Music for sleeping

November 5, 2012 11:46 PM

What music should I listen to when I'm falling asleep?

Usually I listen to Say Hi to Your Mom or Her Space Holiday; like the soft vocals, like Say Hi's soft (?) guitar, like that a lot of their songs are dynamic without being loud. Suggestions in the indie/lo-fi/electronica vein are cool. Suggestions not in that vein are also cool, so long as they're good for playing in the background while staring at the ceiling or imagining I Am Bed. Not into classical music. Sad music when I'm trying to sleep makes me sad, so that's not up my street, either. thanks.

posted by goosechasing to media & arts (23 answers total)

Some of my favorites are Aphex Twin's Selected Ambient Works, Tortoise's TNT, FourTet's Rounds.
posted by mannequito at 11:59 PM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]

Sleepbot Environmental Broadcast streams a wide variety of ambient music 24/7.
posted by parjanya at 12:10 AM on November 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

the brian eno pandora station never fails!
posted by c at 12:12 AM on November 6, 2012

I asked a similar question once. My recommendation out of the bunch would be the album () by Sigur Rós, because it's abstract enough for me not to be distracted by lyrics or musical details, but not so weird that it keeps me awake. It does have some dramatic movements though, so YMMV.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:13 AM on November 6, 2012 [2 favorites]

If you decide to listen to Selected Ambient Works 85-92, remember to uncheck track 6 'Green Calx'. Always scares the shit of out me. Good trolling by Aphex.
posted by derbs at 1:36 AM on November 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

Here is my similar question from a couple years ago, which got a lot of great answers. My requirements were a bit different from yours but there's some overlap.

Of all the non-classical artists mentioned in that thread, Stars of the Lid and William Basinski are still my favorites for this purpose.
posted by pete_22 at 1:48 AM on November 6, 2012

I found the early albums of Low perfect for the purpose, although they could be a bit too melancholy for your taste. Examples: 1, 2, 3. You might also try The Album Leaf.
posted by pipeski at 2:23 AM on November 6, 2012

Back in the day, the daycare our kids attended always played Deep Breakfast at nap time. Worked like a charm on the kids. It might work for you, too.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:58 AM on November 6, 2012

I put on a BBC essential mix. I tend to listen to the older Paul Oakenfold mixes. I find that the beat engages my brain and there aren't too many sudden changes to jolt me awake. I set my iPod to turn off after 90 minutes or so and usually fall asleep before then.
posted by poxandplague at 4:31 AM on November 6, 2012

Bvdub is really great for this.
posted by oceanjesse at 5:16 AM on November 6, 2012

I am completely serious when I say that listening to this knocks me the hell out pretty much every single time. You can laugh if you want, but it works. I mean, sometimes I have to loop it but not usually. I never listen to that song other than bedtime (obviously- why would I?), so my brain associates it with sleepy goodness. It might work for you! The other thing that might help is whatever lullabyes your mom used to sing to you. If you don't remember, ask. You might be surprised how well it works.
posted by windykites at 5:23 AM on November 6, 2012

Along the same lines as Sleepbot, Cryosleep is excellent for this sort of thing.
posted by anthom at 6:01 AM on November 6, 2012

I taught myself to fall asleep to Sigur Rós' Ágætis byrjun about ten years ago. It never fails to make me drowsy (which can be bad because the local student radio station seems to play tracks from that album hourly--not helpful if I'm driving).

I also like Brian Eno's Ambient series, especially Music for Airports.
posted by elsietheeel at 6:15 AM on November 6, 2012

Digitally Imported ( di.fm ) has some great streams- lounge, ambient, various chillouts. I love it because it's one click and it just keeps going...
posted by hypersloth at 6:18 AM on November 6, 2012

My wife and I still refer to Beck's album Sea Change as "the sleep mix".
posted by glenngulia at 6:58 AM on November 6, 2012

I have found it helpful to listen to something I am intimately familiar with when falling asleep. Not Slayer, of course.
posted by zzazazz at 7:51 AM on November 6, 2012

Anything by Harold Budd should do the trick.
posted by theperfectcrime at 9:28 AM on November 6, 2012 [1 favorite]

This.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 9:39 AM on November 6, 2012

Radiohead - Kid A
Eric Serra - The Big Blue (you have to avoid a couple of tracks)
Ennio Morricone - The Mission (I just love Gabriel's Oboe)
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 10:09 AM on November 6, 2012

Nick Drake's Pink Moon is the perfect fall-asleep album. But is it considered sad? I don't know.
posted by allseeingabstract at 11:36 AM on November 6, 2012

I used to love to fall asleep to Peter Murphy's Love Hysteria and American Prayer by Jim Morrison/The Doors.

Yes, I was a weird art school girl.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 7:48 PM on November 6, 2012

Kings of Convenience - Quiet is the New Loud

I honestly can't listen to this album without falling asleep practically immediately.
posted by so much modern time at 12:01 AM on November 7, 2012

Rockabye Baby lullaby renditions. My favorites are the ones for Tool and Nirvana.
posted by palbo at 10:37 PM on November 9, 2012