Good background music for Gurps? (varying genres)

[Boge]

My group alternates through genres and I'm the one that manages the music. I have each genre separated with different categories based on what's happening at the time, sad music, combat, tense moments, dungeons, victories, normal day, magical moments, etc.

I have fantasy music down pretty well. I've gotten a bunch of the Marvel movies for some modern-day and Supers Gurps. It's a little too epic for a typical day though.

I could use more modest modern day type of music though, for just an every day type of moment. I have some Forest Gump, Rudy, October Sky. I'm looking for more more more.

What soundtracks or musical numbers do you find work well for the different genres of Gurps?

[aesir23]

My go to for Fantasy is, of course, the excellent Conan the Barbarian score by Basil Polidorous.

For SF, I really like both the Blade Runner and Gattaca scores, but they have very different moods, and Blade Runner tends to fit adventure gaming better.

Horror is obviously a fun one with a lot of options depending on flavor--ranging from John Carpenter's original Halloween score to Danse Macabre by Camil Saint-Saens. If it's a modern game, I might put together a playlist of Goth Rock and Death Rock from the 70s, 80s, and 90s and play them softly enough that the lyrics aren't distracting. Switchblade Symphony's album Bread and Jam for Francis is a common rotation, as well as better known bands like Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and Fields of the Nephilim.

[khorboth]

I get all of mine from incompetech. It's also a great source for names and graph paper.

[AlexanderHowl]

I generally use gothic metal for my games (heavy metal for more action packed adventures). Specifically, Number of the Beast by Iron Maiden is a favorite during boss battles.

[Anaraxes]

There's an entire genre known as "dark country" that might have been custom-written for Weird West games a la Deadlands.

A related and perhaps overlapping genre, "Southern Gothic", which is perhaps a little broader, less country-and-western and more folk / rock / gospel-influenced. (The music from True Detective would be one example.) These tunes might work in any number of relatively modern games, though again with a dark tone -- so horror, conspiracies, or some urban fantasy.

[Canology]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

I generally use gothic metal for my games (heavy metal for more action packed adventures). Specifically, Number of the Beast by Judas Priest is a favorite during boss battles.

Isn't that Iron Maiden?

I have used a lot of the ambient/instrumental black metal pieces, like Tomhet by Burzum which I looped and used to great effect in a tracking down a manitou scene.

[copeab]

I don't use background music, though if I did I could probably find something from Two Steps From Hell for most campaigns.

[Boomerang]

My favourite mood music for gaming is Metallica’s instrumental Call of Ktulu, inspired by Lovecraft’s Call of Cthulhu short story. Best played at low volume on loop for sci fi games.

[Anders]

When I do, I use soundtracks. For Gothic horror you can't beat the OSTs to Hellraiser and Hellbound.

[Dalin]

Originally Posted by khorboth

I get all of mine from incompetech. It's also a great source for names and graph paper.

I use this, too, along with filmmusic.io. I’m always surprised at the high production values of most of this free material.