Songs to nod your head to

July 6, 2012 4:32 PM

Please give me songs that make you want to nod your head.

Specifically I'm looking for songs which have a similar effect to The Beta Band's Dry The Rain, as shown in this scene from High Fidelity.

I have no preference with regards to genre, but the tempo is probably important as I am looking for a relaxed nod, rather than head-banging.

posted by jonnyploy to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

You could set any drum machine to play "BD SD" repeatedly, then nod your head to that.

All other known songs are built on that simple structure.
posted by shipbreaker at 4:41 PM on July 6, 2012

And to relax your nodding, drag the TEMPO slider to a lower number.
posted by shipbreaker at 4:44 PM on July 6, 2012

Moby's The Sky Is Breaking has a similar beat (and I think it's kinda sexy).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:54 PM on July 6, 2012

Both great examples of highly-syncopated tracks with driving four-on-the-floor beats, Disco Science by Mirwais and Diamond by Klint are highlights of the Snatch soundtrack.
posted by TheNewWazoo at 5:19 PM on July 6, 2012

Folk Implosion's Natural One never fails to put me into its rhythm.
posted by Etrigan at 5:32 PM on July 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Built to Spill's Carry the Zero is a total head nodder, especially at the 4:00 mark til the end. It's like a reflex... you must nod/bang your head from 4:00 to 5:40 in that song.
posted by Ike_Arumba at 5:37 PM on July 6, 2012

"Feel it All Around" by Washed Out (perhaps best known these days as Portlandia's theme song) has a similar effect on me.
posted by synecdoche at 5:42 PM on July 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Very fond of this sort of feel. Some of my favorites (plus Natural One, above):

Heartbroken, In Disrepair - Dan Auerbach
Edge Hill - Groove Armada
Gotta Be Somebody's Blues - Jimmy Eat World
Extreme Ways - Moby
Where Is My Mind? - Pixies
Grounds for Divorce - Elbow
posted by griselda at 6:10 PM on July 6, 2012

Galt MacDermot - Ripped Open By Metal Explosions
Bonobo - D Song
Aphex Twin - Alberto Balsalm
Felix Laband - Miss Teardrop
Beach Fossils - Desert Sand
posted by quarked at 6:47 PM on July 6, 2012

Umbrella -- Rihanna!
posted by thinkpiece at 7:02 PM on July 6, 2012

for this kinda thing, I really like Broken Bells, esp October
posted by dogwalker at 3:09 AM on July 7, 2012

Best answer: My boyfriend does a joking head-noddy thing (complete with eyes closed and imaginary headphones) whenever I play Safe From Harm by Massive Attack.
posted by Elly Vortex at 6:32 AM on July 7, 2012

Meta entry: Blue Man Group's Time To Start. ("It's time to start rock concert movement number one: The basic head bob. Ready go")
posted by Leon at 6:41 AM on July 7, 2012

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - This Land Is Your Land
posted by seriousmoonlight at 6:49 AM on July 7, 2012

Nine Inch Nails' Deep has a similar tempo.
posted by ThisKindNepenthe at 8:49 AM on July 7, 2012