Music You Feel

It turns out that music is more than a catchy way to sell Swiffer dustmops. It can actually help you get in touch with a deep, emotional part of your being that most people aren't even aware of. It's true- listening to music will make you more intelligent, more productive, and (let's be honest), more interesting.

I know what you're thinking: "It's been so long since I've discovered new music, my iPod has automatically put my entire music library into a folder called '90s Music." If your musical tastes are still heavily influenced by your experience in high school (or, worse still, a roller rink), here's some help.

Following are examples of new(er) music that will make you feel something. For tips on how to find more music that will haunt your soul, see below.

Okkervil River

Alexi Murdoch

Gomez

Storytellers know that music opens the path to human emotion. For the last ten years or so, television has done a pretty good job of using powerful music to make poor acting tolerable. (Remember when Dawson's Creek used Paula Cole's I Don't Want To Wait to cover up well, everything?) Movies (both good and bad) have been doing this for years.

My recommendation- when you see a movie that makes you feel (anything), look for its soundtrack. Odd are that you won't walk out of the theater with a song stuck in your head (they don't want the music to be a distraction, after all), but the feeling you're left with is often due to the music that played in the background.

These shows and films influenced my playlist:

• Stranger Than Fiction- Capture's the film's beautifully melancholy feel with a mixture of indie rock, 1960's British invasion feel, and 80's Mall electric synthesizer/organ.
• Juno -Moody indie-pop that makes your problems seem wonderfully bigger than they really are.
• Once -Singer/Songwriter/Actor Glen Hansard writes songs that make you cry. In a good way.
• Garden State -An indie-infused classic. The Shins should be your new favorite.
• Curious George -Don't laugh, I've got kids. Even if you don't, this is music is a great way to relax happily.
• Grey's Anatomy (vol. 2, vol.3)
•  -Somehow this roll-your-eyes soap opera gets all the best music. Maybe it's to cover up the terrible acting. Maybe it's because 30 million people watch religiously.
• Scrubs (vol.2) -This has everything to do with actor/director/producer/blogger Zach Braff's excellent taste in music.