Ben Folds Five's eponymous first album is my go to album for comfort. It never gets old (except the song Julianne, which I always skip).

Sent by Jon | 11:18 AM ET | 03-24-2008

My go-to record is by The Trash Can Sinatras, called "Cake." It's full of the typical, jangly sound that came out of the UK in the late 80s/early 90s, but the melodies are beautiful, and of course the memories it triggers are great. Other candidates:
- The In Sound From Way Out by Beastie Boys
- Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel
- Rift by Phish
- Revolver by The Beatles

Sent by Brian Rovegno | 11:22 AM ET | 03-24-2008

I never really thought about it until now. But, I think I've been depending on Cake: Fashion Nugget, Prolonging the Magic, and Comfort Eagle(no word play on comfort) for many years without realizing it.

Sent by Brendon | 11:32 AM ET | 03-24-2008

David Wilcox - How Did You Find Me Here

Sent by Andrew | 11:49 AM ET | 03-24-2008

The Sea and Cake and the solo efforts of Prekop and Prewitt. Just enough intrigue musically and lyrically but no chance of angst or apocalypse on the horizon.

Sent by sara | 12:01 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Lately I go to M.I.A.'s Kala. In the past it was either The Postal Service - Give Up, or Death Cab - Transatlanticism.

Sent by michael | 12:43 PM ET | 03-24-2008

I think comfort music comes from the persiod between adolescence and the end of our teenage years. They're the albums that you can think you outgrew because you were so young and inexperienced when you loved them so much, but even listening to them for the first time in years you find that you not only remember every note, but cannot help but hum/sing/nod your head on the crash or snare along with anyway.

For me, Weezer's first blue album fits that description perfectly.

Sent by Brendan K. | 12:52 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Lately: The National's Boxer, Peter Bjorn & John's Writer's Block
All time: Jayhawks' Tomorrow the Green Grass, The Bigger Lovers' Honey in the Hive, Kinks' Village Green Pres. Society.

Sent by Jim | 12:58 PM ET | 03-24-2008

I think you're right about Death Cab. "Plans" is like that for me, too, but "Transatlanticisim" even more so (but really, any of their albums, I think). My super "comfort food" band, though, is the Decemberists. Whenever I can't figure out what I want to listen to, I put on anything of theirs and it never gets old.

Sent by Tamara Vallejos | 1:59 PM ET | 03-24-2008

I think Transatlanticism is a great comfort cd. Although "There's Nothing Wrong with Love" by Built to Spill, "Broom" by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, all Andrew Bird or the latest podcast from All Songs Considered. I feel as if the first two are the most perfect though. Without a doubt, after reading the Title, I thought of that album. Ben Gibbard;s voice works wonders.

Sent by Emily | 2:04 PM ET | 03-24-2008

for me, it's the music of my high school and college years - probably not too different from other people that way.

but unlike a lot of people my age in my home state, that means the sex pistols, early devo, early blondie, the clash, early talking heads, early r.e.m., wall of voodoo.

sometimes though, i add the music of my early teens :) - the who, kiss, ted nugent, alice cooper... how else was i suppose to rock before i discovered punk?

Sent by OlderMusicGeek | 2:06 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Tupelo Honey -Van Morrison
The Missing Years- John Prine
The Basement Tapes- Dylan and the Band
Blue-Joni Mitchell
Sweet Old World-Lucinda Williams
Dave Alvin-pretty much anything

I guess I don't really have this problem!
phil

Sent by Phil Goetz | 3:12 PM ET | 03-24-2008

If I don't know exactly what to listen to, it's probably because my head is too full and in need of decompression. Most mellow instrumental albums tend to do the trick, but John Fahey has been doing it for me lately. Brian Eno's ambient albums - especially Ambient 2 and The Pearl - also did the trick before for many years.

Sent by Pablo | 3:29 PM ET | 03-24-2008

I can always listen to Pedro the Lion/David Bazan, never get sick of it. Also, the Great Expectations soundtrack: Grateful Dead, Iggy Pop, Scott Weiland, Chris Cornell, Fisher, Tori Amos, good stuff.

Sent by Jeremy | 3:33 PM ET | 03-24-2008

number one record - big star
roots and crowns - califone
the meadowlands - the wrens
vu and nico - the velvet underground

Sent by dallas | 4:17 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Counting Crows - Across a Wire: Live in New York (Disc 1), without a doubt. Over the years I have fallen in love more and more with different songs, and now when I listen to the album all the memories of those times come flooding back. The songs make me feel like I am in a hammock, swaying in a cool breeze.

