Instrumentals That Make You Think

[The Doctor]

One thing I've realized while listening to music is the power of the instrumental. Sometimes, a song can speak to you, even when it doesn't have any words. Sometimes it does it better than a song with lyrics.

So I want to know, have you heard any instrumentals that really make you think? Any that make you imagine a story or video in your head?

I have two:
The Protomen - How The World Fell Under Darkness
This song is amazing. I didn't have the liner notes when I first heard this song, but I knew exactly what was happening in this song. The transition through the years, from old to new, is done perfectly and smoothly, and I can see in my mind's eye the city's transformation into a shining utopia with a dark underside.

Newcleus - Destination Earth, 1999

Really awesome song. I imagine people trying to escape from their desolate lives on Earth, only to fly into a wormhole and end up on Earth far into the future. Really cool stuff.

So, what about you guys?

 

[NSL]

A really good instrumental will always make you think, and go through the emotions of the song. I'm a fan of Frankenstein, but frankly, it's not a thought-provoking 5 minutes. This one, however, is:

Spoiler: VIDEO

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All That Remains is one of my favorite bands ever, and they really go to every extreme here. It starts with that real slow mellow acoustic, and then picks up gradually into the heavy metal that everyone loves about them, and goes through highs and lows that can make you feel anything at any moment. It slows down again into the acoustic, and kind of tails off, leaving you with your thoughts. It's truly a great song, and not many ATR fans even know about it, because this is fairly early work from them.

Also, honorable mention to this song, although it cheats a bit:

Spoiler: VIDEO

[YOUTUBE]E6KFSphpYAk[/YOUTUBE]​

There's no "lyrics", but there are movie clips in there, so it makes you think while still classifying as an "instrumental"...

 

[Super Crazy]

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Acoustic Medley by In Flames has to be my favorite instrumental. Every time I hear it, I feel all different sorts of emotions, and it really gets me thinking, about everything, about my life, and just my outlook on everything. It goes through all sorts of highs and lows throughout with all the acoustic sounds, and I find it to be really mellow, and a perfect tune to relax to and just think things out to.

 

[Barbedwire Ropes]

C'mon, lets talk about some real "Instra" bands here!

Pelican.....God Is An Astronaut....Solaris.....Unwed Sailor.....The Bakerton Group....By The End Of Tonight....Earth.....Explosions in the Sky....Karma To Burn....The Roots of Orchis....Scale the Summit....Saxon Shore....Tortoise....This Will Destroy You.....Vangelis...

THOSE, are some epic all instrumental bands....

My personal fave would probably have to be "Angel Tears" by Pelican though, all of their stuff is so sublime and yet has this feeling of suspense the entire time. Its all must-own stuff.
[YOUTUBE]M8a-PvtV4o0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[X]

If we're just picking songs off the basis of a lack of vocals, then I have one song in particular I'd like to share, and that's a piece of music written/performed by Jon Brion for the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Brion has composed the score to several different films and has released a few albums on his own as well as a part of several different bands, and the guy is simply phenomenal. The score for Eternal Sunshine is one of my favorite pieces of music ever, film score or not.

One particular track however always stood out to me and made me take notice, and something about it is just blindingly romantic and beautiful and bittersweet all at the same time. The piece is called "Phone Call".

Jon Brion - Phone Call
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Something about that minute of music is just unbelievable to me. I literally could listen to it a million times, and have, and I never tire of it. It helps that I have fond memories of the film and the score to go alongside the piece, but man...I just don't know how else to describe it. It's one minute of your life that's simply beautiful in every way. I'd love to meet Jon Brion just to shake his hand for making that song.