Best Music for Writing Papers

[thespearkid]

I've recently noticed that it's almost impossible for me to write a paper while listening to a band I'm enjoying a lot lately. I just get too wrapped up in the music to focus. This realization eventually lead me to notice that I write the best papers while listening to Lil' Wayne or Iron & Wine. You?

[perceptrons]

I don't really have "go to" paper writing bands, but I have the same rule for all music while working, I can't be able to sing along to it.

[justletgo]

Sigur Ros.

[Alou]

Cascada...don't ask.

[rainman]

soft/background indie. I usually go with The Notwist (a German indie band). Animal Collective also works.

[TEAMRAMROD]

Explosions in the Sky, Olafur Arnalds, This is Your Captain Speaking, This Will Destroy You. Basically you can't really go wrong with post rock and/or classical type music.

[Heart-A-Tact]

I always listen to The Hold Steady. Motivates me to be a bit more creative.

[Heroin Robot]

saosin w/ AG

[Uzumaki]

I always listen to Kate Nash or Motion City Soundtrack. They calm down a lot.
Also, I like to listen to other-language music, like Silbermond (who is German) and anything in Japanese.

[Neo Cassady]

Anything instrumental or ambient...

Sigur Ros' ( )
GYBE!
Explosions in the Sky
Belye Flagi Zazhigayte Medlenno
Béla Fleck
Snowmobile
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Hammock

etc.

[alltimehoe93]

I've recently noticed that it's almost impossible for me to write a paper while listening to a band I'm enjoying a lot lately. I just get too wrapped up in the music to focus. This realization eventually lead me to notice that I write the best papers while listening to Lil' Wayne or Iron & Wine. You?
Me too.
As for the question, I listen to You Me at Six while I write papers. They keep me awake lol. Sometimes I get wrapped up in their music because I love them but for the most part, they keep me on task.

[Kaleidoscope]

the postal service.

[c_rob2700]

Angels & Airwaves. I always just forget about the stupid reverb pedal and lyrics while writing

[CTMarshall]

I listen to The Beatles' Abbey Road. I dont know why...haha.

[Schmidty Says]

I always listen to softer songs while doing any sort of homework.

Sean P. Rogan (of Big D & the Kids Table) and John Mayer always seem to be what I put on.

[Heart-A-Tact]

Death Cab's Narrow Stairs has been helping me out lately.

[tcg47]

I usually listen to something like American Football or other mellow bands while writing.

[PenThrive]

Usually something along the lines of The Cranberries - Wake up and Smell the Coffee or whatever album I'm feeling at the time. It has to be an album I can listen to straight through without skipping tracks.

[Heart-A-Tact]

I normally can't write to anything that's faster or heavier. Just doesn't put me in that mood.

[c_rob2700]

I usually just throw on Explosions In the Sky, Coldplay, or Angels & Airwaves. Just to get wrapped up in the music and ignore everything else

[Renee]

For a serious paper, nothing. If I listen to music, the time goes by at a faster rate than the words are thought , so it feels like it's taking forever.
Regular homework/bullshit essays, whatever really. I try and race against an album. I shuffle all and the first song I'm feeling is the album I'm going to play.

[5P3NC312]

I like math metal because it makes me feel smart.

[lindZ629]

Jazz helps whenever I'm doing work, otherwise I'd be too busy singing along and not getting anything done.

[speakhandsforme]

Act I of The Dear Hunter

For some reason, it's perfect for paper-writing.

[walking_by91]

Usually slower, peaceful songs. Bon Iver does the trick.

[Broclee]

Sigur Ros.

This.

[live.]

Sigur Ros.

qft motha'ucka

[Spewk]

Band of Horses.

[Shorty1227]

Classical music has always worked best for me. The soundtrack to Disney's Fantasia 2000 is riviting enough to keep you awake, and at the same time, the music motivates you.

[Heart-A-Tact]

I'm writing another research paper right now while listening to both Mogwai and Iron & Wine. Pretty enjoyable.

[viva la cymche!]

I need silence if I write an essay. But if it's like a poem or a paper that I have freedom over, Dillinger Escape Plan.

[ActionActionFan]

The Snake the Cross the Crown's Cotton Teeth

[sodamnclever]

I used to listen to Lydia all the time, but that didn't last long I found myself singing to myself more than actually writing.