Sent by Kyle | 4:23 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Mazzy Starr; the Cranberries on occasion; The Kinks; Jack Johnson...all great music but music I don't have to necessarily focus too much attention on

Sent by gina | 4:47 PM ET | 03-24-2008

The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's
The Thermals - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Soundgarden - Louder Than Love
The Who - Tommy

Sent by Jordan | 5:22 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Twee pop almost always does it for me - Tilly and the Wall, Belle and Sebastian, The Boy Least Likely To, etc. It gets me singing in the car, or just helps me get a hold on things again.

Sent by Tim | 5:33 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Shawn Colvin "Steady On" it came out the year I was born and I haven't stopped listening yet.

Sent by Kaysey | 5:40 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Albums:
The Man Who - Travis
A Certain Trigger - Maximo Park
Challengers - The New Pornographers
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
In Rainbows - Radiohead

Songs:
Daft Punk Is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem
Fake Palindromes - Andrew Bird
Starlight - Muse
Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
You Are My Joy - The Reindeer Section

Sent by Lauren | 5:45 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Nirvana- Unplugged in New York

and

Neutral Milk Hotel- In The Aeroplane Over the Sea

are my "go to" albums when I'm stumped as to what to play next.

Sent by Brad D | 5:46 PM ET | 03-24-2008

usually something mellow and quiet that lets me just be....something like Ray LaMontagne, Nick Drake, Jose Gonzalez, Bon Iver and so on.....unless im in a differnt kind of mood in which case early Animal Collective (and Panda Bear) does it for me. (think Two Sails on a Sound). Although i deff agree with dallas about the roots and crowns.

Sent by Evan Strouss | 6:16 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Music to soothe the soul and music to put on when I can't think of anything else to listen to are two completely different things for me. When I want soothing, I chose something nostalgic, something with a clear memory attached. For me, that's usually one of the first two Pinback albums or Eleni Mandell's Miracle of Five.

If I can't think of anything else to listen to, I try to brood myself back into non-complacency with Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.

Sent by David W. | 6:35 PM ET | 03-24-2008

I have a special playlist I listen to when I need comforting. I call them my "rainy day songs". It is filled with Bright Eyes, Sufjan Stevens, the Decemberists, Neutral Milk Hotel, Radiohead, Maria Taylor and a few others. I agree that a lot of the songs I crave are familiar songs I've known for a while. And there is something I find very reassuring about Conor Oberst's voice. Honest and genuine, makes you feel like he understands.

Sent by Carissa | 6:44 PM ET | 03-24-2008

I'll second your choice of "After the Gold Rush" and Wilco's "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot" are always seems to be there when I need it.

Sent by Brian | 6:44 PM ET | 03-24-2008

"Global a Go-Go" Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros.

If I'm stuck for something to put on my playlist thats the one, best album of the 5k songs in my collection.

Sent by Steve | 7:18 PM ET | 03-24-2008

The Evens' "Get Evens" from 2006 is one I return to again and again for something like comfort food. Very clean sound, political but not confrontational lyrics, etc.

A few others:
Yo La Tengo - "And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out"

A Tribe Called Quest - "Midnight Marauders"

The Sea and Cake - self-titled

Sent by Stuart | 9:54 PM ET | 03-24-2008

This is not a time for comfort music. This is a time for a revolution in music and music that does NOT soothe but excites with passion and fun and daring. New music is waiting out there that will challenge your every sanitized, zombie-walking minute. Give me post-bands music, the first new music of this century!

Sent by Tom Hendricks | 10:27 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Calexico's "Feast of Wire," Roger Clyne and the Peacemkaers' "Sonoran Hope and Madness," and Dead Hot Workshop's "1001."

Sent by Doug | 11:52 PM ET | 03-24-2008

Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is my go to album

Sent by drew | 12:19 AM ET | 03-25-2008

Either of these two:

- Bjork - Debut
- Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane - Live at Carnegie Hall

Sent by Kaiser Soze | 1:07 AM ET | 03-25-2008

My "soul food" albums are:
Life's Rich Pageant = R.E.M.
You Caught Me Out = Tracey Ullman
Sgt. Pepper's = The Beatles
Howlin' at the Moon = Sam Bush
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery = Soundtrack
Love Scenes = Diana Krall

Sent by Ann V. | 9:11 AM ET | 03-25-2008

Son volt- Trace
"Let the wind take your troubles away"
Ain't that the truth brothers and sisters.

