In the last few years, Tennessee-based indie rock band Cool Hand Luke has established quite a following. With this in mind, major distributors Floodgate Records picked the band up to release their latest full-length Wake Up, O Sleeper.
The cover art and insert book for Wake Up, O Sleeper are impressive. The art work and drawings in the insert book do a good job of encouraging the listener to pop the CD in. The disc itself, however, leaves a bit to be desired.
On Wake Up, O Sleeper the band leaves its hardcore roots behind and settles wholeheartedly into the vein of indie rock. On songs such as "Nobody Hugs a Rose" and "For You" the sound does stray a bit from what is typically heard in this genre, however. For the most part the music is good, but not groundbreaking.
In the band's bio it states that these are songs of hope and spirituality, never preachy, simply honest. Part of that statement is true, however these lyrics definitely are preachy at times. Many of the lyrics address the audience directly, which turns into a cheap way of getting across the message. Good lyrics show you, they don't tell you. "Like a Bell Tolling from Another World" says, "If seeing is believing, how do you know what you can't show? Believe in what you're seeing in your hearts eyes, past the disguise." Despite the fact that the lyrics fall into the rut of telling, there are also some real lyrical gems that read more like a journal entry than a sermon, such as "For You": "My sweet Jesus, I'm sorry that I let you down again. It's not so easy down here anymore."
There is certainly potential for Cool Hand Luke. On the next album hopefully the band will approach their lyrics as art and seek to find ways of expressing their hearts, not simply telling their audience what they should think or do.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Ken MuellerThis Tennessee emo-rock trio is back with a strong follow-up to 2001's I Fought Against Myself. This disc is the band's debut on Tim Taber's Floodgate Records. Last time around the band showed promise by distinguishing themselves from all of the other emo-wannabes out there by coming up with their very own sound. While at times they evoke the sound of some earlier bands, like Sunny Day Real…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Matt ModrichCool Hand Luke is an indie rock band out of Tennessee of all places. Wake Up, O Sleeper is their first release on Floodgate Records and their third release overall. Even from the title Wake Up, O Sleeper it is clear that Cool Hand Luke envisions their music as worship. In their lyrics they reference nearly twenty Scripture references. But unlike some popular Christian groups, the spiritual…The Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Kevin MathewsThe opening minutes of Wake Up O Sleeper are fairly non-descript and make little impression. "Nobody Hugs a Rose," however, makes it all worthwhile. Like a breath of fresh air, the song's soft, pop air breaks the fog that permeates much of this debut. The cold, jazz-fusion sheen is hard to get to grips with. What a shame, since the lyrical content makes an effort to connect. 2.5 tocksThe Phantom Tollbooth 2003Reviewed by Trilisa M. Perrine"This is love, that you would die for me." There is no ambiguity in that line--no shadow of a doubt. One of the most impressive attributes of the new Cool Hand Luke album, Wake Up, O Sleeper, is its ability to be lyrically blatant without falling into the trap of triteness. Time and time again bands have found it impossible to say what they mean without succumbing to the corny or cliché, but this…Similar sounding releases
2004mewithoutYouCatch for Us the Foxes
2002The CommonsEat Off the Vines
2004AdelaideOver Tired & Ill Prepared
2002PlankeyeWings to Fly
2000VerbowWhite Out
2000Sunny Day Real EstateThe Rising Tide
