10 Songs That Summon Sleep

There is a lot of road between Athens, Ga. and Decatur, Ga., and to keep from brooding over the gallons of gas that trickle off my gauge or the precious hours of life I spend hunched in the driver's seat during my commute, I rely on music as my one, true beacon of sanity (talk radio as my second). It is my trusty buoy for when I'm stuck in the ebb and flow of Atlanta traffic, or numbed in the limbo of bland highway expanses.

However, it is also the sword by which I live and die, and if one song is raucous enough to keep me awake and alert with my car shiny-side up, then surely there are others empowered with melodies that work toward an opposite end: the songs that summon slumber.
   
Whereas other institutions encourage highway safety by urging you to wear your seatbelt, don't drink and drive, or refrain from throwing your lunch wrappings out of the window, Paste simply suggests that if you'd like to stay awake during your road trek, never listen to the songs listed below.

1.    "Undertaker" by M. Ward
2.    "Rake" by Sufjan Stevens
3.    "Barfly" by Ray LaMontagne               
4.    "Sleep Through The Static" by Jack Johnson
5.    "End Of The Day" by Beck
6.    "Dogs" by Damien Rice
7.    "She Wants To Play Hearts" By Ryan Adams
8.    "Sovay" by Andrew Bird
9.    "California" by Rogue Wave
10.    "Stars" by The Weepies
   
On the other hand, if you're reading from the comfort of your own bed or somewhere equally relaxing, why, go ahead and give them a whirl: