Brian Eno - Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978)

When Chicago had its first, therapeutically nice weather week of 2011 last week, I brought this album out for its similar medicinal feel. It's Eno's typical ambient, atmospheric style, but in this case it's also so very uplifting and almost nostalgic feeling.
After listening to it a few times, I took particular note of how the album works with its title. I'm not sure if Eno views airports as settings for hope and moving on or for depression and the sadness of saying goodbyes in such a dreary place, but either way the album connects with the sense of loss we feel when we are at the airport and aren't the one getting on the flight. Although seemingly sad, I find the album uplifting in that it creates beauty by connecting so well to a seemingly painful aspect of humanity. Just try it out, toss it on, and contemplate some things for awhile.