Album Review
Zelienople “Sleeper Coach” [Loose Thread]
Thurston Hunger 8/10/2004 A Library, CD, Format
No sophomore slump, just a deeper drop into the coma for this
Chicago quartet. Stonergaze with stacks of sonic blankets.
It opens in a wind tunnel, and most following tracks ride on
solar winds. Guitars can whoosh…especially when washed out.
Vox are pulled into to the vacuum by way of an anglo(?) accent
almost forcing a comparison to Slowdive. Although rarely does
the Z aim for catchiness, happier to just glide. Each lyric
seems to evaporate before the next, leaving little residue.
Which is okay, as the band more steadfastly pursues reverbic
resonance. The sound from beginning to end is consistent.
Evidently Mike Weis is the drummer, and possibly narcoleptic.
The mark of a good drummer is to not play certain notes,
but Mike is able to do so for entire songs. Brian Harding
not only blows cumulus keyboards but even breathes deep on
clarinet. Neil Jendon joined the group last, but I think it
is his puddles of guitar that help Zelienople (named after
somewhere in PA) find a nice region between drone and pop.
“Don’t Be Lonely” hits the high-water mark for me, but it
all stays afloat. As Richard Nixon once Grimble Grumbled,
“It is indeed a windy city!”
you heard it 22 times on kfjc! most recently:
- 5934 days ago, Justin Outlier played Softkiller
- 5940 days ago, Justin Outlier played Sea Bastards
- 6156 days ago, Numa played Softkiller
- 6745 days ago, Monchichi played Corner Lot
- 6747 days ago, Anubis, God of Jackals played Softkiller
12345 S. El Monte Road Los Altos Hills, California 94022
Public Inspection File
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Matt Christensen says
My singing accent is patterned after Dutch provincial.
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