Nevermind The Posers

TNT’s Top 5
5. “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie – The tempo is relaxed and I find the lyrics comforting; “If there’s no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I’ll follow you into the dark”.
3. “Bouncing Ball” by Honey Honey – The hums in this song alone could put me to sleep, very soothing.
3. “Hannah Hold On” by The Get Up Kids – You knew there was going to be a song from The Get Up Kids on here.  It’s a sad song, but calming at the same time.
2. “Shortly Before the End” by Ok Go – The echos in this song make me feel like I’m drifting or floating off into an unknown oblivion…or sleep.
1. “Come Away With Me” by Nora Jones – When I think of Nora Jones, I think of relaxation.  Her voice alone could put me into a deep sleep, and the entire album Come Away With Me does the trick.

Daniel Edward’s Top 5
5. “Sleep” by The Dandy Warhols
4. “Kelly Watch the Stars” by AIR
3. “Across the Universe” by Fiona Apple
2. “When Stars Go Blue” by The Corrs featuring Bono
1. “Don’t Blame Your Daughter [Diamonds]” by The Cardigans

Honorable Mentions: “Come Away With Me” by Nora Jones, “The Engine Driver” by The Decemberists

Mark’s Top 5
5. “Halcyon+On+On” by Orbital – A beautifully repetitive electronic journey.  It always gave me the sensation of being on the beach on a quiet day, floating in and out of consciousness as I hear the waves rhythmically crashing in.  Even when the beat kicks in, it maintains its calm demeanor, allowing you to get some rest.
4. “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck Quartet – Back in my ‘cool jazz’ faze, I used to obsessively listen to Brubeck’s landmark album Time Out, with “Take Five” being played most often.  Even with such a strange and disjointed time signature, it is a remarkably easy tune to relax to.  Sweet dreams.
3. “Over Now” (MTV Unplugged version) by Alice In Chains – A fine tune by a great rock band, the remarkable talents of the members made more apparent by a superior to the original acoustic arrangement.
2. “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson – One of Michael’s best early songs, in a smooth jazz by way of pop arrangement.
1. “No Words No More” by Love and Rockets – A slightly creepy but strangely soothing song, led by a simple acoustic guitar, whispered vocals and rounded out with mysterious vibe hits and harmonica.  Just give it a listen and you’ll understand.

Hoverbee’s Top 5
5. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum – The haunting organ melody of this song is relaxing and helps put me in the mood to catch a few z’s.
4. “Sea of Love” by Phil Philips – The rolling piano and smooth vocals are perfect for drifting off to dreamland.
3. “Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison – Van the Man’s voice, the piano and the horns of this tune put me in a coma.
2. “Sleepwalk” by Santo & Johnny – The steel slide guitar melts my limbs and numbs my mind.  I’m sleeping like a baby.
1. “Echoes” by Pink Floyd – Coming in at 23 minutes and 31 seconds, this song is perfect to lull me into a deep sleep.  The pings at the beginning of the song and the many instrumentals are sure to knock me out.

Klone’s Top 5

5. “Silent Lucidity” by Queensryche – From the guys who sang about a “Jet City Woman”, this sweet lullaby was a mega-hit for Queensryche in the early 90s, from their album Empire, and was performed at the 1992 Grammy Awards with a full orchestra accompaniment.  With a vocal track discussing taking control on one’s own dream in the middle of the song, it would be hard to imagine that this song wasn’t written to be listen to while drifting off to slumber.
4. “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd – Not sure this one really needs an explanation.  What’s the next logical step when you’re feeling “Comfortably Numb”?
3. “Blue” by A Perfect Circle – From the side-project of Tool front-man Maynard James Keenan, one wouldn’t expect a meditative, calm-inducing track like this, but for me this song is supremely relaxing and introspective.  I’ve survived many a tired commute to work with “Blue” and the rest of The 13th Step album echoing through my head.
2. “My Immortal” by Evanescence – Part of the concept behind Evanescence was that their music was written with the idea that it would inspire, or be perfect for films.  Their tracks seem to have a level of drama built into them, both lyrically, and as a stylistic feel to the music.  My first exposure to this song was at the funeral scene in the Dare Devil atrocity of a film, but these somber, delicate tones really made that scene a moment that I could hold onto in the film.  When I finally bought their Fallen disc, this song had earned a solid spot in my songs to mellow out, or fall asleep to.  A sad tune, no doubt, but perhaps its that beautiful sadness that makes it such a relaxing song.
1. “Orion” by Metallica – Just one of Metallica’s many, beautifully complex instrumentals, I’ve always felt “Orion” was one that stood alone as more of a musical masterpiece.  Appearing on the “Master of Puppets” album, the deep and heavy opening gives way to a cosmically wondrous mid-section that sends your imagination off reeling into a realm of possibilities.  There’s something mystical about that elusive space just past the edge of consciousness but before crossing fully into dream, and “Orion” is one of the songs that serves as a key to that doorway.
Honorable Mentions: “Halcyon + On + On” by Orbital – Everyone can take or leave a little bit of every genre of music, and in the electronic music world, I defy you to find a track as lovely as this one, “Hero of the Day (S & M version)” by Metallica – The orchestration makes this song even more incredible than the original studio version.