More Music for Your Game

Last year, I posted a list of CDs I thought you might want to consider using as background music for your game. It's been a full year, and I've found a lot more music you might like. Here are more of my recommended favorites:

D&D Adventure

Bram Stoker's Dracula Soundtrack: I didn't put Dracula on the list last time because it has a cheesy pop song at the end (that's the problem with Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and a number of others as well). The rest of the CD is so good, though, that I just had to recommend it. Just stop the CD before you get to the Annie Lennox song, or buy it and then burn your own version without the pop song on the end.

Vas Offerings: I recommended Vas last time. Here's another solid album, Offerings. Moody, fantasy stuff a la Dead Can Dance.

Clannad The Legend: This is a soundtrack for Robin of Sherwood. It's very Celtic, sweeping, atmospheric stuff. Good for about any fantasy session.

Arlington Road Soundtrack: You might be a little surprised to find this terrorist-in-the-suburbs movie soundtrack on the list, but mostly it's for the opening track. The whole of Arlington Road is good, but you won't find a more intense piece of music than the first track of this CD. It's composed by Angelo Badalamenti, the guy who did the Twin Peaks soundtrack. But where that was creepy, this one is driving and intense.

Leviathan Soundtrack: Jerry Goldsmith may do a lot of music for mediocre movies, but that doesn't mean that the soundtracks are bad. You can probably find this one kinda cheap, and it's great gaming music.

Dan Gibson's Solitudes: Thunderstorm in the Wilderness: This is almost an hour of an actual thunderstorm, but you can't beat it for atmosphere.

Douglas Irvine, Ambient Egypt: This is atmospheric background music for any game with an exotic or Middle Eastern flair -- or just a session in the desert.

Hunt for Red October Soundtrack: Yes, The Hunt for Red October is a submarine movie. But it's got a good, albeit short, soundtrack. The first track has a Russian choir singing, but you know, if dwarves sang in choirs, it would probably sound just like this.

Glen Danzig Black Aria: You might have heard others recommend Black Aria. They were right. Despite what you might think, it's not metal -- it's, well, an aria. Creepy and moody and exciting, it covers a lot of ground. But then, so do most D&D sessions....

The Count of Monte Cristo Soundtrack: This rollicking good, swashbuckler movie has a rollicking good, swashbuckling soundtrack.

First Knight Soundtrack: First Knight is not a great movie, but it has a good Jerry Goldsmith soundtrack.

Willow Soundtrack: Willow is another so-so movie (in my opinion) but a good soundtrack. (James Horner strikes again!)

Event Horizon Soundtrack: I was almost tempted to list this under "Horror," but you know, it's more intense than it is creepy. Great fight or chase music.

Horror

Just in time for Halloween, here are some spooky or disturbing CDs for a horror game:

Signs Soundtrack: Signs is good and chilling, just like the movie.

The Sixth Sense Soundtrack: While we're on the topic of M. Night Shyamalan's movies, this soundtrack is very quiet, and very creepy.

The Cell Soundtrack: The Cell is good, chilling stuff. Untraditional in the "Vincent Price movie soundtrack" sense, but good game music.

Final Conflict Soundtrack: Last time, I recommended The Omen. This sequel's soundtrack is just as good.

The Silence of the Lambs Soundtrack: I'll sometimes use this for fantasy games as well, although it's got a real sinister mood.

The Shroud, A Dark Moon Night: Okay, I don't want to get all goth on you, but A Dark Moon Night is soft, moody stuff. Kind of dark, but mostly just subdued. Good for exploring the woods at night or something.

Current 93 Faust: Okay, seriously. No messing around now. This is just freaky stuff. You can also look for a CD of theirs called Live at Bar Maldoror, although it is hard to find. Some of my players don't let me play this stuff while they're there. It's that freaky. While on the topic of hard to find, there's a French group called Tribe of Circle that's almost as disturbing, but difficult to track down. If you try Faust, and you're not mad at me afterward, try looking for Tribe of Circle, The Advent of Redemption.