Moods: Introspective

Introspective folk-based songs to help you reflect during the fleeting moments of magic hour when the sun has dipped below the horizon but hasn't yet set.

Everyone with a soft spot for singer/songwriters knows their Troubadour History 101, filled with songsmiths from previous generations, but here's where you'll find the best of the current crop of artists committed to the crafting of thoughtful tunes.

An intimate experience with some of rap's most compelling introspective and philosophical songs.

Self-help and life lessons from the pop-rock charts.

This playlist of mostly acoustic, guitar-based songs is perfect for long, relaxing nights in your bedroom. By yourself, or with someone special, listen to this until the sun rises.

This playlist features mellow indie tunes that provide the perfect soundtrack for working, studying, or just plain old relaxing.

These are the women who wander freely through the worlds of folk, country, bluegrass, and other Americana styles, stirring up a sound that evokes an evening spent watching the sun go down on a rural back porch.

One of rock journalism's favorite buzzwords comes to life in songs that echo Dylan's various phases lyrically and/or vocally. Explore Bob's influence on his generations of disciples, from the folk-rock era to today's modern troubadours.

Nothing helps a blue mood like hearing from someone who knows just how you feel. From the sensitive singer-songwriters of the early '70s to the gloomy indie rockers of today, this is the perfect playlist when you're in the mood to mope.

In the '50s and '60s, NYC's Greenwich Village was home to America's folk music revival. With Odetta and Pete Seeger guiding newcomers like Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, the Village proved fertile ground (once again) for seminal bohemian developments.

Many of the solo artists that emerged in the 1970s became widely referred to as "singer-songwriters." These artists wrote and performed songs that were personal, sincere, introspective, and, most importantly, timeless.

Elliott Smith is one of indie rock's most celebrated singer-songwriters. Listen to songs by Smith as well as his greatest influences, closest contemporaries, and indebted followers.

Hazy, soothing pop songs that'll make you feel like you're having the best dream ever.

Acoustic folk-pop by male singer-songwriters with breathy vocals.

Put on your slippers, wrap yourself in a blanket, and get cozy by the fire.

Modern female songwriters inspired by the off-kilter vocal and sonic sensibilities of music maverick Kate Bush.

Folk and folk-like tunes from both sides of the pond that evoke a forest setting.

The perfect soundtrack of warm, acoustic songs handpicked for enjoying crisp autumn air, fall foliage, and hot apple cider.

As the Grunge Age petered out, many expected Sub Pop Records to disappear as well. But the label has thrived with a less noisy aesthetic incorporating dream pop, alt-folk, electronic and even country influences into its indie rock.

These quiet, pensive tunes are perfect for an overcast afternoon, either curled up at home or settled in at a cozy cafe.

Emerging as an antidote to the glitzy-jiggy rap scene of the late '90s, underground artists started putting out uncompromising hip-hop on small independent labels. Look back on a sometimes underappreciated scene.

Get intimate with these lushly arranged records full of artful elegance -- from idiosyncratic alt-pop to moody soul and cool, classy balladry.

From World War II through the early '60s, The Golden Age of Big Band Jazz brought us some of the greatest interpreters of song, arguably ever. This velvet sound was the stuff of legend.

Classic sounding, sometimes sentimental, and a still a little drunk, these nocturnal rock ballads are the perfect nightcap to a long day of sex, drugs, and rock & roll.

A collection of ethereal, melodic, and ambient songs to help you unwind after work. From current indie to forgotten gems from the past, everything reverberates with the same dreamy aesthetics. Brought to you from KnowPhase.com

A Julliard-trained pianist, Nina Simone was as comfortable with Broadway standards as she was with African polyrhythmic rave-ups. Here are the best songs from her influences and contemporaries, as well as the songs she covered with her unmistakable voice.

Did Adele turn you on to the current soul-revival scene or the older artists who inspired her? Get deeper into these soulful, sometimes danceable songs by Adele's peers and those who came before them.

Soul music re-emerged and took on many forms throughout the 90's and 00's, often referred to as "Neo Soul" or "Soul Revival." Listen to the greatest songs from the women that captured that spirit.

Recently popularized by the movie "The Descendants," Hawaiian folk is a soothing style of acoustic folk music featuring slack-key guitar, ukulele, and warm vocal harmonies. Say aloha to traditional Hawaiian folk's best artists, both past and present.

The term "indie" may conjure up thoughts of a scrappy aesthetic, but as these exceptional acts prove, there's plenty of room for a more refined sound as well.

It wasn't all about grunge at the birth of The Alternative Era. Some artists took from the rich history of elegantly-constructed pop and made their own indie-minded version of sophistication.

As garish as the decade could often be, the 1980s were also a time of musical sophistication. Especially in the post-punk UK, a suave persona and musical creativity were admirable traits even among DIY indie types.

The 1970s saw the once-homogenous rock audience split into factions like soft singer-songwriters, bluesy hard rock, and artsy progressives. Yet a fondness for complex arrangements and thoughtful lyrics united listeners like never before.