The Sleeping - Questions and Answers Review

The Sleeping - Questions and Answers

Rating

RIYL

Rise Against
The Receiving End of Sirens
Emery
The Escape Engine

Tracklist

1. Don't Hold Back
2. Loud & Clear
3. Heart Beatz
4. The Climb
5. The Big Breakdown - Day 3 (The Escape)
6. King of Hearts
7. 3 Cigarettes
8. Who Stays Behind?
9. Listen Close
10. Dearest Mistake
11. Better Than Anything Else
12. Still

Users Rating 1 rating	Your Rating Create an account or log in to rate this album
Recent Ratings
Rick Gebhardt

Writing this review was hard for me. I didn’t want to simplify my writing or be overly pretentious. Personally, I didn’t want to disrespect a band that I’ve grown to love so much.

The Sleeping, hailing from Long Island, New York, released their sophomore album on Victory Record's “Super Tuesday.” With a debut album out on One Day Savior Records and a legion of devoted fans, The Sleeping wrote Questions and Answers, which is a twelve track disc that spans 53 minutes, encompasses their greatest musical efforts, and captures the essence of the band.

The CD begins strong with "Don’t Hold Back" and "Loud and Clear", the latter their single. Both songs are upbeat and contain clever lyrics along with an infectious chorus. A+ material. The next track, "Heart Beatz", is a dedication to the late John Holohan, a commendable endeavor on the band's part. "The Big Breakdown – Day 3 (The Escape)" is actually a continuation from a two part epic on The Sleeping’s debut album, Believe What We Tell You. The second half of the album showcases their post-hardcore side with “Dearest Mistake,” “Who Stays Behind?” and my personal favorite “King of Hearts”. The end of the album brings an eight minute long jam entitled “Still”, with the only lyrics being “I can still feel you”.

Questions and Answers is a very deep record to say the least. The equilibrium between the instruments and vocals is well balanced. Cameron Keym’s guitar and Salvatore Mignano’s bass blend to create such sweet, sweet melodies that go along with Doug Robinson’s voice. Joe Zizzo puts the finishing touches onto songs with brilliant use of percussion, such as the bongos at the end of "Day 3". Throughout the CD there are also hints and splashes of synth and drum machines.

Overall, The Sleeping has surpassed all of my expectations with Questions and Answers. I don’t really know what else to say. They create a brand of rock that is unprecedented in today’s music scene, and they deserve all of the success that they achieve.

Just as a side comment, I’ve also come to notice that several lyrics, song titles, and images from Questions and Answers are related to The Sleeping’s debut album, Believe What We Tell You. Most obviously, the song title "The Big Breakdown – Day 3 (The Escape)" refers to the first two ‘days passed’ in the first CD. In “King of Hearts,” the chorus at the end belts out “My heart isn’t broken, and I’m not dead.” This is in response to the song “If Your Heart Was Broken… You Would Be Dead,” another song on their debut album. Also, both albums are illustrated by Jeremy Arambulo.

--Sam Maclean

Author

Unsupersam

Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:54PM

Comments

brent white

06/22/2006

07:24AM

Location
Chicago

this band's music is boring.

ChaosResolved

06/22/2006

07:31AM

Location
NY/PA

brent white

this band's music is boring.

Ditto. 4.5 is pretty freaking generous here.

Rick Gebhardt

06/22/2006

07:33AM

Age: 31

Location
Minnesota

Yeah, a 3/5 would be tops for me. Their debut was totally underwhelming so I had no real desire to hear this. Once I did my suspicions that it would be more of the same boring crap were confirmed.

*Snore*

Find me EVERYWHERE:

danal

06/22/2006

07:59AM

Age: 25

Location
Toronto, Ontario

I agree with Brent, the debut was insanely boring and one dimensional and this isn't much different.

"Use short sentences. Use short first paragraphs. Use vigorous English. Be positive, not negative."

MySpace / Facebook

awake_and_avenge

06/22/2006

08:34AM

Age: 29

Location
Tucson, AZ

Definitely uninspired.

NapalmTheChildren

06/22/2006

11:39AM

Location
Jersey / Raleigh

agreed with it being boring, but its not as bad as you guys are making it out to be, its listenable. at least theyre consitantly boring.

Unsupersam

06/22/2006

12:10PM

Location
Northampton, PA

Sorry for outrageous generosity. I guess you can call me a fanboy.

Aenimaniac

06/22/2006

12:42PM

Location
East Lansing, MI

You all got it right. It's not bad, I could see a 3.5 maybe, but not a 4.5. Back in my day four and a half stars used to stand for something!

Jayme Barkdoll

06/22/2006

01:27PM

Location
Tuscaloosa, AL

yeah, this album did absolutely nothing for me...
p.s. fanboy, huh? then was this CD realllllly this good, or do you just like this band that much? I'm not knocking you though, I'm the same way about a few bands as well...

lpshinobi

06/22/2006

04:04PM

Age: 23

Location
VT

Victory signs too many plain emo bands.

My Top Songs of '09
The Appleseed Cast//as the little things go
Caspian//sycamore
Sunwrae//Chinook Winds
Dredg//down to the seller
If These Trees Could Talk//the sun is in the north
From Monument to Masses//an ounce of prevention
Straylight Run//i'm through with the past

LpShinobi's Post-Rock and Shoegazing Recommendation, via YouTube

Lpshinobi's Post-Rock Band, New Song Posted