Dulcet Tones, Music for my Shadowrun setting Options

[Mr. Valentino]

Since starting my new Shadowrun game, we've moved to a new location, and I now have the option of using music to enhance my games. I've already got a bunch of stuff from my iTunes in a few playlists (Combat, Legwork, Sneaking, etc), and what I'm asking is this:

What kind of music have you used in your games? Do you have any suggestions for good background music that I can look up?

I'd appreciate all of your 2 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cyber.gif)

Thanks in advance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/notworthy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleepy.gif)

[Artemis]

most of my players are old enough to have had bad haircuts in the 80s, and since shadowrun has always had an80s esque feel to it, for me anyway I tend to play a lot of 80s bands and old style rock. Motley Crue, ACDC, Iron Maiden, then throw in stuff from some soundtracks like xxx underworld etc just stay away from Vangelis

[JaronK]

The Bladerunner themes are good, along with the rest of the work by that band (Vigelis, IIRC?).

JaronK

[Heath Robinson]

Crosslink!

Soundtracks are generally going to be good sources for music, since they need tracks appropriate to all kinds of situations.

[Dreadlord]

@JaronK:

Vangelis is a single artist who plays all instruments himself (although he occasionally works with other artists on a song here and there, and an album here and there). His real name is Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou (Greek obviously!).

I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment that he works well. His music is great as an ambient mood-setter (at least the non-vocal stuff). My players complained when I had music that was too loud to be able to hear over, so I found Vangelis to be a good option. Other "ambient" artists would work well, the more electronic the better I would think to capture the "futuristic" retro 80s vibe. Underworld is good, as is Jarre, but any Drum n' Bass tends to be too hard to talk over, as is anything with too much vocals or guitars.

[Backgammon]

If you like Vangelis' Blade Runner theme (and you may not - Vangelis is rather "special"), you can download these MP3s.

The hosting site is in french, so lemme give you a quick rundown - these MP3s are music from the score of a computer game called Nikopol, which is a game based on a (rather very good) French cyberpunkish bande dessinée. It's not entirely clear, but it appears this is a legal download, as the files are not for sale anywhere... That's what the site says, anyway.

I've given it a listen - it's nice background music, Vangelis-like Nothing to write home about, but I think it'd probably make good unobstrusive ambiance music.

[mercurywave]

Somafm's internet streaming stations 'Doomed' and 'Drone Zone' would be tits to play as background ambiance (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Nexushound]

My PC's did a little bouncing at a local club at the beginning of their careers and the Orc Hardcore Band "Orcus" played the concert. The band did a cover of Iron Maidens "Run for the Hills" and it became their theme song. They play it at the beginning of all our games now. It is hilarious.
I've really only brought in music in my D&D games but that did not go over to well. It would be interesting to try it out again as it has been a long time. Good topic. I will try out some of these suggestions.

[Chrysalis]

We use mood music before we start to play. Stuff like Rage Against the Machine; Prodigy and The Clash.

Ambient music is okay if you are playing in a bar.

-Chrysalis

[ICPiK]

Great I know our rigger pogo gonna vote for circus tones. Our Ork meat shield decapitator Will want Asian flute. I'm voting for death metal...Thats gonna sound weird...lmao

[Muspellsheimr]

Ayreon
My Dying Bride

[ICPiK]

This one gets my vote!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5VBxABWZhU

[SincereAgape]

Was searching for a thread like this. I also have started and want to incorporate music into the storytelling of a GM. The tough thing is finding music set for the universe of 2072.

This mind be silly. But I have started to use musical soundtracks from classic future based anime series. One of my favorites has been the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack. The instrumental background music that was created by Japanese composers to enhance their stories is a great source of audio enhancers for Shadowrun.

[blindfox]

i tend to use a lot of industrial for my games. when that becomes too repetitive or doesnt fit the scene i have plenty of soundtracks to choose from and anime is a gold mine for this stuff too. i also use cowboy bebop. the animatrix soundtrack is something that can be repeated for a while too without getting grating.
its also a good idea to set up a playlist. kind of like arranging a musical score for a movie.

[blindfox]

perhaps i should be more specific:
rammstein, nine inch nails, wumpscut, snog, funkervogt, kmfdm, aphex twin, acumen nation, vnv nation, bauhaus, frontline assembly, front 242, kevorkian death cycle... plus various metal and 80's rock (billy idol always reminded me of a shadowrun kinda guy. in fact, i think he even did an album named that or something)

[The Jake]

Equilibrium Movie Soundtrack.

- J.

[Mr. Hollis]

I've yet to really employ it yet, but I've whipped up a bunch of playlists for bands to have playing bars, clubs and even arenas in-game. Most of the music is from artists the players have never heard of, with the occasional 'oldies cover band' with some recognizable artist's music. I had been looking for some more ambient stuff to bridge the gaps between places those bands could be playing, though. Methinks some of the content in this thread may help in that endeavor.

[MKX]

It's the 70's
Subject them to Led Zep and disco.

[Meatbag]

As musical as I am, I don't usually use music *while* gaming, since it's a distraction. I do have a few songs that remind me of SR.


Rising sprawl runners. "Karmakaze" is one hell of a runner name, too.

Grumpy cyborg has run out of happy.

Toxic Spirits of Man are deeply unpleasant individuals.

What your rigger wants to do.

[tsuyoshikentsu]

A good portion of the EVE Online soundtrack is available for free at the game's website. If you're like me and prefer a softer, subtler, and more loopable soundtrack than pink mohawks can provide, you might want to take a look.

[Dashifen]

It's the 70's
Subject them to Led Zep and disco.

You say that like Zeppelin was a bad thing ....

[FlashbackJon]

Maybe he likes Zeppelin and Disco.

A good portion of the EVE Online soundtrack is available for free at the game's website. If you're like me and prefer a softer, subtler, and more loopable soundtrack than pink mohawks can provide, you might want to take a look.

Man, now you've got me listening to this and reminiscing.

[tsuyoshikentsu]

Man, now you've got me listening to this and reminiscing.

Trust me, I know exactly what you mean. Just remember: spreadsheet.

[Kerrang]

perhaps i should be more specific:
rammstein, nine inch nails, wumpscut, snog, funkervogt, kmfdm, aphex twin, acumen nation, vnv nation, bauhaus, frontline assembly, front 242, kevorkian death cycle... plus various metal and 80's rock (billy idol always reminded me of a shadowrun kinda guy. in fact, i think he even did an album named that or something)

The Billy Idol album you are thinking of is Cyberpunk, and I use it occasionally to set the mood for Shadowrun. Although I have used ambient music for Shadowrun (as well as D&D) in the past, the current group I am GMing is too large/ too loud for me to use ambient music. I do have background music playing as people arrive for the game (afterwards as well), and like to mix things up depending on the focus of the nights mission. Most times it is going to be techno (Crystal Method, Chemical Brothers, 808 State, Dust Brothers etc.) or industial (Rammstein, NIN, Das Ich, KMFDM, etc.). When the group was investigating around a goblin rock band I went for punk and thrash metal (DRI, Nuclear Assault, Suicidal Tendencies, Misfits, etc.). Up against blood magic, time to trot out the death metal (Arsis, Morbid Angel, Amon Amarth, Behemoth, etc.). Lately though, I have been a bit lazy and neglected to make playlists for the nights festivities, so I just tune to Octane on the Sirius receiver.

[Dhaise]

It's the 70's
Subject them to Led Zep and disco.

My players have actually endured a shoot out to "take a chance on me" and "dancing queen". One of them finally started using called shots to attack speakers in the firefight.