by Cake


3. Runnin' Down a Dream by Tom Petty


4. Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim


5. Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger


6. Sail by AWOLNATION


7. Demons by Fatboy Slim (feat. Macy Gray)


8. Hong Kong Garden by Siouxsie and the Banshies


9. Gotta Knock a Little Harder by Yoko Kanno and The Seatbelts


10. Shake it Out by Florence + the Machine


11. Vox by Sarah McLachlan


12. Odds Are by Barenaked Ladies


13. Fisherman's Blues by the Waterboys


14. Keep on Walking by Passenger


15. Brave by Sara Bareilles

Comments

[sulien]

Music is one of the things I just could not live without. I'm glad you've got some good music to inspire you and keep you going! You've got good taste, too. ;)

[alee_grrl]

You've got good taste, too. ;)

:D Thanks! Music is absolutely something I could not live without. It has always been a part of my household and life. I parents had relatively eclectic taste, and I've continued that tradition. It's often easier to describe what I don't like (things that sound more like screaming and random noise) than what I do like.

[calissa]

Some nice choices there. I am rather fond of #9 & 10.

[alee_grrl]

Thank you. Those are two of my all time favorite songs. I am a huge fan of the entire Cowboy Bebop soundtrack. It covers so many different types of music so amazingly well. Gotta Knock a Little Harder is such an excellent anthem. I also really love Ask DNA, which is another song from the movie soundtrack. Florence + the Machine are also amazing. I love both the Lungs and Ceremonials albums. So many well written, kick-ass songs. :)

[calissa]

Yoko Kanno really does some amazing work. Have you heard the Wolf's Rain soundtrack?

Ask DNA is such a great song. I'm also rather fond of No Reply and Blue.

Florance Welsch has such an amazing voice! I admit I'm a wee bit jealous.

So you don't find listening to music while studying distracting?

[alee_grrl]

I haven't heard the Wolf's Rain Soundtrack. Will have to look it up. I love Yoko Kanno's other work.

I'm right there with you on being a wee bit jealous of Florence Welsh's voice. Damn can she sing!

I find that music actually helps me focus most days. Of course I can't listen to it when I'm listening to lectures, but if I'm reading or working on practice questions it helps me focus by distracting a part of my brain that tends towards anxiety and worrying about time limits and what needs to be done still. I keep the music pretty low so that it forms more of a background distraction for that part of my brain. Some people need absolute quiet for studying, but I tend to do better with some noise.