Music
Classical
In particular, Beethoven (Fur Elise), Bizet (Carmen), Dvorak, Barber (Movement in B Minor) and Orff (Carmina Burana). Also Mozart, Haydn, and Vivaldi. Pretty much all classical music, in fact.
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal
From the heyday of hard rock (aka the Eighties)– Def Leppard, Dokken, Ozzy, The Scorpions, Aerosmith, Yngwie J. Malmsteen’s Rising Force (yes, there’s actually a band named that), Bon Jovi, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC, and Van Halen.
Alternative/Pop
I don’t know much about contemporary music, most of it sounds like crap to me. However, there are some artists, like Live, Alannis Morissette, and Fiona Apple who actually have meaningful lyrics, in addition to sounding good.
Classic Rock
Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Eagles, Bad Company, Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Allman Brothers, for the more intense stuff; pretty much anything Motown put out, but the best are The Temptations, The Supremes, The Drifters, The Platters, and especially The Four Seasons. Not to mention The Beatles, of course.