Sent by 2tonetyrone | 11:37 AM ET | 03-25-2008

I have often kicked myself out of bed on hungover mornings and skated my longboard along the coast while listening to Minus The Bear's "Menos el Oso". It's as if their softer songs were meant for that and that has often been the most comforting music has been for me.

Sent by Serips | 3:25 PM ET | 03-25-2008

For me, the ultimate comfort record is Travis' The Man Who. At 16, this album got me through my first breakup, and I can't help but go back to it every so often.

Whenever I feel music nihilism setting in (which happens periodically, as I work as a music director for an Internet station) all I need is a quick dose of Fran Healy's voice, and I'm back on track.

Sent by Annie | 3:43 PM ET | 03-25-2008

Kinnie Starr-Sun Again
My Morning Jacket-Z
The National-Boxer
The Gossip-Standing in the Way of Control---"WHOOOHHHOOOHHH"

Sent by Jill Jones | 4:13 PM ET | 03-25-2008

Au Revoir Simone - Verses of Comfort, Assurance & Salvation
Thao - We Brave Bee Stings and All
The National - Alligator

Sent by Kevin Mathis | 6:05 PM ET | 03-25-2008

Comfort food and cheese go hand in hand for me. When I reach for something easy and comfortable it tends to have cheese as a main ingredient. For example...

Brooke Waggoner
Jonatha Brooke
Hanne Hukkelberg

Ok nevermind, it looks like I just like soft folky female vocals, primarily with brooke in the name.

Sent by Jessica | 6:12 PM ET | 03-25-2008

comfort food albums are the best.

elliott smith - XO
belle & sebastian - dear catastrophe waitress
kings of convenience - riot on an empty street
david bowie - hunky dory
the beatles - revolver

Sent by rachel | 12:33 AM ET | 03-26-2008

The Knife's Silent Shout, Nick Drake, and The Fugees The Score.

I also have a big playlist in iTunes of all my instrumental music - all my instrumental bands or musicians and instrumental songs by bands who usually have vocals, that I will listen to on shuffle when I need background music.

Sent by TerenceF | 2:52 AM ET | 03-26-2008

When I need comforting or something that's just comfortable, I'll usually put on just about anything by Jonathan Richman. His songs are the perfect combination of melancholy and whimsy--perfect for nearly every occasion. I believe he's coming out with a new album soon, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Sent by Eric | 3:14 PM ET | 03-26-2008

Two words: Otis Redding

Sent by Matt | 4:20 PM ET | 03-27-2008

The Creek Drank the Cradle - Iron and Wine
Pink Moon - Nick Drake

Either of those work magic for me.

Sent by Brandon Joldersma | 7:18 PM ET | 03-27-2008

Armchair Apocrypha since it came out has been my go to album. Actually, anything Andrew Bird can pretty much fill the bill.
Pink Moon is right there too.

Sent by Talin | 8:41 PM ET | 03-27-2008

Comfort music for me is POST-BANDS music. It doesn't have any of the trendiness and sham that rock has become. Great music is comforting.

Sent by Tom Hendricks | 9:49 PM ET | 03-27-2008

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga.
The New Pornographers - "The Bleeding Heart Show"
The National - Boxer.

Sent by Shapiro | 10:10 PM ET | 03-27-2008

james taylor, "sweet baby james"
carole king, "tapestry"
simon & garfunkel
the byrds, "turn! turn! turn!"
the beach boys, "pet sounds"
iron & wine, "our endless numbered days"
norah jones, "come away with me"

Sent by jehan | 11:30 PM ET | 03-28-2008

Sun Kil Moon - Tiny Cities
Innocence Mission - Birds in my Neighborhood
anything by Eva Cassidy if I really want to get downright sentimental and faraway.

I think the mark of good comfort music is that time stops for you. All of the above albums are guaranteed to work this way when used properly.

Sent by Connor Prairie | 11:32 PM ET | 03-29-2008

Magnolia Electric Co./Songs:Ohia album comforts me greatly. I also rely on Propaghandi How to Clean Everything.

Sent by zach | 10:58 PM ET | 03-30-2008

Ever since hearing The Beach Boys', "Pet Sounds" for the first time as an adult at 24, some piece of it rings true every time I hear it. It is the cleansing of a heavy downpour on a Sunday afternoon for me. "Sometimes I Feel Very Sad," knows the deal.

