Sleep Station Albums (4)
'The Pride of Chester James'
Release Date 1/1/2007
Tracks 14
Label Eyeball
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
A concept album about World War ll complete with "Bridge over the River Kwai" whistling seems about as stimulating as a fifth grade history class. Sleep Station not only pulls it off, but has created a remarkable pop album in the process. Predominantly the brainchild of lead vocalist/songwriter David Debiak, the key to the project's success is the songwriting. Each immaculately crafted track adds a component to the story, but also stands on its own. Sounding somewhat like the Monkees' Micky Dolenz in the Head days, Debiak, along with brother Jason and especially multi-instrumentalist Brad Paxton (who adds trumpet, celesta, piano and glockenspiel as well as guitar) has composed sensitive and generally bouncy tunes about a weighty issue. It's only when you inspect the lyrics that the war thread becomes noticeable. Elements of Matthew Sweet, Fountains of Wayne, the Posies and even early Pink Floyd and ELO combine in the thoughtful and moving Beatlesesque pop of highlights such as "Come Back Again," "After the War," "A Soldier's Dream" and"Silver in the Sun." Alternately chiming and charging guitars mesh with Debiak's memorable melodies and tight yet expansive production that emphasizes the melancholic songs. A few tracks of bridging sound effects such as "The Final Story 1" interrupt the flow as they enhance the story, but also serve to connect the dots, imparting an epic quality to this extraordinary release. Although it peters out slightly towards the end, this is an enjoyable, reflective and poignant treatise on the effects of war, not typically a topic that lends itself to durable pop music. It heralds Debiak as a major talent and leaves the terrific After the War as an indication that his best work might be ahead of him. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide
'Hang in There Charlie'
Release Date 4/8/2003
Tracks 11
Label Eyeball
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Word has it that Dave Debiak, Sleep Station's lead singer and songwriter, started out with 40 finished songs and had to whittle them down to 14 for this album. (Apparently two more new albums from the band were planned to be out within about six months of this one.) That's impressive enough. Even more impressive is how Debiak manages to take a horrifying story of death and treachery in an orbiting space station, encapsulate it in those 14 songs, and couch it in music that is so sweet and pretty that you'd have to listen very carefully to the words before you would notice the horrors being described. Not that all of it is quiet or gentle, though the album's two opening tracks, "Fading Out" and "Fallen," certainly fit that description -- "Broke Your Trust" and "Bleed With You" are both muscular alt-rock that recalls middle-period R.E.M., while the album-closing "One More" interestingly juxtaposes fun-house organ, an offbeat horn chart, and tattered, grungy guitars. Then there's the blippy synthesizer that lurks subversively beneath the surface on "Flight-1" and the darkly ruminative quality of "In My Dying Days." But no matter how strange or rockish things get, Debiak consistently maintains that strange sense of gentle tenderness. Also, the hooks are just all over the place. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
