by Bill DeVille
Member since:
January 22, 2007

Musicheads want to know: What music do you put on to relax, or go to sleep?

May 20, 2008 03:26 PM UTC
views: 0 | comments: 19

Death Cab for Cutie are back with their bid for stadium-sized-rock, "Narrow Stairs," and we gave it a spin this week.  We also delved into the ultra-darkness of Portishead's long, long awaited "Third," and debated the merits -- or otherwise -- of actress Scarlett Johansson's foray into pop music, "Wherever I Lay My Head." 

We also posed the question, "What music do you put on to relax, or go to sleep?"  Mark Wheat and The Current's Music Director Melanie Walker were my guests.

Listen to the Musicheads podcast online.

Comments: 19

Peter Joseph Swanson May 20, 2008, 3:53pm UTC
I turn on my classical radio station. I turn it back off if the classical music is un-relaxing.
Joseph H. May 20, 2008, 3:58pm UTC
Slayer helps me relax. Seasons in the Abyss works best.
Laura Cushing May 20, 2008, 6:31pm UTC
When I was really sick and in a lot of pain after my car accident, I had a hard time sleeping. I'd turn on The Elected's Me First and listen to it to help me relax. Wonderful band, great Album.

Listen to Greetings in Braille on their Myspace Page - beautiful stuff.
Mary Ann Slavcheff May 20, 2008, 6:33pm UTC
Vivaldi - Four Seasons.
Tim M. May 20, 2008, 8:51pm UTC
Recently I have been setting the sleep timer on my clock radio for and hour and listening to the Current. I fall asleep eventually. I have a lot of Grateful Dead CD's and DVD's, and Widespread Panic also. Listening to a whole show in the Lazy Boy with a few Pabst Blue Ribbon Tall Boys works pretty good for me. Having a good time.
Ian H. May 21, 2008, 3:53pm UTC
I enjoy both of Jose Gonzalez's albums: "Veneer" and "In our nature". His whispering voice is the perfect sort of atmosphere I need to send me quickly to dream land.
soundscapem n. May 21, 2008, 8:24pm UTC
Sigur Ros - ()

Mehdi
Bill DeVille May 22, 2008, 12:12pm UTC
soundscapem n, Sigur Ros works for me as well...except when they hit those big crescendos that sound like a jet plane taking off!

I am in agreement Ian H, Jose Gonzalez, is like my answer to the question, Nick Drake. I think Jose has spent a little time w/some of Nick's albums.

I would have to be in a permanent state of sleep (dead) to sleep through Slayer!
travis b. May 22, 2008, 2:10pm UTC
I haven't listened to music as I fall asleep for awhile but...my all time classic is Mazzy Star, "So Tonight That I Might See". I would rarely make past "Fade into You"
Jeremy D. May 22, 2008, 3:48pm UTC
I almost always fall asleep listening to something; either dvd commentaries, philosphy (especially Alan Watts), or just about anything either classical, ambient or droning. Some of the best artists i've found are:

Stars of the Lid
Brian Eno
Murcof
Mogwai
Boards of Canada
Fuck Buttons
Sigur Ros

Also, I just bought "Zeit" by Tangerine Dream - who i normally don't really care for, but this album is a lot more subtle and consistently moody than their others, and "In a Silent Way" by Miles Davis - which is somehow just as energetic as it is relaxing - both of which were ridiculously cheap on Amazon's MP3 store.
Jill Riley May 23, 2008, 12:10am UTC
I'll usually toss something on the ol' turntable and hope I fall asleep before I have to get up and turn the record over to side 2. The last two albums I put on to fall asleep were the Easy Rider Soundtrack and Bridge Over Troubled Water.
LmL T. May 23, 2008, 12:16am UTC
lately Burial is great "going to sleep" music, also anything by "the sixteen" and my "quiet" radiohead mix
Auntie Smedley May 23, 2008, 11:46pm UTC
Back when I worked 2 jobs and had to "wind down" after my shift in order to get to bed at a reasonable hour, I had several ambient albums that usually did the trick. My favorite was the classic "Music to Disappear In" by Raphael. I still like that album - the first half is very ethereal, the 2nd half has an almost tribal world-music feel. My step aerobics instructor frequently uses the album for our cool down.

One of these days I really need to get around to making the "Rock 'n Roll Lullaby" mix I have had kicking around in my brain. I like the idea of songs that rock you, yet are somehow soothing at the same time.
Zoe L. May 25, 2008, 10:15am UTC
Joshua Radin sings the best lullabyes. "Paperweight" and "Fear You Won't Fall" are his two best. Also Cat Power.
botski phloombah May 27, 2008, 1:26pm UTC
I want to thank the Musicheads for bringing the Portishead album to my attention. I have never heard such a hauntingly beautiful album in my life. Each time I listen to it I hear something different to pay attention to. I feel like my brain is getting recharged as it is jumping around to gather in all the various minimalist instrumentation and the mysterious vocals. This is the first Portishead I've ever bought. On first listen, I thought that this would be one of the ambient albums which would help me unwind to sleep, but I've found that it is too stimulating.
Casey M. May 27, 2008, 2:19pm UTC
Silversun Pickups are great for sleeping to. One of their songs is even named "Melatonin" and it works almost as good.

Also, Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, etc...
Debbie Y. Jun 7, 2008, 9:02pm UTC
There are several cd's out called "Music from the Coffee Lands" Music from the Chocolate Lands and African Odyssey which are great when I'm either reading or falling asleep. Lisa Gerrard is great to listen to as well.
Kim J. Jun 9, 2008, 7:20pm UTC
Lately I put on 90.9 jones college radio, local jazz station here in Jax, FL. no commercials, and pretty mellow for the most part. A few cd's I have that I also used to fall asleep to were: Radio Tarifa, Gipsy Kings, Forest for the trees.
j kerouac59 Jun 11, 2008, 5:42pm UTC
The "Sleepy Time" playlist from my iPod:

Andalucia - Pink Martini
Breathless - Corinne Bailey Rae
Devi Puja - Ram Dass & Amazing Grace
Drowned World/Substitute For Love - Madonna Ray Of Light
Forget The Few - Caroline Lavelle
Prayer to Hanuman - Ram Dass
Quelqu'un M'a Dit - Carla Bruni
Satie: Gnossiennes - 1. Lent - Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gnossiennes - 2. Avec Étonnement-Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gnossiennes - 3. Lent - Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gnossiennes - 4. Lent - Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gnossiennes - 5. Modéré- Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gnossiennes - 6. Avec Conviction Et Avec Une Tristesse Rigoureuse - Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gymnopédies - 1. Lent Et Douloureux- Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gymnopédies - 2. Lent Et Triste - Reinbert De Leeuw
Satie: Gymnopédies - 3. Lent Et Grave - Reinbert De Leeuw
Sweatshop - Brazilian Girls
This - Brian Eno
Topknot - Cornershop
Barber's Adagio for Strings - William Orbit

Join the Conversation
Chime in! Become a Gather member to comment.
Already a member? Sign in
top
 
Gather | Friends | Groups | Share
About Gather | Engagement Marketing | Gather Points | Advertise on Gather | Gather Press | Privacy | Terms of Service | Community Guidelines
Books | Business | Celebs | Entertainment | Family | Food | Giveaways | Health | Money | Moms | News | Politics | Sports | Style | Technology | Travel | Writing
Version 18247, "Zach"; Copyright © 2013 Gather Inc. All rights reserved.