Lately it's been Portugal. The Man.

[alcoholandirony]

Usually post-rock (explosions, godspeed!) or The Weakerthans/Modest Mouse. Sometimes those groups will be able to stretch my vocab a bit while I'm writing.

[spriltsc]

I have to listen to new music for some reason. I can't focus with my favorite albums/bands.

[etrox318]

I listen to classical. I've found that if I'm concentrating on the music I'm listening to I'm not concentrating on the paper enough, but yet I can't concentrate well if there isn't music on at all.

[weownthestreets]

Some might find this completely impossible to work with, but, if I already am somewhat concentrated, 65daysofstatic makes my brain juices* go wild.



*Note: This claim may or may not be scientifically valid/substantiated.

[Duexy]

Hella

[uchiha]

The Album Leaf, Hammock, Gregor Samsa, Olafur Arnalds

[blebbio]

I have to listen to new music for some reason. I can't focus with my favorite albums/bands.
It's the opposite for me because I concentrate on the music more if I've never heard it before.

[holyballs]

yea if i put on a band who i like i tend to focus too much on the music and not writing. i usually throw on a reggae/dub internet radio station and that works well.

[TotalCollapse]

Lydia

[inyoursea]

Anything along the lines of post-rock or soft and melodic. Usually varies between any of these: ETIS, The Appleseed Cast, KevDev, Joshua Radin, Moving Mountains, New Frontiers, Pompeii, etc. Basically anything I can just relax to.

[TK]

Sigur Ros
Mogwai
The Fray

[alexa_ATL]

blink 182

i wrote a 14 page paper to all my blink songs once.

i sometimes write to la rocca or stars, softer songs by them. their songs make me think, which is always helpful for a paper!

[sheslostcontrol]

The Spill Canvas have been pretty helpful lately, I write my fiction to it and have got 1 stars' (A+'s) for my last major essays with them. Also, Taylor Swift or A Fine Frenzy are good if I need to concentrate.

[phil19]

i remember i was the same. id put on one of my fav albums to listen to while im writing and before id finished the first couple of sentences im rocking out playing air drums with my pens.
in the end i learnt to listen to more mellow stuff.

[zaxophone]

i'm trying to write a paper now, and nothings working haha

[mattwysocki.com]

Sigur Ros.

Agreed, that or Radiohead. Mixed with an Adderall...

[thespearkid]

I found Elliott Smith's self-titled record to be good for writing a research paper last night.

[ashiex3]

I'm writing a paper on the movie Dante's Peak and I can't focus at all, maybe I'll listen to some Brand New.

[Rodeo]

Chopin.

[airik625]

Speaking of writing papers, I have a huge paper due on Thursday and I don't have anytime to do it because we have tennis matches on Tuesday-Thursday. Anybody have any long business papers (over any topic)?

[as_we_learn]

I don't care what anyone says, Michael Jackson is great for writing papers haha

[1021]

instrumental bands work the best. 65daysofstatic or the american dollar are both very, very good for working. not only are they enjoyable yet not distracting, but i've found that they actually help me gather my thoughts.

[FastEscape]

i ussaly listen to something that is really repetitive, or doesn't have many lyrics. Runner Runner is good. soft piano music works to, and so does Boxcar Racer.

[sheslostcontrol]

City and Colour is really good. Accoustic is best I think. nevershoutnever! is pretty nice too. Also, scores are good. Mozart, Debussy, Bach and Amelie the score XD

[nashiscash1324]

silence

[JunkyVomit]

Shadow Stabbing by Cake.

[Losthope182]

Mogwai usually helps me write if I'm stuck but generally I prefer silence.

[sheslostcontrol]

I can't work with silence. I find silence to be freakishly noisy, which sucks in exams because I always sit there just listening to the silence.

[_Andrew]

I can't work with silence. I find silence to be freakishly noisy, which sucks in exams because I always sit there just listening to the silence.

I really find it difficult to listen to music and concentrate/study/read/write anything... it's odd, but sometimes i am able to just get by...

On these odd occasions, i'll usually be listening to post-rock, or really mellow indie, like Ben Gibbard Acoustics or Bright Eyes...

[go go gadget!]

