A Heartfelt Summer Album
Eric A. Brasure | Nashville, TN | 07/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With a cursory listen, "The Clearing" sounds to be a very dynamic and airy summer album. It is pleasant, fast and powerful. However, the listener may be inclined to write it off as a mix of Copeland ballads and Mae riffs, but contrary to popular belief, Sleep for Sleepers have delivered an album much richer and deeper than a typical emo ballad.
Seasoned with keyboard synths and rich falsetto, Sleep for Sleepers goes beyond impeccable musicianship to deliver lyrics that speak directly to the heart. They open bravely with the aptly titled, "Bravery", with an admonition to girls,
"Hey sisters, have you been shown? That you're much more than bodies used to dance on their floors. They call out for you all night and all day, the gentlemen beg and they beg and they beg and they beg"
Sleep for Sleepers truly poured their hearts into this album and it shows. The songs aren't bogged down by constant hooks that jerk you to and fro, but rather allow you to pleasantly experience a mix of rock hits and casual ballads. The album would help you fall asleep, if only the lyrics weren't challenging you each and every step. The title track "The Clearing", offers a great closing chapter to the album, truly a debut to be proud of,
"While I've tested seasons in search for Your glory, I have two bloody hands with scars that can prove I tried to fight fears, instead I fought you. When will I learn of all that I'm worth? More than I'm told, more than I've heard, more than I've heard. This is the process of finding who I am."
Take a night on the beach with Sleep for Sleepers playing on your stereo, enjoy the beauty and the dynamics. Most of all allow the deep heartfelt lyrics resonate with you, as they have with me. Sleep for Sleepers has set the bar pretty high for their first release, we can only hope for greater work yet to come.
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