Mostly when I read these days, it's while travelling (which I do too much). I have a walkman-type CD-player that also plays MP3s, so I can burn about 150-200 MP3 tracks on disc, hit random play, and not have to listen to the sound of the hotel staff, ice machine, plane engines, etc. Mostly instrumental atmospheric stuff.

I've got some "reading" MP3 discs. Here's the kind of stuff to which I was listening while reading "Criss-Cross" over the Hallowe'en weekend:

Brian Eno - In Dark Trees
Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
Charles Ives - Hallowe'en
Butch Thompson - Creepy Feeling
The Barrons' score for "Forbidden Planet"
Holst - "Mars, The Bringer of War"
Ennio Morricone's score for "Terminator 2"
Everclear - Halloween Americana
Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" (from "New Orleans Jazz Funeral")
Ron Grainer's score for "The Omega Man"
Some of the instrumental pieces from The Stones' "Their Satanic Majesties Request". Always seemed very creepy to me.
Gerry Mulligan's tracks from "The Final Programme", also the "Gandharva" LP
The soundtrack to "Performance" - very creepy stuff by Jack Nitzche, Merri Clayton, Ry Cooder, etc.

Just unusual stuff that sets the mood.

Hmm, I was thinking Holst's "The Planets" might be a good choice.

But I have a question: Ennio Morricone did a score for Terminator 2?

Hmm, I was thinking Holst's "The Planets" might be a good choice.

But I have a question: Ennio Morricone did a score for Terminator 2?

Brad Fiedel did the score for Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

Ennio Morricone did the music for the spaghetti westerns and The Mission (one of my faves).

But I have a question: Ennio Morricone did a score for Terminator 2?

No. That was Brad Fiedel.

Ken V.

Hmm, I was thinking Holst's "The Planets" might be a good choice.

But I have a question: Ennio Morricone did a score for Terminator 2?

D'Oh!

Sorry, I was having a senior moment there. As was pointed out, Morricone did NOT do the score to T2...what was I thinking.

He did do quite a few other great scores, obviously. And the T2 soundtrack is a good one.

I listen to a variety of music while reading FPW and others... My reading is normally done on the subway to and from work (1 hour each way). So, I use my iPod to tune out "people" noises.

But, I normally skip rap songs, because they have a tendancy to draw my attention away. I think it is because they are mostly spoken words and consequently more recognizable.

My preference is instrumental surfer music like Duane Eddy and the Ventures while reading. Duane Eddy has a way of fitting right in with a RJ story.

-Rip

When I'm at home, I have music on pretty much whenever I have my eyes open. If I'm not actively listening, I'll spin old rock favorites, baroque music, or ambient music. But if I've got a new Jack book in my mitts, I've made it a tradition, since CONSPIRACIES, to play the Stones' "Gimme Shelter" before I settle down to read. That, a 6 of Sam Adams, and the book...man, I'm in hog heaven.

For me, it's hard to put a finger on just one type of music so let's see what I can remember per book (in no particular order):

The Tomb: Stray Cats, Reverend Horton Heat, an a royal shitload of Type O Negative
Legacies: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and some Wagner
Conspiracies: Tool and A Perfect Circle
All the Rage: Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Rev. Horton Heat
Hosts: Marilyn Manson the Lest We Forget album
The Haunted Air: A little of everything above
Gateways: Some Jimmy Buffet, and a lot of older Aerosmith, Rev. Horton Heat, and White Zombie

That's all that I can think of at the moment.
--Jake
ps. All of that music and reading is accompanied by a case of Lone Star, a bottle of Vampire Merlot and some kickass greek food from Mina and Dini's. It reminds me of Julio's, only Greek.

For me, it's hard to put a finger on just one type of music so let's see what I can remember per book (in no particular order):

The Tomb: Stray Cats, Reverend Horton Heat, an a royal shitload of Type O Negative
Legacies: Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and some Wagner
Conspiracies: Tool and A Perfect Circle
All the Rage: Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against the Machine, Rev. Horton Heat
Hosts: Marilyn Manson the Lest We Forget album
The Haunted Air: A little of everything above
Gateways: Some Jimmy Buffet, and a lot of older Aerosmith, Rev. Horton Heat, and White Zombie

That's all that I can think of at the moment.
--Jake
ps. All of that music and reading is accompanied by a case of Lone Star, a bottle of Vampire Merlot and some kickass greek food from Mina and Dini's. It reminds me of Julio's, only Greek.

Jimmy Buffett for GATEWAYS! Yeah, that would be a good match, all right. I got into a Velvet Underground mood for CRISSCROSS and that worked almost =too=well...

I was just wondering, if you do have music in the background, what you readers of RJ are listening to (whilst reading an RJ novel, of course)?

When I read I typically don't have any music or TV playing in the background. When I post, on the other hand, I often have music playing on my computer. Right now, it's the "Excitable Boy" album (sorry, CD, guess I'm dating myself there) by warren Zevon. What a great album! I used "Lawyers, Guns and Money" as my intro theme when I was a DJ on the campus FM station back in law school.

I was just wondering, if you do have music in the background, what you readers of RJ are listening to (whilst reading an RJ novel, of course)?

I generally don't listen to music while reading, because I usually become far too engrossed in one to pay attention to the other. However, there are many songs which add well to the mood I get from Repairman Jack.

For instance, the creepier scenes in some of his experiences could fit well with several things by Midnight Syndicate, a goth/synth group. Some very creepy, spooky-vibe kind of music.

During some of Jack's fight scenes, I sense parallels to some of my heavier music (which is about 85% of my collection!). Strapping Young Lad and Machine Head are definates there.

Some of the more mystical moments in the books fit well with Tool, Dead Soul Tribe, and Pain of Salvation. Oh, and King Crimson.

I dunno. It all just depends on my mood at the time of reading and/or listening to music.

When I read I typically don't have any music or TV playing in the background. When I post, on the other hand, I often have music playing on my computer. Right now, it's the "Excitable Boy" album (sorry, CD, guess I'm dating myself there) by warren Zevon. What a great album! I used "Lawyers, Guns and Money" as my intro theme when I was a DJ on the campus FM station back in law school.

Biggles! Another Zevon fan! I've listened to him since that album came out and bought every album he made. What a loss when he died.