The Sleeping - What It Takes
Rating
RIYL
BaysideThe Receiving End of Sirens
Rise Against
Brand New
Release Date
02/17/2009
Label
Victory RecordsTracklist
1. You'll Be a Corpse Before Your Time2. Friday Night
3. Bomb the World
4. Shallow Lungs
5. Running Faster
6. Ripped Dress
7. Should Have Let Me Leave
8. He Only Sees Where He Walks
9. Refusive Relationship
10. Bad Religion
11. Anyone Night Stand
12. Deadbeast
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As a part of the Victory Records family, Long Island, New York’s The Sleeping hold what could be seen as a very important role for a label that, save for a select few ska and pop punk bands, is dominated by hardcore and metal bands. Not quite hardcore, but more aggressive than the Fall Out Boy clones, The Sleeping serve as the gateway drug into a more abrasive scene. This middle-band status isn’t a sleight against the boys in the least, as they fulfill their role admirably and have found a comfortable niche appealing to fans of both pop punk and metalcore genres.
On What it Takes we hear The Sleeping, and especially vocalist Doug Robinson, tip-toeing closer into hardcore territory. On their previous two albums, Robinson’s rough vocals came off angry, while on What it Takes, he can sound downright pissed off (“Refusive Relationship” shows the band at their hardest). Growling and shouting himself hoarse, Robinson switches between his new-found war cries to his usual settled vocals with ease. This aggression is really the low point on the album, however. Even with the more aggressive instrumentation, it just doesn’t seem to work and more often than not sounds misplaced. Robinson’s singing is strong enough that he doesn’t need these vocal flourishes, so they come off as unnecessary and intrusive.
Between Questions and Answers and What it Takes the band saw the departure of guitarist/keyboardist Cameron Keyn and then made the addition of a second guitarist, Paul Cadena and dedicated keyboardist Chris Evans. This has made the keyboard a much more prominent element of their music, and the new guitarist allows them to expand their songwriting options. “Friday Night” is a fine example of how their sound hasn’t gone through an overhaul but has rather been tweaked with the addition of the two new members, Evans’ keyboard driving the song down the open road.
While the album may be filled with a bit too much teen angst at times, most notably on the first single “Bomb the World,” overall this a more mature effort than their previous two albums and sees the band branching out and experimenting with new ideas, such as on the shimmering lounge affair that is “Anyone Night Stand.” What it Takes is not a groundbreaking album, but it’s one that shows The Sleeping working to keep their sound fresh, while at the same time refusing to alienate their fans. It's an album that should make Victory's Tony Brummel very happy.
--Greg Burchell
Comments
Lehigh Valley, PA
I was skeptical about this album. I was never a fan of The Sleeping, their music and them personally due to several altercations I had with them. However, this album is pretty solid and I dig it a lot. I don't want to but I do haha. Good review.
Minnesota
This album is much, much better than their previous two. Can't say I'm a huge fan of the added focus the keys get, but beyond that I actually found this listenable whereas their past albums were beyond boring.
Find me EVERYWHERE:
Infinitely Inwards
Ditto.
Ever Forthright - Ever Forthright
Fallujah - The Harvest Wombs
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Aborted - Global Flatline
Spawn of Possession - Incurso
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Fishers, Indiana
I really liked their last album, actually, and I'm a pretty big fan of this one as well. I think the review was too harsh.
Top Albums: 2011 | 2010 | 2009 || Tumblr | Twitter
Spokane, Washington
i also liked their last album quite a bit. this is a little bit of a departure, but still a strong effort.
Current Listenings:
7 Horns 7 Eyes - "Throes of Absolution"
Horse Feathers - "Cynic's New Year"
Andrew Bird - "Break It Yourself"
Sigur Ros - "Valtari"
Rocky Votolato - "Television of Saints"
Janus - "Nox Aeris"
Blues Traveler - "25"
London, UK
I liked both of their previous albums and am enjoying this one too. So far it's kinda early for me to decide how it compares but I definitely like it.
Have to say the singer's voice is a big part of why I like them - he always reminds me of the guy from Rise Against. You wouldn't say he had a beautiful voice but there's something about the roughness that works for me.
Currently listening to:
Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Disaster - Exegesis
Suspyre - Suspyre
Hot Water Music - Exister
7 Horns 7 Eyes - Throes Of Absolution
Markham, ON
Absolutely. The guy's got a voice that's perfect for their sound.
P.S. This is what the alphabet would look like if you removed Q and R.
Atlanta
I was surprised that I didn't hate this. The Rise Against comparison is dead on btw.