But the band I turn to when I need a pep talk or to be taken out of a funk is The Polyphonic Spree. I can not listen to any of their albums without being transformed into Don Quixote. I find myself wanting to yell out, "Charge" and then marching off to save the world from windmills.

On paper, they should be too, "You're good enough, you're smart enough, and gosh darn it people like you.," or too much like some "8 step program to a better you" for me to like, but they aren't. They transcend pop psychology in such a weird and wonderful way. I walk away from their music knowing that I am good enough, gosh darn it.

And as I am in a bit of a overly confiding mood this morning, there is one other song that falls into the comfort food category for me when I can only spare the time for a snack: "Only I," off of the Mull Historical Society's album, "Loss." There is a moment somewhere in the middle where it goes quiet and then thumping drums and pounding piano keys grow louder introducing this brilliant trumpet and horn chorus. And as the thumping and trumpet reach their peak loudness, you can faintly hear Colin MacIntyre shouting, "I'm not afraid of you anymore." His voice never gets louder then audible before it fades out again. Lord Byron never created a more Romantic scene. The first time I heard the brass kick into the middle of that song was a King George II Hallelujah moment for me. I don't think I actually stood up, but I like to remember it like I did.

Sent by Mac Coldwell | 10:24 AM ET | 03-31-2008

Great topic, I loved reading about what other people consider to be "comfort"! Some of the reasons why were so eloquent that I'm going to have to give a first or tenth listen to their suggestions. My own list is somewhat contingency-based, depending on what I'm doing.

For actual "comfort", when I need to de-stress and get my mind out of a rut, the most reliable thing is Bobby McFerrin's Circlesongs album. And NO, if you haven't heard it, the music is NOTHING like "that one song"! The album consists of a set of improvised spontaneous group songs sung by a roster of incredible singers from all kinds of musical backgrounds, and none of the vocals contain actual words, just made-up syllables, so it all sounds like another language. Bobby McFerrin's amazing voice is on all the tracks, of course, but his is just one in the incredible symphony of voices he assembled. It's really hard to describe the music, but I have to say that everyone I've given it to has been blown away and couldn't believe they'd never heard it. I try not to play it too often, just so it holds its power for when I really need it.

For an everyday companion, I never get tired of Django Reinhardt, with or without Stephane Grappelli, and for walking outdoors, there's nothing that keeps me in the moment as much as the traditional Irish fiddling of Martin Hayes.

At work I love to play Beleza Tropical, the first of David Byrne's "Brazil Classics" compilations, and in the car there's nothing better than anything by Gillian Welch, because I can sing along at the top of my longs.(And I love her because she pronounces her name the "right" way, just like mine. ;)

And if I'm completely at a loss and don't even know my own mood, the default button mostly points to the endlessly satisfying random Bob Dylan playlist.

Sent by Gillian Zyland | 5:08 PM ET | 03-31-2008

Usually I just put my iTunes on shuffle, and skip along until something sounds good. What I land on usually depends on my mood, but I've found that there are a few artists that I tend to settle on frequently, no matter my mood:

The Strokes
Cake
Regina Spektor
The Postal Service

and, at least recently,

Rilo Kiley

Sent by Nick | 6:20 PM ET | 03-31-2008

I listen to Boxer-The National, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea-Neutral Milk Hotel, Chutes Too Narrow-The Shins, and lately Ongiara-The Great Lake Swimmers.

Sent by Ben | 7:05 PM ET | 04-01-2008

wonderful serendipity--i just hopped onto the site because i wasn't sure what i wanted to hear, and thought i'd see if anything new had been discussed.

thanks to this post, i've been reminded of a few great options (death cab, great lake swimmers, nick drake). i'll add a couple, too:
beirut-flying club cup or lon gisland;
modest mouse-baron von bs rides again;
cursive-happy hollow;
arcade fire-funeral.

Sent by n. | 2:11 AM ET | 04-02-2008

Great posts! Here of my favs - if I feel calibrate my aural intake.

Bob Dylan - Nashville Skyline
Bruce Springsteen - Asbury Park
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland (especially 1983)
Ben Harper - Fight for Your Mind

Sent by Wayne | 3:19 PM ET | 04-04-2008

Antony and the Johnsons, Tina Turner and Fall Out Boy. No idea why these three calm me down but they're my musical Xanax.

Sent by Katie P. | 2:16 PM ET | 04-08-2008