I realize that it is quickly becoming one of the most overused (and vague) words in the English language, but I'm hard pressed to find any other fitting description for this album, and that word is emo. "Emotional indie rock" might be a fair description, too. Ah, who needs tags or catch phrases to slap on things anyway? No matter what you call it, Sleeping At Last's first full length, Capture, provides a lot of promise from this relatively young band.
This Chicagoland trio leaves you wondering at times if you accidentally popped in a Sunny Day Real Estate disc by mistake. However, there is a noticeable lack of that plaintive emo "whine" that you've come to expect from the genre. Instead, Ryan O'Neal's vocals carry a soft, melodic tone to them, offering a welcome change to the norm. They have a soothing, breathy quality that can relax you at one moment, and bolt you with a surge of power at the next. Contrasting nicely with the subtle melodies of the guitar, they fill in the sound, and compliment the overall structure.
The lyrics take you on a journey through issues of faith, love, personal realization, and the importance of life's little moments. The eighth track entitled "A Million Charming Words" is a mostly soft, acoustic song with poignant lyrics like "The pictures I never took of the happiest times of my life are just worn-out thoughts in time." While songs like "Mended Heart" explore a slightly more aggressive side, "The Thief" and "The Strength it Takes to Recover (is not our own)" are both instrumental songs that delve further into their evident musical abilities.
While Sleeping at Last has shown growth since their earlier shows I saw in the Chicago area, this release doesn't enter uncharted territories, or try to wow you with complexity that would only get in the way of the song's impact. Eleven tracks later, this disc shows you a piece of the authors' heart, and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride you won't soon forget- or have a desire to.
Other coverage for this album
Decapolis May 2002Reviewed by Matt ModrichSleeping at Last has taken Chicago's music scene by storm, and has recently been signed by Interscope records. This year will mark their second year playing the underground stage at Cornerstone. Billy Corgan, formerly of the Smashing Pumpkins, called them a cross between his old band and Sunny Day Real Estate. Corgan has befriended the trio and has been working with them to get signed.…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Zik JacksonChicagoland indie rock band Sleeping at Last takes their name from Psalm 62:1, where the soul finds its rest waiting on God. However, their sound is anything but sleepy. Taking musical cues from such groups as Switchfoot, Sunny Day Real Estate, Sixpence None the Richer and supergroup U2, Sleeping at Last endeavors to make their mark on the indie alt-rock scene. The debut album Capture is one of…
