Calming music: The kind of stuff that helps the disturbed sleep at night

[Flechair]

The entire purpose of this thread is for people to talk about what kind of music calms them down. Genre isn't important. Everyone is different, so it doesn't matter if your calming music is N.W.A. rapping about shoot cops or is Megadeth shredding until the guitar strings cut their fingers off.

Just talk about whatever puts you in a calm state.

Personally, I have been listening to Pretty Lights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNWvnz8_KqU), and it's been helping me so far. The overall feel of the songs are really mesmerizing, especially when I want it to calm me down. If I didn't have this to listen to, I'd be listening to some Prog; Porcupine Tree, Ayreon, King Crimson, Rush, Pink Floyd, Opeth, etc. I might even listen to the album 'Vegas' by The Crystal Method or 'Colma' by Buckethead.

So, fellow GitP members, tell me what you think of my music, give me suggestions, explain what kind of music helps you and why. Otherwise just have fun discussing your favorite types of relaxing music.

[Cyrion]

For calming, I think you can't go wrong with Ray Lynch. Some of his stuff will grab your attention, but he typically sets up a nice aural soundscape that I find very relaxing.

I'm also very partial to Ian Anderson's Divinities album. Instrumental flute and keyboards that's simply mahvelous!

[toasty]

Buckethead's softer albums, A real Diamond in the Rough (Some songs) Colma, Electric Tears, etc.

[Optimystik]

Vocal Trance in general. I'm usually a pretty calm guy regardless.

[Moff Chumley]

Modest Mouse. Battles. Thom Yorke. Gorillaz. LCD Soundsystem. And so on and so forth.

[Sneak]

Iron & Wine. I swear to any deity you want, nothing can beat Sam Beam's voice for pure ****ing soothingness.

[factotum]

I don't usually listen to music to calm down...I prefer a repetitive droning noise like a fan or a vacuum cleaner for that. (Weird, I know).

[Flechair]

I don't usually listen to music to calm down...I prefer a repetitive droning noise like a fan or a vacuum cleaner for that. (Weird, I know).

Well the fan isn't weird.. Vacuum cleaner seems a little loud.

[chiasaur11]

Classical generally does the job.

[JonestheSpy]

The Dire Straits album Love Over Gold is magic.

[factotum]

Well the fan isn't weird.. Vacuum cleaner seems a little loud.

It would have to be in a distant room, not right next to me! :smallwink:

[The Mentalist]

The Smiths, a vast majority of Warren Zevon.

[Kris Strife]

Classic Rock. Ozzy, Metallica, Kansas, Journey, AC/DC, etc.

[Xyk]

I find Pink Floyd very soothing. Their music has helped me to fall asleep on numerous occasions or to find my normal mellow self after a period of high stress.

[Fifty-Eyed Fred]

The Beatles relaxes me significantly. But then, I am the type to equate happiness with relaxation.

[Prince Zahn]

most of the Jim Croce songs that i have help me sleep at night, sometimes similar things help too, but not as well though.

[SDF]

Classical music always seemed like an odd choice to me for this question. Most of it is pretty loud, or has parts with crashing crescendos that would make me jump awake. I think I would have a hard time sleeping to the Carmina Burana.


Modest Mouse. Battles. Thom Yorke. Gorillaz. LCD Soundsystem. And so on and so forth.

Battles? That is the soundtrack of me going insane.

My answer would be certain kinds of post rock and folk music. Don't Mess with Texas and This Will Destroy You both work well for post rock. Fleet Foxes and older Okkervil River tend to work as folk.

[Coplantor]

Unsurprisingly, th song that gets me sleepy calmed is... "Good Night" by The Beatles.

Other than that, a couple of songs from the Paprika OST, some Matisyahu songs, anything that sounds like Dust in the Wind, Wish You Were Here, Love of My Life.

