What type of music do you like to listen too when truckin?

I'm sure there have been a lot of studies done on the effects of different types of music on the human body.

I listen to a variety of styles with my favorites being in the rock alternative / metal genres. Listening to fast a paced song with high frequency guitar riffs, machine gun like drum licks, and catchy screaming vocals is enjoyable to me, but I'm not convinced it's a good idea while driving.

Songs like that raise my heart-rate and, as an amateur drummer, often cause me to tap my foot, or bat out a rhythm on whatever surface is available. If I know the words, then I'm singing along as well. All of this adds up to a lot of distraction while driving. Driving distracted means you're noticing less, and have less time to respond. That equals more stress.

Far be it from me to say that I don't listen to that stuff while driving, but I have also experimented by tuning in light rock, talk radio, and classical. I find myself much more relaxed when listening to NPR, which has a lot of fascinating stories/segments, but listening to a speaker requires more of my attention to absorb all that's being said. The same goes for comedy (XM radio). It is very entertaining, but hitting a deer because you were wiping coffee from your steering wheel after bursting out laughing at a funny bit could be considered a source of stress.

I have never been an active fan of classical music, but I find it to be the most relaxing form of audible stimulation while behind the wheel. Let me clarify that by "relaxing" I mean calming, not putting me to sleep. With regard to relieving stress, or, preventing it, this is probably the most effective type of music I've found. Next time you're in a stop and go traffic jam, try it out. If you really listen, I would bet you're cursing a little bit less.

Of course you could always turn the radio off and let the road noise hypnotize you, but what fun is that?

With my theories about the psychological and physiological effects of music on the motoring public out of the way, some of my favorite stuff to listen to while driving is: NPR, Comedy, Dave Matthews Band, and modern rock alternative.

 

one of my favorite road tunes has always been Jessica from the Allman Brothers. Also Midnite Rider....great road songs.....I listen to a huge variety of rock, blues and metal out there...but Jessica is a great tune for the road
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll1_SmbUDSI

 

I listen to octane on Sirius or some country old and new.

 

I imagine a good jazz jam band would be really good too. Octane on XM is one of my presets.

 

yeah I love that tune......I had forgotten that I had put it on an MP3 mix disc I had .....it was a sunny day cruising in I think Oklahoma...headin down to Dallas from Big Cabin.....it was a perfect song for the day....it was early spring window was down sun shining oh yeah...it was perfect

 

Is there any words on that song at all? haha.

 

Classic rock....then country...then some of "todays hits" if I feel like it.

 

thrash mostly