4 ms·

I found this about 6 years ago and it has genuinely changed the way I work. I can’t listen to music that has any “real” vocals (i.e the vocals are the focus, un

by orf 5y ago

I found this about 6 years ago and it has genuinely changed the way I work. I can’t listen to music that has any “real” vocals (i.e the vocals are the focus, unlike a lot of electronic music) while programming as it distracts me. But these compilations are perfect - it lets me slip into a state of flow quicker than anything I’ve listened to before or since. It’s not particularly enjoyable in and of itself, but if I’m in a situation where I really need to get something done and focus then it’s my go-to.

philip-b 5y ago
You might also like the Groove Salad channel on https://somafm.com https://somafm.com. At least, for me music with vocals distracts, while both musicforprogramming and Groove Salad work great.
- birriel 5y ago
  SomaFM also has a station called DEF CON Radio, described as "Music for Hacking."
- vitro 5y ago
  Their Black Rock FM is also nice. What I get a kick from is when I suddenly know how to solve the problem and music changes accordingly, gives you a hacker-movie-like feel :)
- cableshaft 5y ago
  Man, I used to listen to that a bunch back in the day but forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder!
ASalazarMX 5y ago
As long as the vocals are not in a language I speak, they're fine by me. I think not understanding the vocals frees our mind to concentrate in text-based tasks. Ironically, I hate electronic and techno pump-pump-pump music, but I enjoy chiptunes, specially classic videogame soundtracks. I have to listen to them with earphones, otherwise my colleagues will think I'm playing games instead of working.
- JeanMarcS 5y ago
  For me the lyrics must not be in the language I’m thinking at that moment. I’m French, so listening to a song in english while reading in french is not a problem. But if I read something in english, then english lyrics will bother me (and vice versa)
Igelau 5y ago
Lately I've found that music by the band KISS is great for coding. The songs are energetic enough to keep me focused and awake, but not so deeply rich in composition or lyrical content that I'm going to get distracted.
- cableshaft 5y ago
  I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day (Actual lyrics)
- TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
  > not so deeply rich in composition or lyrical content KISS and rich lyrical content would be like sunshine in the shade
  - parenthesis 5y ago
    There is a Kiss album called Hot in the Shade.
  - yesenadam 5y ago
    This short clip of Lisa Lampanelli roasting Gene Simmons talks about that, and ends with maybe my favourite gag of all time: https://youtu.be/5eG5llG9uoA?t=176 https://youtu.be/5eG5llG9uoA?t=176
- fibonachos 5y ago
  I have had a similar experience with the band Ministry. High energy, drowns out any background chatter, gets me into a flow state, somehow. I think it is partially because they are not a band I really listen to for pleasure so I don’t know any of the songs particularly well, and there is a high amount of distortion in the vocals so I don’t even feel the need to try and understand. Seems counterintuitive but it works for me.
whartung 5y ago
I trend towards "progressive" rock music, which is "more music than vocals", but not purely either. As a rule, I don't "listen" to the lyrics, I've never been much for what the songs "mean". I treat the vocals as just yet another instrument in the package. Prog rock songs also tend to be long, as well as the albums. It's not untoward for me to put an album in the background and have it playing for an entire week. Sometimes I'll stream morow.com, an online prog streaming station. Currently, I'm hooked on two Genesis concerts, from '87 and '92 at Wembley, that I can't seem to get enough of. I've been playing them solid for over a month off of YouTube. Abacab from the '87 concert is particularly good.

by orf 5y ago

philip-b 5y ago

You might also like the Groove Salad channel on https://somafm.com https://somafm.com. At least, for me music with vocals distracts, while both musicforprogramming and Groove Salad work great.

birriel 5y ago
SomaFM also has a station called DEF CON Radio, described as "Music for Hacking."
vitro 5y ago
Their Black Rock FM is also nice. What I get a kick from is when I suddenly know how to solve the problem and music changes accordingly, gives you a hacker-movie-like feel :)
cableshaft 5y ago
Man, I used to listen to that a bunch back in the day but forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder!

ASalazarMX 5y ago

As long as the vocals are not in a language I speak, they're fine by me. I think not understanding the vocals frees our mind to concentrate in text-based tasks. Ironically, I hate electronic and techno pump-pump-pump music, but I enjoy chiptunes, specially classic videogame soundtracks. I have to listen to them with earphones, otherwise my colleagues will think I'm playing games instead of working.

JeanMarcS 5y ago
For me the lyrics must not be in the language I’m thinking at that moment. I’m French, so listening to a song in english while reading in french is not a problem. But if I read something in english, then english lyrics will bother me (and vice versa)

Igelau 5y ago

Lately I've found that music by the band KISS is great for coding. The songs are energetic enough to keep me focused and awake, but not so deeply rich in composition or lyrical content that I'm going to get distracted.

cableshaft 5y ago
I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day I wanna rock and roll all night and party every day (Actual lyrics)
TedDoesntTalk 5y ago
> not so deeply rich in composition or lyrical content KISS and rich lyrical content would be like sunshine in the shade
- parenthesis 5y ago
  There is a Kiss album called Hot in the Shade.
- yesenadam 5y ago
  This short clip of Lisa Lampanelli roasting Gene Simmons talks about that, and ends with maybe my favourite gag of all time: https://youtu.be/5eG5llG9uoA?t=176 https://youtu.be/5eG5llG9uoA?t=176
fibonachos 5y ago
I have had a similar experience with the band Ministry. High energy, drowns out any background chatter, gets me into a flow state, somehow. I think it is partially because they are not a band I really listen to for pleasure so I don’t know any of the songs particularly well, and there is a high amount of distortion in the vocals so I don’t even feel the need to try and understand. Seems counterintuitive but it works for me.

whartung 5y ago

I trend towards "progressive" rock music, which is "more music than vocals", but not purely either. As a rule, I don't "listen" to the lyrics, I've never been much for what the songs "mean". I treat the vocals as just yet another instrument in the package. Prog rock songs also tend to be long, as well as the albums. It's not untoward for me to put an album in the background and have it playing for an entire week. Sometimes I'll stream morow.com, an online prog streaming station. Currently, I'm hooked on two Genesis concerts, from '87 and '92 at Wembley, that I can't seem to get enough of. I've been playing them solid for over a month off of YouTube. Abacab from the '87 concert is particularly good.