Rather, strange songs that can calm me down include Ohne Dich by Rammstein, Lunes Por La Madrugada by Los Abuelos de la Nada, though those rarely put me to sleep (but since they worked a few times I'm listing them here).

If I think of more I'll just post them later.

[Brewdude]

Mannheim Steamroller

Morning (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=NfLpCtm6slE&feature=related) Time to wake up blissfully.
Mere Image (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=NpaKLbb1Kaw&feature=related) Makes you wonder how much you'll remember about being a kid.
Rondo (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=z3Sq5Yc17BY&feature=related) Makes you think about breaking out of the rut you are in.
Tocatta (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=cp8gjhWaPjw&feature=related) One of the only songs in 10/8 I've ever heard.
Chocolate Fudge (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=tTM7mSubxj0&feature=related) This one was just too full of win to miss.
Sonata (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=yRVlcQWCjcM&feature=related) Perhaps their most famous melody.
Pass the Keg (Lia) (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=93hmI3urSz0&feature=related) This one made me learn what passacaglia meant. :)
Saras Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=DQKnaj6ayrg&feature=related) Because it reminds me of Mere Image.
Midnight on a Full Moon (http://www.youtube.com/watch#!v=8H0K1W7Fq5M&feature=related) It's finale time...and time to wind down...
The Sky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GguXVdxpumQ&feature=PlayList&p=374122A2854792AB&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=2) ...and go to sleep....

[Moff Chumley]

Iron & Wine. I swear to any deity you want, nothing can beat Sam Beam's voice for pure ****ing soothingness.

*clears throat*

HIPSTER

YOU'RE A HIPSTER

:smalltongue:


Battles? That is the soundtrack of me going insane.

My answer would be certain kinds of post rock and folk music. Don't Mess with Texas and This Will Destroy You both work well for post rock. Fleet Foxes and older Okkervil River tend to work as folk.

As for Battles, I was mostly thinking just Leyendecker (aka the most beautiful melody of all time). And how could I forget Fleet Foxes? And for that matter, Grizzly Bear and Bon Iver.

[Sneak]

*clears throat*

HIPSTER

YOU'RE A HIPSTER

:smalltongue:

I make no apologies. :smalltongue:

Oh, also, Young (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgumTLQXUtA) Marble (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1C9oadih4E) Giants (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVJH2Teizjs).

[Jack Squat]

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. I find it soothing, but it seems to keep other people from sleeping.

Pretty much anything by The Weepies.

Ballads by classic rock bands.

Most classic/traditional music.

[Sneak]

OK, I think Yo La Tengo qualifies as well. I was looking for a good Song of the Moment for my sig, and the YLT one I found is totally relaxing.

[Tirian]

Classical music always seemed like an odd choice to me for this question. Most of it is pretty loud, or has parts with crashing crescendos that would make me jump awake. I think I would have a hard time sleeping to the Carmina Burana.

There's a lot of classical music. To give one example, if Bach's harpsichord or string works doesn't help you get to sleep, then you're really not sleepy.

[SDF]

That, or you are listening to a Bach compilation and Toccata and Fugue in D minor comes on waking up the entire household because that damn song is Eruption on the organ.

[Yulian]

Secret Garden, particularly their album "Dreamcatcher". They're New Instrumental/Neo-Classical.

I also find a lot of the Dark Ambient music of Midnight Syndicate and Nox Arcana to be very soothing. Then again, I've also worked with haunted attractions for 13 years, now. I have to hear music like that for hours on end for most of October.

The French artist Colleen also does very strange, abstract ambient music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ctVdz5ooFk

Oh yes, one more piece I honestly find particularly soothing, almost hypnotic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMG9wkIENDY

That is "Leviathan" from the Hellraiser II score. I can set that on repeat for hours.

- Yulian

[Moff Chumley]

Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. I find it soothing, but it seems to keep other people from sleeping.

Opening 5 minutes of that song: O=
Next 35 minutes: >.>