Suvudu Universe

I've been listening to a lot of steampunk music lately. It's been my go-to playlist while I'm doing my blog rounds in the morning. If you've seen my guest spot on Tor Books, I gave a quick rundown of some good albums for the intrepid steampunk explorer, but that only scratched the surface. Here are my top five steampunk songs to jig to. Cue brass goggles, steam powered airships and dancing robots.

If you can't see the embedded videos, take a look at the top 5 steampunk songs YouTube playlist.

#5. Professor Elemental - Cup of Brown Joy

From the album The Indifference Engine

This is about as British as it gets. A man dresses up in a Victorian safari outfit and extols the virtues of drinking tea. That's pretty much it. Professor Elemental is part of a British sub-genre called chap hop; uber-English gents mixing folk with rap.

#4. Abney Park - Steampunk Revolution

From the album Ancient World

If you need an introduction to the genre, this is one of the best places to start. Abney Park is one of the best known steampunk groups, and though this track borders on hipster (especially with lyrics like "your subculture shops at the mall; we build ours with blowtorch, needle thread and leather awl"), it's got a good tune.

#3. Escape the Clouds - The Adventurer

From the album Circumnavigator

One of my favourites for capturing the atmosphere of a steampunk world. Escape the Clouds uses a phonograph-style voiceover and an orchestral backing to show the spirit of adventure that steampunk is all about.

#2. The Cog is Dead - BURN IT DOWN

From the album FULL STEAM AHEAD!

The Cog is Dead is what I think of when I think of Cherie Priest's Clockwork Century novels like Boneshaker and Dreadnought. This is one of the more dance-worthy steampunk tracks, and also throws in a good story to boot.

#1. Steam Powered Giraffe - Brass Goggles

From the album Album One

Probably my favourite steampunk band because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Steam Powered Giraffe is a musical troupe/robot pantomime group that put on a great live show (from what I've seen on YouTube - SPG if you read this, please do a show in the UK). Brass Goggles is the best introduction to who these automatons are and what they're all about.

So that's my top five! If there's a track that you think I should listen to, let me know in the comments (+Alex, I promise I'll get around to listening to Rush's Clockwork Angels album soon).

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