The Best Psychedelic Rock Songs to Listen to When High

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

If you’re looking for the best psychedelic rock songs to listen to when high, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of tunes that are guaranteed to take your trip to the next level. From classics by The Beatles and The Doors to more modern hits by Tame Impala and MGMT, there’s something for everyone. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

The Psychedelic Sound

Psychedelic rock, also called psychedelic pop or acid rock, is a style of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic rock often uses distorted electric guitars, electronic effects, and sitars.

What is Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic rock, also referred to as psych rock or psychedelic pop, is a genre of music that emerged in the mid-1960s and reached the peak of its popularity in the late 1960s. The genre is characterized by its use of distorted guitars, psychedelia-themed lyrics, and extended Instrumental passages.

Psychedelic rock was largely inspired by the popularity of mind-altering drugs such as LSD and mushrooms. As such, many of the songs in this genre deal with themes of drug use and exploration. However, not all psychedelic rock songs are about drugs; some simply aim to create a sound that is trippy and visually stimulating.

Whatever their subject matter, all psychedelic rock songs share a common goal: to create an experience that is both musically and mentally stimulating. If you’re looking for some good tunes to trip out to, look no further than this list of the best psychedelic rock songs to listen to when high.

The Origins of Psychedelic Rock

Psychedelic rock, often shortened to psyrock or psychedrock, is a musical genre characterized by distorted guitars, feedback, and other sound effects intoxicated by drugs such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms to experience visual and aural hallucinations during performances. The music is intended to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic rock reached its peak of popularity in the late 1960s with bands such as The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, Pink Floyd, Iron Butterfly, and Sly & The Family Stone.

The genre originated in the early 1960s with the release of The Beatles’ album Rubber Soul, which included the song “Tomorrow Never Knows”, considered by many to be the first psychedelic rock song. Most psychedelia was created by white American bands playing what came to be known as acid rock; however, there was also a considerable British contribution during what is sometimes called the Abbey Road moment when artists such as Pink Floyd and The Moody Blues experimented with new sounds inspired by Indian classical music. African American musicians such as Sly Stone were also integral to the development of psychedelic soul.

The Best Psychedelic Rock Songs

Psychedelic rock, also known as acid rock, is a style of rock music that is influenced by psychoactive drugs. The music is intended to replicate the experience of psychedelic drugs, often resulting in an altered state of consciousness. The best psychedelic rock songs can be found below.

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” – Procol Harum

“A Whiter Shade of Pale” is a song by the British rock band Procol Harum. It was released as their debut single on 12 May 1967 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. It has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and has been covered by many artists.

The song is written in the style of a traditional English ballad and is about a young man who is leaving his lover for another woman. The lyrics were written by the band’s lead singer Gary Brooker and the music was composed by Matthew Fisher. The song’s opening organ solo was improvised by Fisher and was inspired by J. S. Bach’s “Tocatta and Fugue in D minor”.

The single topped charts in several countries, including the UK, Canada, Sweden, New Zealand, and South Africa. In the US, it peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song has been used in films and television shows, including The Big Chill (1983), Breaking Bad (2008),and Stranger Things (2016).

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” – Iron Butterfly

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” is a Psychedelic Rock song by American band Iron Butterfly, released in 1968. The 17-minute track is widely considered to be one of the first, if not the first, Psychedelic Rock songs. The song’s heavy use of reverb, looping and sound effects were groundbreaking at the time and helped define the Psychedelic Rock genre.

“Paint It, Black” – The Rolling Stones

One of the great dark anthems of the psychedelic era, “Paint It, Black” was released as a single in May 1966 and quickly became a smash hit, reaching number one on both the US and UK charts. The song is notable for its use of sitar, which gives it a distinctly Eastern flavor and helps to create an atmosphere of foreboding and unease. Mick Jagger’s lyrics are obliquely references to the Vietnam War, and the song has since been adopted as an anthem by anti-war protesters.

“Purple Haze” – The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“Purple Haze” is a song written by Jimi Hendrix and released as the second single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience on March 17, 1967. The song features his distinctive guitar playing and is one of his most popular songs. It is also one of the most covered songs in history.

“White Rabbit” – Jefferson Airplane

“White Rabbit” is a song written by Grace Slick, and performed by the American rock band Jefferson Airplane. It was released as a single in 1967, and became one of the defining songs of the psychedelic rock genre.

The song is about drug use, specifically LSD. The lyrics include numerous references to Alice in Wonderland, and the hook “Go ask Alice / when she’s ten feet tall” is a reference to the size-changing effects of LSD.

The song was a major hit for Jefferson Airplane, reaching #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1967. It has since been covered by many artists, including Marilyn Manson and Smashing Pumpkins.

The Psychedelic Experience

Psychedelic music is a genre of rock music that is inspired or influenced by psychedelic culture and attempts to replicate and enhance the mind-altering experiences of psychedelic drugs. Psychedelic music often uses new recording techniques and effects and draws on non-Western sources such as the raga drone in Indian music.

What is a Psychedelic Experience?

A psychedelic experience is a temporary altered state of consciousness induced by the consumption of psychedelic drugs (such as LSD, mescaline, psilocybin, and DMT). Characterized by heightened sensations, colors, and emotions, as well as increased spiritual awareness and a sense of unity with the cosmos, a psychedelic experience can be profoundly positive and life-changing. Psychedelic drugs have been used for centuries by indigenous peoples for healing and religious purposes. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in psychedelics for therapeutic applications such as treating depression, anxiety, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Benefits of a Psychedelic Experience

Psychedelic substances have been used by humans for millennia, with the earliest known use dating back to 10,000 BCE. Psychedelics have been used in many cultures for religious and spiritual purposes. In the West, they became popular in the 1960s as a way to experience altered states of consciousness and expand one’s mind.

Psychedelics are known to produce profound changes in consciousness and perception. They can cause hallucinations, altered states of awareness, and changes in thought patterns and emotional experiences. These changes can be short-lived or long-lasting, depending on the individual’s reaction to the substance. Some people report feeling more connected to nature or the universe after taking psychedelics, while others say they have experienced increased creativity or a newfound sense of well-being.

Psychedelic experiences can be positive or negative, depending on the individual’s mindset and intentions going into the experience. It is important to set realistic expectations and be prepared for both good and bad trip experiences. It is also important to have a trusted friend or guide present during a psychedelic experience, as they can help you navigate any difficult parts of the experience.

If you are interested in trying psychedelics, it is important to research them thoroughly before doing so. There are many different types of psychedelics with varying effects, so it is important to know what you are getting into before taking them. Psychedelics are not for everyone, so it is also important to assess your own risk factors before deciding whether or not to try them.

The Risks of a Psychedelic Experience

Psychedelics are powerful drugs that can cause profound changes in your consciousness and mood. When you use psychedelics, you may experience visual and auditory hallucinations, altered perception of time, and changes in your sense of self. Psychedelics can also cause psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia, delusions, and impaired judgment.

Psychedelic experiences are often described as “trips.” A bad trip can be very frightening and can cause you to feel panicked, lost, or out of control. If you take a large dose of a psychedelic drug, or if you are susceptible to psychosis, you may have a bad trip that lasts for days or even weeks.Psychedelic drugs can also trigger latent mental health problems, such as schizophrenia.

If you are considering using psychedelics, it’s important to be aware of the risks. You should only use psychedelics under the supervision of a qualified mental health professional. make sure to start with a small dose and increase it gradually if needed. If you start to experience negative effects, stop using the drug immediately and seek medical help if necessary.

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