Music That Automatically Puts You In A Good Mood

[LeagueOfMorons]

Anyone else have a few songs, albums, or artists that will automatically, no matter what, make you feel better about your day? Whether you put it on as an intentional effort to improve your mood, or you randomly happen to hear a song and it makes everything seem a little bit better . . . know the feeling?

A few albums that will always put me in a good mood:

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang - For some reason, this album reminds me of great times gone by, the recklessness of youth, and all that nostalgic stuff. I'm a sucker for that crap.

John Mayer - Room For Squares and Heavier Things - I know, I know, the guy's a walking douchebag-with-a-guitar cliche by now, but his older stuff is just so damn earnestly cheerful. Although I actually prefer his more recent output from a musician's standpoint, the bluesiness of Continuum onward makes it more downcast, emotionally speaking.

[drock]

I know what you mean. The music swiftly pulls you up and on your feet again, then pulls you up into the air for a quick ride.

Toe - グッドバイ (Goodbye) has never failed me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eScsUXSUJ1U

[Phill]

Some Flight of the Conchords never fails to put me in a good mood.

Also, The Smiths: any songs with lyrics that depressing make me feel better instantly. (I think The Smiths go through depressing and come out on the other side, but that's probably a discussion for another topic).

[SirMustapha]

Some albums:

Chemical Chords, Stereolab -- just the first few seconds from Neon Beanbag are already enough to make me feel better. I mean, the song is called Neon Beanbag. Try to imagine what a song called Neon Beanbag sounds like and you'll understand.
Amarok, Mike Oldfield -- plain irresistible, absolutely stimulating and uplifting in all sorts of crazy ways.
The Mollusk, Ween -- this one took a while to truly sink in, but once it did... fuck!! What an amazingly stimulating album.
Heaven or Las Vegas, Cocteau Twins -- one of the most purely relaxing and upliting albums in my entire collection. Pleasant and clever songcraft.
Just a Souvenir, Squarepusher -- jazz, electronica and rock 'n' roll made for bouncing, dancing and rocking-out! Completely genius stuff.

[drock]

Some Flight of the Conchords never fails to put me in a good mood.

Indeed! Whenever I'm at a party, my friend never fails to find a guitar to strum "The Most Beautiful Girl (in the room)". Good times.

[Midnight]

This song gets me rocking out and wishing I was a knight. Whenever I hear the opening riff I have to air guitar it.

[philsov]

Five Iron Frenzy - Dandelions
Dispatch - The General

Really happy-go-lucky tunes!

[Essah]

Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook
good happy tune

Sex on Fire - Kings of Leon
Revolt III - Kent
For some reason this guitar heavy songs just gets my in a sorta energetic happy mood.

[Zanmanoodle]

Most anything by The Fratellis is insanely upbeat, especially "Chelsea Dagger".

Also, most Beatles stuff up to Sgt. Pepper's makes me happy. On the other hand, some stuff from Let it Be and the like is suicidally depressing.

A lot of early punk makes me feel better if I'm mad at something. Kick Out the Jams, m*****f***ers!

[sje46]

On the other hand, some stuff from Let it Be and the like is suicidally depressing.

Yes I'm looooonely. Wanna diiieeee. If I ain't dead already, girl you know the reason why.

Magical Mystery Tour is probably the happiest album, IMO. Even Strawberry Fields, which should be depressing, makes me happy (the music is just so good). Bluejay Way kinda makes me feel weird, but everything else makes me smile.

[cv4]

The Gaslight Anthem - American Slang - For some reason, this album reminds me of great times gone by, the recklessness of youth, and all that nostalgic stuff. I'm a sucker for that crap.

This. And any other bands I have that resemble their sound, The Hold Steady for example.

[thicknavyrain]

Might make a few eyes roll.

Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters
Dolls - Primal Scream

[Zanmanoodle]

Oh, almost forgot. A good bit of stuff by Phoenix is really upbeat. Especially "Lisztomania".

[Mighty Jalapeno]

Bif Naked - I Love Myself Today (And AWESOME video)

Andrew WK - She Is Beautiful (And HILARIOUS video)

Big Sugar - The Scene (Gordie on a scooter is bad-ass)

54-40 - Love You All (MORE THAN LI-IFE!)

Steve Burns - Mighty Little Man (Yes, the guy from Blues Clues)

[Dream]

Donkey Rhubarb.

[Mumpy]

Grizzly bear - two weeks.

and also Fakeblood, pretty much any Fakeblood.

[frogman]

Modest Mouse. Even their depressing songs (at least the ones that I've heard) seem to make me happier when I listen to them.

Listening to Nirvana makes me less angsty. It doesn't put me fully in a good mood, but it dispels most of my teenager-y feelings at that moment.

[DecemberSoul]

Korpiklaani! One can never be sad listening to folk metal about beer. EVER.

