 SMALL LEAKS SINK SHIPS Until The World Is Happy; Wake Up You Sleepy Head Sun NO SLEEP RECORDS By: Fridae Mattas The first track “The Flood” starts off with the sound of breaking glass like someone is throwing bottles against the ground or wall and stepping on the glass crushing it. The guitar kicks in ten seconds later interlaced with the glass breakage, unique and attention grabbing. The vocals start in and it was not breath taking yet I was intrigued at the same time there was still that curiosity to see how the rest of the album was going to play out. The album title is an hour long “Until The World Is Happy; Wake Up You Sleepy Head Sun” honestly I will never remember that but the band’s name I won’t forget. This band migrates out of Mesa, Arizona and was once upon a time known as “Beyond Analog”. I guess they got bored with their old sound and decided to start a new with this debut album as Small Leaks Sink Ships. The band is Judd Hancock – Vocals/Guitar/Piano, Jim Mandel Jr. - Bass, London VanRooy – Vocals/Drums, and newly appointed guitarist Mikey Mukai. This LP was to be their third record for “Beyond Analog” but they decided to make it their debut all fresh and new. These larries think of their music as novel unsullied and original but why is it that when you listen to the tunes you can’t help but think I have heard this before. Immediately I think Protest The Hero but more of an Emo flavor, PTH is much harder than this band. Although they are not what they claim to be, SLSS are not too bad as I listen there is some inventiveness but work needs to be done on the vocals most definitely. They do have some substance in their lyrics which is always a bonus I can’t stand nonsensical lyrics what’s the point, just do an instrumental track instead of torturing us with these absurd jibberings. The worst track of the whole album is “Gutter of Disneyland” I am just not feeling it, there is something off about the song, the arrangements everything just hits the skip button. A tune that starts off strong and ends with naptime is “The Best Time Of The Worst Year” a snippet of the lyrics “Time stands still, sacrifice all of this to save me, pillowcase is soaked in tears, won't you just forgive me.” As the LP drags on I notice a few reruns with the chords and at times the instrumental breaks and signature changes are too much, far too lengthy and repetitive at times. They do have their moments such as the tune “Sackcloth In Ashes” it starts in with Hancock singing the hook with only an acoustic guitar repeatedly a few times “The scent of sulfur is strong, the matches are gone and I'm watching bad books burning”. An extremely simple song, at times too simple! A tune that is worth a mention is “A Muted Moment” the intro is a nice calm melody with keys for a minute fifteen and then the vocals come in with some drums and bass. The only thing that really rubs me the wrong way is the vocal arrangements they have been used before on this LP especially the first verse. You will understand if you listen to all the tunes “Worried that I will erase all of this. / Take after take after take the camera breaks. / I will overcome / Potions of weakness. / I need This.”. The production of the LP is done well, the mixing, the sound, the overall package was interesting not too shabby for Indies. If you want a bit more substance in your mix check out “Dear Dictator” it talks about a Hitler-esque type falling. Notice the first three letters of the word DICTATOR, every one of them has been a big one. A sentence from the tune “There's jokers, there's liars, but respectedly sire, / I think that your kingdom might fall.” This album is good for those unwinding times when you feel like something in between. For me it will put me straight to sleep not interesting enough to keep me awake, it will be used for naptime. Don’t drive with this album you may pass out, worth a listen to make your own formulation. Not much of a difference from their old music as “Beyond Analog” other than the vocals. Small Leaks may Sink Ships but they won’t keep the stars, they are only borrowed. www.myspace.com/smallleakssonkships ©FRIDAE2008™
Last edited by altsounds : June 5, 2008 at 10:36 PM.
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| | | | Overall Rating | | 6 | | Vocals / Lyrics | n/a | | Musicianship | n/a | | Production | n/a | | Creativity | n/a | | Lastability | n/a | | Reviewers Tilt | n/a |
60% | |
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Small Leaks Sink Ships - Until The World Is Happy; Wake Up You Sleepy Head Sun
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Jimmy Eat World Single [Small Clip]