What’s your best, go-to album as a startup founder?
To help startup founders find the best music to boost productivity at work, we asked established startup founders and business owners this question for their best picks. From Best of David Bowie to The Bends by Radiohead to Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, there are several albums that are recommended to energize you and your team and ginger up the work environment for great productivity for your startup.
Here are eight best albums for startup founders:
- Best of David Bowie
- Revolver by the Beatles
- The Bends by Radiohead
- Ride the Lightning by Metallica
- The Morning Song by Paul Simon
- The Score by The Fugees
- Send The Pain Below by Chevelle
- Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
Best of David Bowie
When I started up my company back in 2009 we would work late nights with my small team and would jam out to Best of David Bowie. It was the one album everyone in the office would agree on. It didn’t matter the age of the person from a 20 year old to a 60 year everyone seems to enjoy it. David Bowie’s music just puts everyone in a good mood. Now every time I hear David Bowie it brings me back to the long nights when we were a struggling startup trying to figure out how to make it.
Evan McCarthy, SportingSmiles
Revolver by the Beatles
While it is not as iconic as its big brother, Abbey Road, Revolver remains the best album to keep on repeat during the workday. Its expansive, boundary-pushing creativity is sure to help you not only focus, but be inspired, check out the perfect apps for your startups. The spacey atmosphere it creates is unlike any album before or since. The kind of synergy the band had during this album cycle was truly one of a kind and can show the value of what a team can do.
Brandon Brown, GRIN
The Bends by Radiohead
My go-to album as a startup founder is “The Bends” by Radiohead. It’s the perfect soundtrack for my workday: it’s got a steady beat, but it’s also moody and introspective. The lyrics are both dark and hopeful – they remind me that no matter how hard things get, there’s always an opportunity to try again. I love this album because I can listen to it on repeat without getting bored – it’s not too repetitive or predictable, and each song has its own unique sound while still fitting into the overall theme of the album. It’s an album that will never get old, which is exactly what I’m looking for while working through my to-do list.
Shaun Connell, Connell Media
Ride the Lightning by Metallica
There’s nothing like a bit of Metallica to fire up your day as a founder. The band’s sophomore album, Ride The Lightning, has the perfect blend of thrash metal goodness with equal parts melody and emotion. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a non-stop day at the helm of a startup. From Fight Fire With Fire to The Call Of Ktulu, this album dials you in and gives you all of the motivation you could ever need on a Monday morning.
Neil Thacker, Casual Car Guide
The Morning Song by Paul Simon
It would have to be The Morning Song by Paul Simon. This album is overflowing with positive energy and inspiring lyrics that can help you through some dark times as a startup founder. Songs like “The Sound of Silence” or “Graceland” offer unique insights into Simon’s challenges and triumphs during his career as a musician. This album helps me remember that no matter how challenging things seem at any given time, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. By listening to The Morning Song, I am able to refocus on my goals and continue moving forward in pursuit of them. It’s also great for balancing out stress levels throughout the day!
Johannes Larsson, JohannesLarsson.com
The Score by The Fugees
As a startup founder, I’m always looking for music that will help me focus and stay motivated. For me, that album is “The Score” by The Fugees. It’s a classic album that never gets old, and it always gets me pumped up and ready to take on whatever challenge is in front of me.
Karen Ebanks, Karan Real Estate
Send The Pain Below by Chevelle
Music is the soundtrack to meaningful events in your life. Send The Pain Below by Chevelle is an excellent example of pain, development, and those not believing in your vision. This melody pushes me to succeed and use the bad days in my developmental phase in my business as a lesson. Then, of course, there are many songs that I can listen to for emotional support and motivation. This band’s music reminds me of the ups and downs of starting a business and pursuing a dream.
Benjamin Earley, HOLT
Sturgill Simpson’s Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
I’ve always loved a wide range of genres and my go-to album of the moment is largely reflected by my mood. Given the emotional rollercoaster that startup founders go through, it’s a tough question to answer. If I had to pick one go-to album that’s helped me through my journey as a founder, it’d have to be Sturgill Simpson’s ‘Metamodern Sounds in Country Music’. Simpson’s blend of complex melodies, psychedelic influence and bravery to break convention all underpinned by the cathartic escapist qualities of the country genre make this the perfect piece to simultaneously slow things down and challenge your thinking.
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