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There's a band called Dare, did an album Arc of the Dawn that is a particularly good set of relaxing music. I've been meaning to buy more albums from them. It's all ballads, but that's what I tend to listen and that album is universally calming and gentle.
But the best relaxing music doesn't have words. Ray Lynch's Deep Breakfast is likely my absolute top choice. My mother played it for me as an infant whenever I was cranky and for some reason Celestial Soda Pop still calms me down no matter what crappy mood I'm in or what sort of stress I have.
Joe Satriani can do the same thing with some of his songs. Very mellow with an electric guitar I think it is. Surprising sounds out of such a stereotyped instrument.
But more often than not, I just listen to music in a language I don't understand. Japanese music where I can just listen to the vocals, don't need to listen to a message or the thoughts behind them, just sounds coming together musically. Great to focus through.
I also really like the somber and stripped down records that Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds put out, like The Boatman's Call and No More Shall We Part.
d-usa wrote: "When the Internet sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending posters that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing strawmen. They're bringing spam. They're trolls. And some, I assume, are good people."
This is from Tiamat's 1997 album "A Deeper Kind of Slumber". The whole record is really, really good if this is the kind of thing you are looking for.
We were once so close to heaven, St. Peter came out and gave us medals; declaring us "The nicest of the damned".
“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'”
I also really like the somber and stripped down records that Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds put out, like The Boatman's Call and No More Shall We Part.
It's funny to me that we disagree on so many things, because we also agree on so many. I LOVE Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. They're probably the reason I like The National so much. Not enough Bari/Bass lead singers out there.
The new Beck album (Morning Phase--you know, the one Kanye didn't like) is super mellow too.
I'll put on Norah Jones' first album (Come Away With Me) in a pinch, as well.
cincydooley wrote: It's funny to me that we disagree on so many things, because we also agree on so many.
Funny how that works, isn't it?
I LOVE Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. They're probably the reason I like The National so much. Not enough Bari/Bass lead singers out there.
If you get the opportunity to see Nick Cave live, be sure to take it (unless you already have!) It was probably the best two hours of live music I've experienced in my life.
d-usa wrote: "When the Internet sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending posters that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing strawmen. They're bringing spam. They're trolls. And some, I assume, are good people."
"Our fantasy settings are grim and dark, but that is not a reflection of who we are or how we feel the real world should be. [...] We will continue to diversify the cast of characters we portray [...] so everyone can find representation and heroes they can relate to. [...] If [you don't feel the same way], you will not be missed"
https://twitter.com/WarComTeam/status/1268665798467432449/photo/1
Calming as in relaxing on a sunny day with nothing else to do and nothing to panic about, I tend to listen to acoustic country music, especially in summer.
For calming from stress, usually something proggy, the ultimate examples being Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' album or Marillion's 'Misplaced Childhood' (the best musical catharsis you'll ever hear, if you happen to be a poet and idealist). More recent additions to my go-to music when stressed are The Temperance Movement (best new band in years) and'Modern Blues' by The Waterboys.
For sheer blocking out of all else and transcending into pure calm, nothing can beat the opening bars of Thunder Road. As soon as that piano and harmonica start up:
Usually calm music to me is one where I just forget it's playing - so any of Johann Strauss II' waltzes qualify.
I have been recently finishing programming coursework, and guess what I've been listening to to pass the time:
Complete Lord Of The Rings + The Hobbit soundtrack compilation....oh boy 7 hours+ of epic
There's always that bit from the Fellowship of the Ring, from the piece "A Journey in the Dark", where they go through the hall of columns in Moria......and just goosebumps......most chilling 1 minute of music I've heard.
In dedicato imperatum ultra articulo mortis 
