Mood Music

[Vondy]

this is for those of us who like to have a little mood music in our games. If you know of pages with genre appropriate music links post it here.

I'll start with this page of cop show tv theme songs:

http://www.geocities.com/gordon0084/pg9.html

[Spideyguy]

The soundtrack from The Usual Suspects is also great mood music. All instrumental, so there's no lyrics to distract players. Check it out!

[Steve Long]

The Usual Suspects soundtrack is so eerily appropriate for Dark Champions games that I suspect it has magical powers. When I've used it to run, it always seems to hit just the right tone at the most dramatically appropriate moments.

[tkdguy]

So far, here's what I have lined up:

The Big O soundtrack. Some of the pieces fit right into the mood of my campaign.

Rod Stewart: The Great American Songbook. Lots of great choices there.

Lena Horne. The opening shot for my campaign is a slideshow of San Francisco (done with Movie Maker) with "stormy Weather" playing in the background.

Dave Brubeck. Because I have to include "Take Five" somewhere.

Carmina Burana. For especially dark scenarios.

[Toadmaster]

I hate these threads :tonguewav they always make me spend money on new CD's.

I'm largely a classic rock fan but for action scenes I have to say that Rob Zombie and Godsmack do a nice job of setting the mood.

Classical generally works better for background music though so,
Mars (from the Planets)
Beethovens 9th (ode to joy)
Wagner (particularly ride of the Valkeries)
The Conan sound track
The Backdraft sound track

but I tend to think of those more with FH.

Joe Satrioni's surfing with the alien is good too, again kinda nice in the background and I don't associate it with FH so much (although Hill of the skull is a great final battle against all odds piece in any genre).

AC/DC usually can find its way in too, Jailbreak, You shook me all night long, Whats next to the moon etc

:rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

Sorry just had to add a few of those guys in

[tkdguy]

We had a similar thread under Props for the game, in the Other Genres board a while back. I started talking about props in general, but Shelley and I started chatting about opera and medieval/renaissance music.

[RadeFox]

Almost all movies today have soundtracks that can be purchased, but the secret is to find and buy the Movie SCORES. THis is th background m usic for most of the sccenes ina movie, and they are godsends to the GM who has a penchant for running games with music. :rockon:

Some of the ones I've found that I really like for this genre are

Pelican Brief- Great suspense and investigation music
StarShip Troopers- Great for the Big Daddy G-men scenes with governmental involvement/entanglement
Batman/ Anything by Danny Elfman- Will cover it all from Dark Comedy to Dark Grandeur
Aliens/ And most anything by James Horner- Great stuff for both suspense and high energy chases and fights.

There are many more, but being at work, I can't recall them. Check out the soundtracks area in any big music store, and check for Scores over soundtracks. :) Game Hard!

[tkdguy]

As far as musical scores go, of course there's Conan for fantasy and Star Wars for science fiction. But for Dark Champions? I guess that depends on your scenario. I haven't been too impressed with any musical scores lately. Most of the music I plan to include in my games are old songs. Maybe more modern music will be a better fit in your campaign.

[zornwil]

I tend to think, for action hero, things like the Chemical Brothers work well.

[Lurker]

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna go out and buy myself the (magical) "Usual Suspects" Sountrack right away.

We also occasionally use music from Video and Computer Games, although except for Resident Evil 3 I can't remember any specific titles.

Any suggestions?

[Tweedle]

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna go out and buy myself the (magical) "Usual Suspects" Sountrack right away.

We also occasionally use music from Video and Computer Games, although except for Resident Evil 3 I can't remember any specific titles.

Any suggestions?

How about these:

Hitman Contracts (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00027JYIA/qid%3D1087965847/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-8663025-8759806)
The Hitcher (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003QQS/qid%3D1087965907/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-8663025-8759806)
Ghost in the Shell (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000076D8/qid=1087965963/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-8663025-8759806)
Run Lola Run (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JG17/qid%3D1087966003/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-8663025-8759806)
Blade Runner (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002IZM/qid=1087966060/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/103-8663025-8759806)

[Sketchpad]

The Ghost in the Shell PSX soundtrack is great for action :)

[ghost-angel]

For an excellent band that can run the gamut from ambient soundscapes to hardcore industrial look for Controlled Bleeding.

Most of their stuff is available in the US on the Cleopatra Label and in used stores a lot was released on the now defunct WaxTrax! label (I don't know if TVT picked up their releases and actually put them out when they purchased WaxTrax! some many years ago).

Other music Dark Champions style games could benefit from are:

Die Warzau (neat stuff, mostly industrial style)
Miles Davis and John Coltrane (hey! Jazz is good for all those rain filled scenes in the dark alleys right before it all explodes....)

and Iron Maiden, because they can fit in anywhere.

[tomd1969]

I know how much I'm going to be derided for this, so I'm putting on my flame-proof gear. I prefer metal for Dark Champions. Some examples include:

Metallica (specifically The Black Album and "And Justice For All...")
System of a Down
Rage Against the Machine

...and my mind just went blank... I can't think of any others. I'll just blame it on the late hour. :)

[Sketchpad]

After looking through my collection of music, I'd say I use some metal as well ... usually the subtle stuff ... and combine it with some industrial and instrumental scores.
For example, a usual collection for the spy genre is:
- Propellerheads
- An appropriate Bond score
- A Metal Mix CD that I have
- The Matrix Soundtrack
- The Crystal Method (usually Vegas)
- Daredevil Score

For a Street-Level supers game:
- Spiderman Score
- Daredevil Score
- Crystal Method
- Daredevil Soundtrack
- Rammstien
- POD

For Monster Hunting:
- Hellboy Score
- Resident Evil Soundtrack
- Resident Evil 2 Score
- Marylin Manson
- Apollo 440
- Metal Mix

[ghost-angel]

Not entirely Dark Champions but ... for my Cyberpunk games i've used (CP can be dark.. usually is actually)

Reagan Youth
Black Flag
Dropkick Murphy's
New York Dolls
The Clash
Bad Religion
Ramones

basically punk, old punk usually, can be really good for street level stuff. Especially dirty street level stuff that isn't at all happy.

[Killer Shrike]

For modern dark champions I like stuff like skinny puppy, industrial, non-dance trance.

I also like to go 70's funk style for that 70's street action feel from time to time.

[Killer Shrike]

Also, the three Industrial Tributes to Metallica, while of mixed worth on their own merits, make great background music for this sort of thing.

Blackest Album I, II, and III