Armor for Sleep Albums (3)
'Smile for Them'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 12
Label Sire/Warner Bros.
See Album Tracklist and Review
'What to Do When You Are Dead'
Release Date 2/22/2005
Tracks 11
Label Equal Vision
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
From the melodic, punk-charged opening anthem, "Car Underwater" to the somber, moody finale, "The End of a Fraud," Armor for Sleep's second album ups the punk/emo ante with fabulously crafted songs and a desire to challenge the norms of a movement that has grown increasingly stale. With the aforementioned parting shot, brainchild Ben Jorgensen goes dark, flirting with his inner Aaron Lewis. That's hardly to say that AFS is headed into Staind territory, as the Thursday-like "Remember to Feel Real" attests, but the group's willingness to work with producer Machine, a veteran of projects with Clutch, White Zombie and Lamb of God was a risk that paid off. From the no nonsense blast of "The Truth About Heaven" to the urgent appeal of "Awkward Last Words" it's apparent that this destined-to-be-huge New Jersey quartet (which also counts guitarist P.J. DeCicco bassist Anthony DilOnno and kitman Nash Breen) is the sum of its parts. ~ John D. Luerssen, All Music Guide
'Dream to Make Believe'
Release Date 6/3/2003
Tracks 11
Label Equal Vision
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This 11-song album from Armor For Sleep showcases another band partaking in the propagation of the emo movement. And like many of the acts involved with this genre, slight variations have been made to the sound so as to distinguish them from the rest of the pack, but overall things aren't dramatically different. That's not to say that what's here isn't good. This four-piece has a darker style while still keeping a pop structure on much of their material. They do a capable job of combining Hum-like dark space rock with The Get Up Kids-flavored emo-pop. The vocals are reminiscent of John Ralston from Legends of Rodeo, with a plain-spoken, honest delivery, and the lyrics tend to dwell on subjects like time-travel, dreams, and space, which make for an interesting, open-ended take on interpretation. The utilization of hooks and some good lyrics are key and come in at the right places, making Dream To Make Believe a pleasant and refreshing take on a somewhat clogged genre. ~ Kurt Morris, All Music Guide
