Looking for suggestions: Mellow Music
 

I'm looking for some suggestions for some fairly mellow music - something I can put in the background and set a relaxing mood.

It can have lyrics, or can be instrumental. I'm open to just about all genres of music, but prefer a more "modern" feel...so oldies, etc. aren't preferred.

Just so you might know what I'm looking for: I've heard some really cool music that's been in Anime scores...and it fit the bill, also good was David Gilmour's new album. Some of Tracy Chapman's work really pleases me, as does Enigma for some strange reason. Pink Floyd always mellows me...

Does anyone have any suggestions?

dave matthews has some nice stuff........as does jack johnson........maybe even a couple of ben harper tunes.


i'll dial in more for ya' later.

my current chill mix is a compliation of Hem's <i>Eveningland</I>, the Garden State OST, and Nickle Creek.

I'm fond of Donald Fagen's solo work (he was in Steely Dan). Also, most fusion would work - try Spirogyra.

I recently stumbled upon this and just minimize it:

Beat Poetry with Jazz (btw anyone know the performer or title?)

Dave Brubeck or YoYo Ma is a good choice... (I especially like the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Soundtrack)

mellow (the band)
zero 7
air
gotan project
royksopp's first album
jose gonzales
elliott smith
pedro the lion
yo la tengo
dabrye
portishead
bent
ambulance ltd
bonobo
mood mosaic, mighty mellow, and ultra lounge compilations
edit: and if you need help finding any of this, just let me know

Craig Chaquico is one of my favorite artists. He plays acoustic jazz gutair. Also I recommend Tommy Emmanuel, The Rippingtons and Acoustic Alchemy. All quite relaxing!

iron and wine , elliot smith, devandra banhart, damien rice , dallas green, sigur ros, belle and sebastian, the beta band, feist, hayden, joanna newsom, joni mitchell, kaki king, my morning jacket, regina spektor, the softys, sufjan stevens, vincent gallo, wilco

Go the WWW.DI.FM and listen to the Chillout station. I listen to it when I need to get work down or just want to relax.

Also check out Groove Salad and Drone Zone stations at http://www.somafm.com .

I second Ben Harper. Check out his "Welcome to the Cruel World" album

I do like SomaFM ... but this is something I'd like to be able to put on my iPod so I can sleep while on the flights that I'm so frequently taking.

Definitely Elliott Smith. If I had to pick one album, I'd suggest 'XO'. :)

Iron and Wine
Tony Bennet and kd Lang - Wonderful World (one of my favs)
Enya
Achillea - Nine Worlds
Madeleine Peyroux (jazzy-excellent cooking music)
Emiliana Torrini

Mellow is a bit vague. The only caveat to stuff like Elliot Smith or Ben Harper is that it can be somewhat depressing. If that's fine, go ahead with that.

I'm not sure I can think of one artist whose entire body of work could be called mellow without being depressing, but there's certainly some mellow stuff out there by (as flyman mentioned) Jack Johnson. Also worth checking out are G Love and Special Sauce (particular tracks being Love, Gimme Some Lovin or Kick Drum), Red Hot Chili Peppers (tracks Warm Tape and Mellowship in Slinky B Minor), some John Mayer, Hootie & the Blowfish (sorta depends on your definition of modern) and a fair bit of Sublime (tracks to check out are Let's Go Get Stoned, Rivers of Babylon, Scarlet Begonias and Boss DJ).

And if you don't mind depressing, Death Cab for Cutie tends to be pretty subdued.

Anything unplugged and/or acoustic could also suit, depending on what you need the msic for. If it's for personal enjoyment you'll probably want to be a bit more speific but if you're looking for atmosphere type music, you can probably be pretty indiscriminate. If you want to be safe (and classy) pick up some Mason Williams.

anything by Cowboy Junkies
Aimee Mann (Magnolia Soundtrack)
Someone mentioned the Garden State soundtrack - I recommend that, too
Baraka soundtrack
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue (the quintessential mellow)
anything by Philip Glass - well, except for maybe his operas, lol

I live mellow music. I must second and third the following bands (highly recommended)

Iron & Wine
My Morning Jacket
Sigur Ros
Feist

Also...

Rufus Wainwright
Red House Painters/Sun Kill Moon (Highly recommended)
Adam Mugavero
Cat Power
Eisley
Antony And The Johnsons
Fionna Apple
The Clientele
Missy Higgins
Ray Lamontagne
Starflyer 59
Amos Lee
Tori Amos
Raul Midon
Travis
Belle & Sebastion
Grandaddy
Damien Jurardo
M83
Jenny Lewis
Badly Drawn Boy
Natalie Merchant
Counting Crows
Richard Ashcroft
Brandi Carlile
Ben Taylor
Hope Sandoval (The voice of Mazzy Star)
Martha Wainwright

Individual songs I'd reccomend

Jeff Buckley - Lilac Wine, Hallelujah
Cat Power - The Greatest
Damien Rice - Amie
Rufus Wainwright - Natasha, Poses, Dinner At Eight
Silverchair - My Favourite Thing
Red House Painters - Have You Forgotten (off the Vanilla Sky Soundtrack)
Fionna Apple - Sullen Girl, Never Is A Promise
Feist - Let It Die
Amos Lee - Arms Of A Woman
Death Cab For Cutie - Passenger Seat, Transatlantisism
Damien Jurardo - Bad Dreams
My Morning Jacket - Rollin Back, I Will Sing You Songs
Travis - Luv
Tori Amos - China
Iron & Wine - He Lays In The Riegns, Dead Mans Will, Jezebel
Ben Kweller - Butterflys
Pearl Jam - Thumbing My Way
The Verve Pipe - Half A Mind
Keane - Bedshaped

I'm drawing a blank now but I know I'll think of more.

Asta!!

I'm a big fan of Amon Tobin. It's not all chill-out music, but most of the tracks are very relaxing.

Someone said Sigur Rós already.
How about Brian Eno's works? Say, his Ambient series.

I also find Donnie Darko soundtrack good for that.

Everybody that I would have suggested has been said already, with one glaring omission:

The Kings of Convenience

I'll second The Beta Band. They've been in high rotation on my ipod for the last couple of months.

i've been listening to the firefly soundtrack alot lately. mostly mellow instrumental stuff by greg edmonson, i find it quite relaxing.

david crosby - "if i could only remember my name" is excellent

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0...CLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

1. Music Is Love
2. Cowboy Movie
3. Tamalpais High (At About 3)
4. Laughing
5. What Are Their Names
6. Traction In The Rain
7. Song With No Words (Tree With No Leaves)
8. Orleans
9. I'd Swear There Was Somebody Here

linkage

get on soulseek 156c - user name is cranxter - pm me and i'll let ya take it

Moby. Just about everything of his that isn't a club mix is good to chill to.

Also, Blue Man Group is on the average is pretty mellow.

Just picked this up. Excellent album! I've always viewed David Crosby as the weakest member of CSN&Y, but this definitely proves his talent.