STS9 and YACHT, they're electronic/jam and work best for me because they have zero or little vocals, so I don't get distracted by lyrics. "So Post All 'Em" by YACHT is seriously amazing. I'm writing a paper listening to both of them right now aha

[sheslostcontrol]

I really find it difficult to listen to music and concentrate/study/read/write anything... it's odd, but sometimes i am able to just get by...

On these odd occasions, i'll usually be listening to post-rock, or really mellow indie, like Ben Gibbard Acoustics or Bright Eyes...

Yeah, I used to be like that. I used to get distracted at anything, but then I just switch on some Debussy or Mozart to start with and gradually as the playlist goes on I'm so into the work that the beat of the music is helping me focus. It's odd, but if it works (:

[afterthefact]

Charles Mingus works for me. Not only can I still concentrate, but I swear that it makes me smarter :)

[Broclee]

Clint Mansell's score for Requiem for a Dream is pretty good for that, too.

[the daniel]

I'd have to say Lydia, Circa Survive or Explosions in the Sky

[Greek]

I don't mind me some GY!BE

[forget_december]

copeland!

[sheslostcontrol]

Recently it's been Nevershoutnever! He's awesome, and his voice is quite soothing.

[brandnewsheep]

I usually need fast music to write to, Rise Against is my current revision favourite.
Used to get essays done really well with Common Rider.

[MILFCORE]

Explosions in the Sky

[UndertheTELE]

Tortoise-TNT
Do Make Say Think- & Yet & Yet

[Bloodsucker II]

Aphex Twin - Select Ambient Works Volume 2

Coldplay - Parachutes

The Appleseed Cast - Sagarmatha

Fear Before - The Always Open Mouth (this cd relaxes me for some reason)

[fate fails you]

taking back sunday.

[steve187]

I listen to a lot of Motion City Soundtrack, Valencia, or NFG this year when I was writing a paper.

[fishingthe_sky]

Explosions In The Sky, Hammock, This Will Destroy You, Giants, BT's "This Binary Universe," Owen, Norah Jones, Mogwai, and the National were standards for me. I also liked listening to classical, though I tend to stay away from Beethoven, simply because his dynamics aren't great for paper writing.

[PunkDrums182]

explosions in the sky

[Theseventhson]

Bach.

[LastDeclaration]

I can't have anything with lyrics going or I get distracted. GYBE! and Nobuo Uematsu (Jap composer) are my go-to niggaz for studying/writing.

[stayforawhile]

I really like just listening to classical music while working on papers.

[cscwell107]

Lydia, Copeland, City and Colour

[AlexEnglish]

anything by storm and stress.

[oncedarkness]

I really can't work while I have music playing that has lyrics.

[liarsturnmeon]

From Autumn to Ashes. Its kinda fast and angry, and usually gets me into that frantic writing pages and pages and pages thing. not so good for editing, but when you need to focus and write a lot, FATA, all the way.

[Shattered Glass]

mimicking birds

[optimusrob]

tom waits or forgive durden

[ApricotChick]

When I'm writing papers, I listen to classical because I always end up writing the lyrics or something. But when I'm doing any math related work, I don't know why, but Amy Winehouse is the only thing I can listen to. It helps me concentrate.

[Mr. Ryan]

Darkest Hour

[bailmeout13]

Wrote a thousand word essay yesterday to The Postal Service. Need nice light music.

[mattmatumbo]

I've noticed The Postal Service mentioned here quite a bit. My friend did all her poetry and such to The Postal Service.

[Overpass]

My major english work was done listening to As Tall As Lions. All the rest of my work was done with T-Pain and Chris Brown.... yeah, hiphop music works for no actual reason. Maybe it's just because i didn't want to spoil all my good music with memories of work and stuff.

[Jake Denning]

Insert Grabcore.gif.

[hbmmark]

The Twilight Motion Picture Soundtrack


...and the best part is, you can't tell if I'm serious or not.

[Jefferson Rank]

Fall of Troy.

[zac_montucky]

Gaslight Anthem. Always.

[on a frequency]

sigur rós! beautiful and not overwhelming. always always always helps me focus... actually, i can't read books unless i've got sigur rós playing on my ipod.
i like the the postal service rec too.

[Wildness774]

Jack's Mannequin

[briewer]

Ágætis Bryjun and Richard D. James Album, always.

[Tautou107]

Lydia or Radiohead for me.

[something.monic]

Bright Eyes or Elliott Smith.

I don't know, they make me feel more creative.