[Timey Whimey]

A good Flight Of the Conchords song always helps. Not every one of the songs is that funny, but it's funny (for example "Robots", or "Hurt Feelings"), it's REALLY funny. The two above songs have never failed to put a smile on my face.

[Dream]

The song behind this link will put you in a good mood...

...and if not, you probably identify strongly with this comic.

[Zanmanoodle]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KN2qvtosmM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To09Km0y8ic

I keep remembering songs I think should be here... here are some more. Hope they make someone happy.

[Sheikh al-Majaneen]

Metric - Gimme Sympathy does it for me. As does Lionel Richie's All Night Long. The first leaves me feeling like I might actually be living life, and the second one is just pure relaxing. 1901 will drag you out of boredom. Yellow Ledbetter is intense enough to make you forget why you are upset .

[Pez Dispens3r]

The Vandals have mended me hundreds of times. Musically, they're fucking awful, but their lyrics are sublime in their self-deprecation. They're narrated from the perspective of utterly egotistical, beautifully flawed characters that I can't help but feel my own foul mood is pure self-indulgence and unfettered vanity.

The reason that I'm calling you is to let you know I thought it through,
and after much debate in fact I guess I'll take you back.

I've heard from friends you've moved around
and maybe you have settled down
so when you get this message please call me back.

It's been a rough few years for me,
I moved back with my family.

But I'll still take you back.

[Mighty Jalapeno]

Bubbles feat. Guns & Roses - Liquor and Whores

[SANTARII]

Always In The Season by Pomplamoose.
Grace Kelly by Mika
Music For A Found Harmonium
Hahahahaha.
I was actually in a bad mood, been in one a few days, this thread reminded music really brightens my mood, I keep forgetting that...

[Amie]

John Butler Trio - Ocean
Anything by AndyMcKee

[Cheburashka]

Almost anything by Kalevala- Kseniya's voice is so sweet, and the accordion is great For examples, Miliy and Kalevala
Arkona's Yarilo and Viydu ya na volyushku
Rossomahaar's Bloodred Utopia (if only for the very ending... "toot toot" )

[Adacore]

Feeder pretty much always puts me in a good mood. The Capes even more so; they have insanely crazy-happy songs (although the lyrics are quite dark).

[aylalalalalala]

I have a kind of weird collection of happy music - either brings back good memories, makes me want to dance or is funky awesome
jamiroquai - canned heat
anyone playing - play that funky music white boy
deftones - 7 words
tool - aenima
nina simone - feelin' good
incubus - drive/ pardon me/ make yourself/ antigravity lovesong/ battlestar scratchalatchia - most of their earlier albums really
filter - take a picture
eagle eye cherry - save tonight
datarock - computer camp love
ohhhh i think most music i like makes me happy ... so i'll stop before my list reaches epic proportions

[dubsola]

Some Flight of the Conchords never fails to put me in a good mood.

Yep, they are pretty hilarious, and fun.

jamiroquai - canned heat

I always think of that scene in Napolean Dynamite and yeah, that puts me in a good mood.

My pick - Pointer Sisters - Automatic. Amazing video from an old Soul Train episode. Huge tune. And for those of us who are older than 20, the Pointer Sisters were also responsible for the Sesame Street 12345678910112 tune that played over the cartoon pinball sequence.

[InfamousAnarchist]

Metric - Gimme Sympathy does it for me.

Uh, wow. I came in here to post that. Keane works very well, too. They neutralize moods, so if you're angry or sad, their music makes you okay. They are pretty much that one Chainsawsuit.

EDIT: Oh my god. I forgot Patrick Wolf's The Magic Position!

[Sheikh al-Majaneen]

Metric - Gimme Sympathy does it for me.

Uh, wow. I came in here to post that.

That's curious, I'm also an unfamous anarchist! Even I am barely aware of it.

[LeagueOfMorons]

Wow, I really liked that Metric tune. I can definitely see why it's in this thread. Good stuff.

Something else I've learned is that I can't listen to the album Downward Is Heavenward by Hum without it improving my mood greatly. Something about its mix of heaviness and major-key sing-along-osity just never fails to put a big grin on my face. Here's the opening track, Isle Of The Cheetah.

[mandachan]

It depends on my mood what makes me feel better, but a lot of times I want some really upbeat rock or something of the like. I found that listening to the Dropkick Murphys on the way to away softball games put me in a pretty good mood.

I also shamefully admit to having a "mushy crap" playlist on my iPod that always makes me feel better when I'm in a self-deprecating or otherwise emo-esque mood.

Sometimes, I'm just in such a bad/pissed-off/whatever mood that I don't want music that'll make me feel better. Like when I had gotten into a fight with a friend at his house, turned on an alternative rock station to drive home and Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds" came on blasting "Don't worry 'bout a thing / 'Cause every little thing is gonna be alright!" That actually made it worse.

[Dave_Wise]

Another mention of the dropkick murphys here. I play them before I work out, especially 'shipping up to boston' whilst drinking coffee and summoning the energy to go crossfitting.