R&P: do you think that music has the power to heal or make a person feel better?

"Music has the power to heal the ills of the soul..."

There is a reason music is an integral part of even the most tribal of cultures. It provides a unique outlet of emotions. Music as a form of therapy is by no means a new practice, and even today with innumerable forms of therapy available, music is still a cheep, effective and lucrative one.

I won't use the term entertainment lightly, but music is really something most can connect with and experience. Just strumming the guitar purposelessly is soooo relaxing, I can envision myself taking a warm Sentō now...

MA2: eh... I'll come back to this one.

I don't really follow new releases. Only stuff I've got is extreme Metal with harsh vox so obviously it's not a choice. How about ->

Orange Goblin - A Eulogy For The Damned ~

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gg9ld41amI

BA: STRAIGHT WIN!!!!! A +++

Never got into Fleetwood Mac but I've heard a couple of songs I really like.. I'll listen to some of their albums. Got any particular one you'd recommend me? *pwease* :D

Yeah I've been listening to mainly 70's hard rock and softies. That track reminds me of the Grateful Dead a bit. Really peaceful and relaxing. Going to listen to some Fleetwood now..

Yeah, I really enjoy pre 1975 Fleetwood Mac and Peter Green is a fabulous guitarist. I certainly liked Rumours and post 75 but I still need to work on it.

Penguin is such a wonderful albums though!! =D

It can defiantly make people feel better. I've seen research before saying it can be used to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.

Favorite albums of this decade (so far)

St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (2011)

Bon Iver - Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011)

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake (2011)

Tim Hecker - Ravedeath, 1972 (2011)

I'll trow in a 2012 as well, even though it isn't on the level as my other choices

Perfume Genius - Put Your Back N 2 It (2012)

bq: no strong feelings either way, yay I suppose

Not sure which is my favorite from those two years but I know which one sucked the most. "LuLu" by Lou Reed and Metallica. It's not even good enough to be a coaster under my drink glass. It was awful. My wife bought it for me for Christmas so I told her to never buy me music again. LOL

OK of the 2011 albums I have heard these are my favorites

PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

REM - Collapse Into Now

Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

Blackstone Cherry - Between The devil and The deep Blue Sea

Dream Theater - A Dramatic Turn of Events

Heritage - Opeth

Jane's Addiction - The Great Escape Artist

Children of Bodom - Relentless Reckless Forever

Nightwish - Imaginareum

Kamelot - Poetry for The Poisned Live From Wacken - Limityed Tour Edition

Symphony X - Irnoclast

Joe Bonamass - Dust Bowl

Hi! On this topic I can only speak for myself. Of recent years, my health hasn't been so good. I do not listen to music, no where near as much as I did. I do believe music has the power to heal / make a person feel better. I personally listen to these two albums quite a bit and; they do lift my spirits. They are; SUBMARINETRANSMISSIONPLOT - Sparklehorse & New York Tenderberry - Laura Nyro. Very different albums from, very different artists. Most recent album I bought was: Laura Marling -

A Creature I Don't Know.

Music to me at least, is like medicine, heals me calms me down and puts me in a happy mood. Music is also one of the few things, that has repeatedly never let me down, and i don't think it ever will. Music does some amazing things to the brain, its fantastic what it does, music is so beneficial to the brain, because it makes us become in a creative place, and it makes us think. If i am ever in a bad mood, i simply just turn up the music and skip the tantrum, In times of sorrow and pain and every emotion, music is teh one thing that truly helps me get through it, wiithout it, i dont knwo if i would be the same person. I listen to The Beatles everyday!!! , Asong that i love is " Within you and Without you" by the beatles, its truly inspiring becasue it healed the way i thought and made me think so much diffrently! also "Black Bird" and"Let it Be" are all great healing songs by them at least for me! :D Also the song "Good Vibrations" and"Wouldnt it be Nice" By the beach buys always makes me feel better! Music is amazing!!

Good afternoon Kim :)

I feel absolutely that it can do both of those things.

Personally, I have used music to help me through times of depression and mild illness, and I know that it is recommended to play music to people in hospital who are unconscious, as it can help draw them back.

MQ2: I think the only new releases I got are both 2011:

Stevie Nicks ~ "In Your Dreams"

Candice Night ~ "Reflections"

{Blackmore's Night's "Autumn Sky" was a 2011 release in the US, but 2010 in UK}

I haven't fully played either yet, but here's something from each :~

'Black Roses' ~ Candice Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN5XORoWCMU&fmt=18

'Soldier's Angel' ~ Stevie Nicks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV1NBHMyCpc&fmt=18

'Moonlight (A Vampire's Dream)' ~ Stevie Nicks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri-euoXzpIA&fmt=18

{I had to get myself past the annoying "Twilight" associations to get into this one ^}

* * * edit - Thanks to Mike H for the reminder * * *

Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa ~ "Don't Explain" [2011]

'I'll Take Care of You' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOLTrrcWE5c&fmt=18

* * *

BQ: Nay.

"Penguin" is the album I like least from that era. It just didn't seem to fit.

* * * * * * *

@ Lord Frieza:

Pre-1975, go for "Then Play On", "Kiln House", "Future Games" and "Heroes are Hard to Find", and also "The Original Fleetwood Mac".

Post-1975, other than the eponymous and "Rumours", try "Tango in the Night", "Tusk" and "Say You Will" {and if you can get a copy of "Buckingham Nicks", it's worth it}.

I know for a fact that it makes me feel better, and it impacts my family and those I love in the same way...so a big YES ;)

MQ2:

Here's a few from 2011/12 that I enjoy...

Uriah Heep - Into The Wild

Inner Ear Brigade - Rainbro

Opeth - Heritage

Floratone - Floratone II

Overkill - The Electric Age

BQ: Definite yay...though my favourite Fleetwood Mac album from the Bob Welch era would be "Future Games". If you enjoyed Bob's work with FM...then you'd probably like the mid 70's hard rock band 'Paris' as well. Cool 3-piece band who released two albums...featuring Bob Welch (guitars/vocals), former Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick, and drummers Thom Mooney (previously with The Nazz/feat Todd Rundgren) who played on the first album (self titled), and Hunt Sales (formerly of Tod Rundgren's band) who played on the 2nd album titled Big Towne 2061.

Here's a few cuts...

Black Book...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62AX-et_NeM&feature...

Blue Robin...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvWAL98dxQw&feature...

Religion...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LTybSLLoBk

Starcage...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkMXj5zgplI

Hey:)

Yeah I defiantly do because it does to me. I've been ill for nearly a year now and without being dramatic, don't know where I'd be without it, it makes me feel better. Whether I want a song that I can relate to or a song that helps me forget, it gives me faith. Lol so cheesy.

MQ2: wire- red barked tree

BQ: on phone

I think it does. There are scientific studies that show that music can stimulate different parts of the brain, and can aid in recovery for stroke victims and other ailments. You can actually get a college degree in music therapy, so it must have some uses for physical and mental health.

Sure it can. Some is just entertainment, while some is powerful and resonant.

Also the mind is an incredible thing, it can make use of music and many other influences and create (emotions, feelings, etc) from them.

MA2: not yet