Top 10 List: Soundtrack for homework

By Sean Houlihan
Collegian Reporter
August 30, 2006

Some people need complete silence while they do their homework, while others often require a little stimulus to get the academic juices flowing. For those in the latter group, here’s a list of 10 songs to listen to while doing homework related activities:

10) The Rocky Orchestra’s “Gonna Fly Now” – It’s Rocky-centric. Need I say more?

9) Dredg’s “Jamais Vu” – According to the lyrics, Dredg has “found my own college.” That’s going to be my very unreliable reason to include this song. But seriously, it is good.

8) Gnarls Barkley’s “St. Elsewhere” – This song by the rap/rock/pop/r&b sensation will calm you down for a night of studying.

7) Further Seems Forever’s “Light Up Ahead” (acoustic) – A recent release, it is a great acoustic diddy to play during your studies.

6) Mat Kearney’s “Nothing Left to Lose” – This is an easy listening track that is quite reminiscent of Coldplay’s body of work.

5) John Coltrane’s “You Don’t Know What Love Is” – This jazz song is great for reading. It will add a subtle touch and is not too overpowering for a study session.

4) Halloween, Alaska’s “Des Moines” – This little known band is a mainstay on my own iTunes playlist. Their electronic sound gives off a surreal vibe that is great for any philosophy paper.

3) Jimmy Eat World’s “Bleed American” – This song makes the list as a pump up song. Play this to keep you up at five in the morning, while trying to write a term paper.

2) John Mayer’s “Covered in Rain” – It is hard to pick a single song of John Mayer’s. I would suggest the album as a whole, but this is the longest and best track. It’s perfect background music, as it eventually becomes unnoticable.

1) Miles Davis’s “So What” – This is arguably the best song ever written. Just put it as background music and your mind will float though your work.

houlihans1@lasalle.edu