When I was writing a complicated piece of computer code, I used to listen to Michail Boulton at full volume. distracted my somewhat dysfunctional frontal lobes and allowed what was left of my grey matter to fire the necessary synapses and dredge up the necessary logic.

When I'm working in PS, I haven't found a suitable alternative (the MB was on tape and since I no longer have a tape player......)

I have good luck with the Casablanca dvd, but I've played it so often, I find myself repeating the dialogue and THAT confuses me. :D :D

margaret

I just listen to the fan in the computer run..:cool:

I really find music to be somewhat distracting.

I'm with Gary in that the computer fan is my source of white noise. The cat makes "Hey XXX, how about feeding me (again)" sounds on occasion. :D

On rare occasion I'll turn on some talk radio.

If I play music, I like to listen and sing along (or pretend to), so I don't listen when I have real work to do.

I sometimes forget that the CD player on my computer works for music as well as software...

Now then, in the CAR, when my attention is only needed for Life and Death decisions -- I play my music LOUD! :)

My cable company provides 20 channels of commercial-free music which I invariably turn on first thing in the morning and turn off just to go to sleep. I normally keep it tuned to the New Age channel when I'm reading or just web-surfing, but I'll put it on the Alternative Rock channel when I'm trying to actually work.

I usually have the tv on but sometimes I fire up Rolling Stone Radio (http://www.rollingstone.com/radio/default.asp). They have quite a few channels to choose from to suit your mood.

I have the television on in the other room where I can barely hear it (why? I know not... but I find it difficult to work in complete silence.)

Sometimes I play music, sometimes not. When I'm playing, it could be just about anything, depending on my mood. It's usually classic rock, blues, jazz or bluegrass when it's on.

Ed

I much prefer silence. If I'm reading or writing, I need silence or I can't concentrate. If I'm working on a photo, I don't need the silence, but prefer it until about 5:00pm, at which point I turn on NPR news. I do sometimes put on music (I don't know how to categorize my music tastes ;) ) if I really need to "jam" on a project, but for the most part I prefer silence.

Jeanie

I love many kinds of music; but when I've had a difficult day at the office, I jump in my car and play Top Gun loud enough to shake the moon roof!

WOW!

I used to put my sun roof back and crank up Iron Maiden. :)

Now I just listen to blue grass. Guess I mellowed.

Catia

This topic is a fave of mine!

For those with no concerns about their internet bandwidth useage - 'tune in' to Australia's national youth network - JJJ.

The J's are a government sponspored, non commercial - national radio station. Part of their charter is to play a min required content of LOCAL music. From my understanding of music in the States, there is nothing like this.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/listen/
(streaming audio).

This is where the commercial radio stations get their 'original, new' music from - months after it was first heard on the J's. <g>

When I am not listening to great commercial free music on the radio, CD's are played - more on that later.


Stephen Marsh.

Stevie Nicks
Fleetwood Mac
Howard Stern

or just about any type of music......

+ television news on mute so I can glance over every now and then

Right this second I'm listening to "Echoes" (the public radio music show, not the Pink Floyd song, though that's excellent as well). It comes on a local college radio station every weeknight for two hours.

http://www.echoes.org has streaming versions of the program. They have an excellent range of music you've probably never heard before, along with artist interviews, etc. It's mostly techno/ambient/space/trance/world stuff (you know, the usual :) )

In my car, this week, Roy Orbison and a bunch of friends playing and singing back-up (Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, etc.) on some of his biggest hits (Black & White Night), and one of the Johnny Cash compilations. ("We got married in a fever, ... ) :)

Since getting ADSL just working my way through this BBC archive


http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml


and any obscure US music stations I find on..


http://www.live-radio.net/info.shtml

OK I had to put classical 'cause new age/country/old rock was not a choice -- LOL

I have the CD palyer going for work (all day) and my down time ---- PS stuff.

I listen to Enya to Pink Flyod to Alice Cooper to Urah Heep to new age to Country -- Yes even the monkees ---LOL


It depends on what I am working on the soft new age/Enya for the more focused, the "old rock" for high energy and country for some good ole fashion toe tapping listening!

OK Monkees when I want to feel 8 years old again!!!!!!!

Usually when I start something I prefer "quiet", that is, until my pooch joins me. From this point I listen to his dogmares.

Margaret wasn't Michael Bolton the chap with the long hair who used to screech a lot? Or have I got somebody else?

You have the right guy - it was the only thing that could drown out the voices in my head when the aluminum hat quit working :D :D :D :D

Margaret

I do like to listen to music when I am at the PC. Usually something British like The Fall, The Smiths etc, or sometimes I like some of the alternative American stuff (Sonic Youth, Pixies, White Stripes).

Ian

when i'm learning, i listen to classical music (typically beethoven, puccini, verdi, tchajkovskij, , rachmaninov, chopin, debussy or ravel) - i have to know the music well, otherwise i find myself listening to the music instead of learning ;) ... while programming, i prefer something loud and aggresive (malevolent creation, cannibal corpse, deicide, krabathor, slayer, metallica, mortician, etc.), and for anything else it's typically some good rock or whatever (sleater kinney, frank zappa, pj harvey, tarafuki, no doubt, queen, etc.)... also quite a good choice is subgenius' hour of slack... when i "switch off listening" to the dialogs, it's a nice "working mess" :D

Now that I have broadband, I listen mostly to magnatunes.com. It's for independent artists, you'll never hear anything you've ever heard on the radio. Totally free, and almost commercial-free (just the occasional "you're listening to magnatunes.com", and even those are done with wit). If you decide to buy any of the albums featured, the artist gets 50% of what you pay.

I listen to whatevers making noise in the background. If its the TV, then TV, if the radios on, then the radio etc. etc. I'm not easily distracted when I'm working. At the moment I'm listening to my dogs whining to go out.

My favorite music to listen to while doing restorations is the soundtrack from Amelie, soundtrack from Chocolat, ragtime, my singers/standards channel on the cable box, or big band. The soundtrack to Father of the Bride is good too. As for photo art... I can listen to everything from Verde to the Doobie Brothers to Erasure to Hot Hot Heat. Each brings out a different level of art from me. I can't work well without music. I find if I don't have music on, I only focus on all the crap in my life like bills, doctors appointments, etc. Music saves every day of my life.

Jack Johnson - great new album but I also have the old one before he was BIG here in the UK

Just bought the new James Blunt CD - Back to Bedlum

David Gray

Funny that who wrote the question use "The Boss" as an example. I have a huge music selection but usually end up in the Thunder Road area. I am a big ole' sap so it's usually something making me cry, adding emotion to my work. Country sometimes, Vivaldi, very eclectic.

"Well the screen door slams
Mary's dress waves,
Like a vision she dances across the front porch
as the radio plays
Roy Orbison is singing for the lonely
Girl it's me and I want you only.....................................

Now that brings back some memories.

First time I heard Bruce was when I bought the "Born to Run" album in Hobart (Tasmania). I was on shore leave from a ship I was working on and looking for some music to play on those long evening watches, Bruce just hit the spot.

Reading those lyrics brings back memories of warm nights as we crossed the Indian Ocean, sailing from Australia to East Africa.

radioparadise.com....
or somafm

great stuff

Radiohead usually does it :)

Big fan of pandora.com