23 Comments
Mar 16, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

I won't lie I ever expected to see rammstein in the list. A nice mix of styles is always a good choice and I to like sneaking in a heavy track or 3 while zoning out with a play list.

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Exactly. It's like that slice of ginger when eating sushi. Wakes the senses up again. I'm not generally allowed to do party playlists in my house because it's all over the place in terms of vibe ;-)

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Mar 16, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

Hahaha, very much the same in my house too! It's either too heavy, too fast, depressing or weird. It's not my fault I wanna listen to a video game soundtrack from 1987, its awesome! And then yes some Metallica followed by lady gaga then Bach. I like to be challenged. Ive also been banned from playing any Tori Amos! She's depressing and weird. I don't get women sometimes, really I don't.

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Apr 25, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

I’m in Sales, so I’m definitely gonna listen to that one later. Thanks

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author

Ha - it's perfect for that ;-)

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Mar 20, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

On the basis that ‘all art aspires to music’, I never design stuff without it. I’m perhaps hoping that some of that ‘art’ will bleed through and make me better (or more accurately less bad). I tend to go with soundtracks, because I find they are good at mood setting… a particular favourite is Goblin's Zombi.

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I do like music when I'm doing design, actually...

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I used to have Radio 4 on in the background, but I ended up shouting whenever a politician was interviewed!

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Mar 18, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

Wow Rammstein came out of the blue there, but one I use for 'focus time' too. Am going to have to send you off to listen to Snail Mail, Syd Matters, and Sufjan Stevens; some of which might float your boat too.

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Excellent, thank you — I'll go have a listen!

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Mar 18, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

Describing your favourite music to people who don't know you is like describing your dreams 😆

From the incredibly little I know about you through this post, check out Ukrainian band Dhaka Braka, violinist Kishi Bashi and my current faves Beta Radio. They all have done excellent live sets on KEXP, who seem to get some indie magic on their station.

Have you done desert Island discs yet?

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author

Not yet :-) And thank you for the recommends!

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Mar 16, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

They're going to make a TV show on it - great, will definitely watch. And would like to see another installment in the series

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Mar 16, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

I kind of lose the lyrics myself when I'm driving through Boston. I have a playlist called 'Driving Music.' It's filled with jazzy metal fusion. Some of my favorites are Exivious, Sithu Aye, and Arch Echo. You have a good list. I'll be listening to those today in my truck. Here's a few from me.

https://youtu.be/gXOL8-3fc2k

https://youtu.be/7bvtzdSTfKU

https://youtu.be/IT6e-h6P7Uo

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author

Excellent, thank you — I'll check them out!

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Mar 16, 2023Liked by Michael Marshall Smith

I love reading your posts as well as people’s replies. The “woke” thing had me smiling while stranded on the side of the road and waiting for a tow truck. 😊

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author

That's good :-) And thank you!

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My late-diagnosed ASD/ADHD brain could often end up going down rabbit holes of work play-list choices, so I have fallen in with listening to Youtube tracks of "brown noise" which work well to gently tickle and soothe the fringes of my grey matter. These tracks are often processed recordings or rain and thunderstorms.

When said over-active brain threatens sleep, I find a playlist of slow central movements from Mozart piano concertos lures my brain to follow it down an interesting path and lay it down gently.

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author

I've used nature sounds like that often, too. And even cafe sounds. Haven't tried brown noise... I'll give it a go!

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But, your own words fit music so well? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnCzMtUt9nM

Thanks for another great post!

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Hey, are you ever going to do another book in the Straw Men series? I thought they were very good.

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Thank you! I did and do have ideas for another book in the series, but got sidetracked into other things... and for the last four years it's been in TV development, so I've held fire on those grounds... but it's certainly possible!

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I will! And yes, songs with lyrics in a language I can't immediately parse are great — because you get the "song" of it, without having the meaning derailing whatever it is you're trying to do. I listen to a bunch of French and German songs because of that... the mood comes through. Haven't heard Lacrimosa - will check them out, thank you!

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