Activities: Sleeping

The best relaxing, sleep-inducing songs for passing out and getting some zzzzzz's.

If you're ready for some soothing sounds to lull you softly into slumberland, but your tastes run toward the alternative, here's a heaping helping of hushed tunes by indie favorites of yesterday and today.

Let these recordings of soothing ocean surf transport you to a white sand beach in the tropics.

If you're getting set to say hello to the sandman, you need the most mellow tunes you can find. Here's a batch of acoustic cuts by some of the best singer/songwriters around, from the '60s to the present, to help you enter dreamland with ease.

The '60s folkie scene centered on Greenwich Village was a quiet kind of revolution, at least musically, and the best ballads from that era make fine sleepytime companions.

Nothing can coax you into a deep sleep quite like the soothing, ethereal sounds of dream pop's finest artists. Drift off into dreamland with these ethereal sounds.

Fall asleep to the soothing sounds of a crackling fire.

Let the sound of a gentle acoustic guitar guide you to sleep. Follow the gently unspooling, hypnotic melodies into a easy, restful slumber.

You've finally gotten the wee one asleep and you're ready to relax. From hushed alt-rock to gentle Brazilian croons, this collection of exquisitely delicate tunes is quiet enough to keep from waking even the lightest sleeper.

Let these recordings of temperate oceans sounds transport you to Cape Cod, or the craggy coastline of the Pacific Northwest.

Whether you're feeling world weary, lovelorn or just plain apathetic, the snail's-speed tempos and relentlessly downbeat lyrics of sadcore provide the perfect soundtrack for staying in bed around the clock.

Travel back to a simpler time and let these legendary crooners sing you to sleep. These are the best soft and sentimental doo wop, jazz, and soul songs of the '50s and '60s.

Lull your kids--and quite possibly yourself--to sleep with this supremely mellow collection of slumber-ready instrumentals, which includes renditions of songs from classical to rock to country.

Get your kids ready for bed with these mellow tunes from popular family-friendly productions. Children can hear classic songs featuring familiar Disney and Sesame Street characters, as well as tracks from contemporary favorites.

A collection of modern-day lullabies, these soothings songs about love and loss from the finest female troubadours will ease you into a tranquil slumber.

Drift off into sleep with these atmospheric tracks by 1970s/'80s art-rock icons, as well as their devoted post-millennial followers. Play at minimal volume for a strange and serene journey into dreamland.

Gentle yet invigorating thunderstorm recordings to listen to with a roof over your head, curled up under the covers.

When you're feeling under the weather, what you want most is to be soothed. These songs feature gentle vocals and mellow tempos, along with a handful of instrumentals for when you just want to space out.

These recordings of rainforest ambiences will transport you to the middle of a jungle in the tropics.

Rest your weary heads, lovers of classic country music. Here's a host of old-school acoustic ballads, from the first wave of Nashville stars to the later artists who kept the classic country sound alive.

Mellow and chilled-out rap cuts for chilling under the covers.

Clear, concise and creative solo piano recordings that evoke a contemplative and, at times, nocturnal feeling. Perfect for late night unwinding.

In the second half of the '80s, the success of Enya and the rest of a new generation of New Age artists led to the genre's second wind. Embracing everything from digital instruments to pop crossovers, New Age reached a whole new audience.

A diverse collection of songs that are perfect for a night of wallowing in post-breakup sadness.

Drifting off to sleep to classical music can set the stage for amazing dreams. Enjoy these classical favorites for bedtime and nap time too!

If you're looking to get your little ones to sleep, this dream-inducing collection of time-tested lullabies -- sung by some of the most beloved artists in folk, pop, and world music -- is sure to get the tykes toddling off in no time.

If you're having trouble sleeping after an all-night rager, these downtempo slices of indie electronica will help you get some shut eye.

The soothing and magical harp dates to 500 BC and has been used in a variety of musical settings ever since. Drift off to a gentler plane on the dulcet tones of these classical masterpieces.

Bring together 10 fingers, one guitar, and a head full of jazz, and a whole world will spring into view right before your very ears. Listen to these solo-guitar performances by some of the finest fretmasters ever to sling a jazz axe.

Hypnotic breaks and pensive soundscapes from today's greatest electronica artists: the perfect soundtrack for reading, working, or just relaxing.

Also referred to as psychill, psybient is a genre of electronic music heavily influenced by world music and psychedelic sounds. Wherever you are, these songs will take you somewhere else.

You've got some reading you're ready to dive into, but you want to keep some music moving through the air. Here's an awesome array of ambient cuts perfect for putting a pillow of sound around your ears but subtle enough to avoid any distractions.

Nocturnal and textural electronica for long nights spent by yourself or with someone special. Listen to this until the sun rises.

Low-tempo indie tunes perfect to take your mind off being cramped up in coach, whether you're trying to fall asleep or just get into a zen-like zone.

This playlist of mostly acoustic guitar-centric songs is perfect for long, relaxing nights in your bedroom. By yourself, or with someone special, listen to this until the sun rises.

In the '70s and '80s, pioneering artists from the worlds of jazz, classical, rock, and electronic music fashioned ethereal sonic landscapes ideal for a fostering a meditative state. Decompress with these essential cuts from ambient's early trailblazers.

Settle in with the quieter side of jazz. Wind down and drift off to the relaxing sounds of post-bop, cool, modern and contemporary jazz, perfect for those mellow late-night hours.