I don’t know about you, but I can’t code without music. It’s just something that I do in auto-pilot, right before writing any line of code I put my headphones on and start my music player.
Although I love lots of rock bands and different styles, when it comes to coding I’m very, very picky.
One of the first requirements is that it can’t have people singing, or at least keep it to the bare minimum. I just find music with lyrics too distracting at times. I tend to concentrate more and get more productive while listening to hypnotic or haunting songs.
So while coding I normally listen to Post-rock, Downtempo, chill-out, progressive house and so on. Funny enough tho, I can’t listen to any sort of music if I’m learning something new.
Anyway, I decided to compile a few of my favourite albums while I’m hacking through the day/night.
Without any further due, here’s my favourite albums recommendations.
Burial – Untrue
Dubstep, 2-step garage, ambient
Listen
Deadmau5 – Lack For A Better Name
Progressive House
Listen
Explosions In The Sky – First Breath After Coma
Post-Rock
Listen
Gustavo Santaolalla – 21 Grams OST
Rock, Ambient
Listen
Hans Zimmer – Inception OST
Rock, Ambient
Listen
Justice – Justice
Electro-House
Listen
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
Electro-House
Listen
Mogwai – Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait
Post-Rock
Listen
Nine Inch Nails – Ghosts I-IV
Ambient industrial, dark ambient
Listen
Sigur Rós – Ágætis Byrjun
Post-Rock
Listen
This Will Destroy You – This Will Destroy You
Post-Rock
Listen
Trent Reznor – The Social Network OST
Dark ambient, post-industrial, experimental, electronica
Listen
Wolfgang Gartner – Weekend In America
Progressive-house
Listen
XX – Coexist
Indie Pop
Listen
Aes Dana – Perimeters
Downtempo, Progressive Trance, Ambient
Listen
Carbon Based Lifeforms – Interloper
Downtempo, Ambient, Acid
Listen
God Is An Austronaut – Age of the Fifth Sun
Post-Rock
Listen
Mono – Hymn to the Immortal Wind
Post-Rock
Listen
I’ve compiled all of these albums in a Grooveshark Playlist in case you want to hear it in the background.
Hope you’ve liked my selection, and let me know what are your favourite albums in the comments below 
kahfei
January 22, 2013 at 11:54pmHey, great list there.
I like coldplay, a lot, but ya, song with people singing in it sometimes become a distraction when you need to fully concentrate and just code. So I tend to look for ambient or electronics type of musics, lately I have been listening to these while coding. Not bad.
http://workbench-music.com/release/zoo/
http://workbench-music.com/release/synesthesia/
So now, I have a whole new list of music to play while coding, thanks to you
By the way, I am listening to “Mono – Hymn to the Immortal Wind” now, and I think it is great!
Henrique B.
January 22, 2013 at 11:55pmGlad you liked it
I’m going to check it out the links you posted. Thanks for sharing
Ant
January 23, 2013 at 2:31amA few names on that list I recognise, many I don’t.
Thanks for some avenues to explore
Pete R.
January 23, 2013 at 3:54amNow, this is a great list of music! The more I do not know, the better!
Coding session, begins now!
Adam Paterson
January 23, 2013 at 9:34amAbsolutely brilliant list Henrique, most of these have been on repeat for me all last year.
Henrique B.
January 23, 2013 at 10:05amGreat minds think alike ;P
Nono
January 23, 2013 at 3:08pmI can see some nice albums in this list
I personnaly prefer listening to trip hop/downtempo/electronic hip hop – so there is generally not much of lyrics in those genres.
These days I’m using tublar (www.tubalr.com) to listen to streamed music.
GeekGao
January 25, 2013 at 1:13pmThat’s very cool. Thank you.
Rai
February 10, 2013 at 5:22amCool list, I also can’t code without music, but only when I’m not learning something new. I think the music becomes a distraction in that case. Check out thievery corporation. They make cool music with minimal singing as well.
Charles Wild
April 7, 2013 at 11:10amNice list Henrique. Erudite. If you’re into that kind of subliminal music, my guess is you might like this: Free Falling , or for a bit more soul, maybe this: Mood Machine Just a suggestion.
Charles.