Owendust wrote:
Gaya wrote:
Korn's first album used to calm me down quite well. Soundgarden's Superunknown album could also do the trick, as could Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album. Anything aggressive and angry always makes me feel better.
I can definitely relate to that.
One of my favorite CD's when I'm upset is "The Height of Callousness" by a band called Spineshank (Especially "transparent"). Also, "Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes" by AFI works, as well as most songs by The Unseen.
I think the calming effect of aggressive, angry music has to do with the fact that fMRI's have shown that when we hear music or watch movies, the human brain generally fires in the same patterns as it would if we were actually doing the things that we are hearing and/or watching.
In other words, if you listen to aggressive, screaming music, the neurons in your brain fire in the same pattern they would if you were actually screaming. This, of course, can be incredibly cathartic, allowing you to release the aggression you feel, which leaves a feeling of calm.
Hmmm....well I guess ultimately it depends on the person listening to the music as to whether or not certain music calms them down. It's true - louder, more aggressive music DOES tend to give off the same effect as if the listener were actually screaming. And for me, if I do that, I just get angrier, and the more that builds up, the more I'm basically like the Incredible Hulk, lol
What's more cathartic for me is crying - sorry if that sounds "sissy" or "wimpy" to some of you, but that actually does make me feel better after awhile. Maybe that's why sad songs tend to calm me down, 'cuz it makes me feel like there's someone out there saying, "Don't worry, I've felt the same way you do now".