| Right off the bat I knew that this CD was going to be a great journey. No Milk has a nose for
good bands and this album showed. Even the decked out CD sleeve and case are so creative and
rustic that is just seems that they are speaking to nature. Sleepaway in their debut album has
come with their soft comforting guitars and tambourine and drum beats. Light vocals seem to filter so perfectly, and resonating chords and vocals just appear to echo through time for ever and ever.
What sounds like a full orchestra of ambience fills your ears and you are met with a gentle beat
carefully crafted yet sung so lightly and angelic. "Nice Shoes, Hollywood!" ushers its way into
summer with it's tender kiss of melody. The song's guitars seem to glide together with the
tambourine and easygoing drum beat. "Time, Traffic, and Weather," make you feel that the echoes,
that repeat and bounce off the walls in the song, make promises that you are sure they can keep.
A woman's voice balances out the other end of the spectrum as notes from a xylophone draws the
song to a close. Slow guitar progression builds into an explosion of serene guitar work and bells that play off each other’s energy. The band seems to take a genre and some how fly above it while at the same time inventing their own genre. Echoing vocals continue into "From My Bed to Yours,"
as do the tambourine and lyrics come mix a love potion that even cupid would be jealous of. "Who
needs the Radio when You've got Me," enters with an organ melody and continues with the trademark soft guitars and light rock with added beautiful atmosphere shaped by heavenly tones and vocals.
"What Are You Gonna Say When I Call You" starts with triangle notes resonating through your ears
and then emotional lyrics take over as the song seems to drip eagerness and excitement from its
pores. A swift beat grabs "Understand" by the hand and drags it along as it tells us stories of
past relationships and lost loves. Riffs seamlessly mingle with the Alex, Brett and Mike's
vocals. "If I Try" comes with such hope filled lyrics that you realize why this is the best kind
of music. Echoes build piano and bell sounds and spread them carefully over your mind. "Something of a Saturday" builds up steam and puts forth an epic effort. The playful and enjoyable song
titles continue even until the last song "Sorry I Didn't Buy You A Car." This song seems to
finish off the mood that was set during the entire CD. I finishes flawlessly and with a gentle
touch to the face of your impression of the CD.
This CD seems it was made with the love of friends and family surrounding the band and has
the lovely ambient "glue" that holds it together and shows how strong it is as each song amazes
me. You just have to listen to this to really appreciate it. It draws you in and keeps you in
its ambient (last time i say that) forest so you can explore its delightfully foggy interior.
Also the addition and amalgamation of tambourine, xylophone, and echoes made this CD one of the
best, not only in its genre, but in many others as well! You must check out this for yourself and watch out for these guys in the future.
~ Pernell
May 14 2006 |
