The Album Review Club - Week #195 (page 1310) - A New World Record - ELO

Take Me Back To Eden - Sleep Token

This album will affectionately be known as Take Me Back To 1967 for me, as every time I tried to focus and listen, I found myself switching over to the Rock Evolution playlist just to soothe the soul, but I digress.

Listening to any band with genre tags of progressive metal, alternative metal, djent, pop, and R&B was not going to go down well, especially with the first ones listed being the predominant thing I'm hearing. That was never going to really work for me here.

I guess when it comes down to it, I suppose I prefer my actual "Whisper To A Scream" from The Icicle Works and not Sleep Token. Because every time I heard the whisper... the upcoming screams and crunching metal portions were not far behind, much to my disdain to where the song once was.

This release was a mixed bag from the critics, and observations that it contained too many songs that "stretch on longer than [they] need to" and the record tending to "drag along with bread-and-butter formulas" is what I was thinking too. I'd be challenged to outright name songs I liked or didn't like because I think in some of them, they checked all 5 boxes in the genres they were aiming to hit.

The ones that connected with me the most was the opener "Chokehold", "Are You Really OK?" (which reminded me musically of Zep's "The Rain Song" in spots), and "Euclid".

The vocals really were a bit forced and got annoying on DYWTYLM, IYKWIM. I think the problem is that the non metal parts really didn't move musically and were mostly formulaic, and just an ambient type of background.

I don't think this would be a band I'd be seeking out to see live, but I'm glad to hear they're better in a venue than here. I probably won't be listening to this on St. Simons Island in a few months, but I do appreciate hearing this, especially on the few songs that did hit. It's a 4/10 for me, with an appreciation also for their anonymity, which in some cases can be a good thing.
 
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TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN. SLEEP TOKEN



It was a inoffensive enough listen, but not for me.i’m not sure what genre it is
Metal Pop?
Some tracks sounded ok but the singers voice reminded me of Hozier on a number of tracks ,others sounded like Metal by numbers.
I won’t be bothering with any of their other output nor joining their ever increasing fan club.

4/10
 
LGWIO said:
Indeed, back to the real thread and I would highly recommend Croatia/Split and the islands
Click to expand...

Zadar (which as Coatigan can tell you was one of the first places I ever worked) is apparently now viewed as one of the top European destinations. The whole Dalmatian coast is a beautiful part of the world, the only downside being it's also got pretty busy now too and is not the insane bargain it was once upon a time.
 
threespires said:
Zadar (which as Coatigan can tell you was one of the first places I ever worked) is apparently now viewed as one of the top European destinations. The whole Dalmatian coast is a beautiful part of the world, the only downside being it's also got pretty busy now too and is not the insane bargain it was once upon a time.
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I was in Kotor Montenegro last year for a wedding , stunning scenery and the best seafood I’ve every had at fishing shack.
 
threespires said:
Zadar (which as Coatigan can tell you was one of the first places I ever worked) is apparently now viewed as one of the top European destinations. The whole Dalmatian coast is a beautiful part of the world, the only downside being it's also got pretty busy now too and is not the insane bargain it was once upon a time.
Click to expand...

As an archaeologist, if I remember correctly? I don't have an extensive list of all the various endeavours in your repertoire, but I do loosely pay attention ;).
 
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Sleep Token - Take Me Back To Eden

When I saw the nomination and the band picture I thought 'here we go', screaming vocals and thrashing guitars like Korn and whilst it has its moments of this overall it did come across like a recent chart Pop Album, Hozier is a good shout and Teddy Swims vocally I thought , so not quite sure the image of the band represents its Heavy Metal genre which I can see has confused some.
I genuinely enjoyed 'Chokehold' and especially 'Euclid', It's a lovely pace and melody, dare say it's actually a beautiful track.
The rest I couldn't really relate with it all, vocals computerized at times, tracks are far too long and lose their way, lyrically felt forced.
I can see why they have a bit of a cult following and fair play to their fans that enjoy this - It's no more nonsense than me going to watch 11 players in Claret n Blue kick a ball around to determine my mood.

4/10
 
Mancitydoogle said:
TAKE ME BACK TO EDEN. SLEEP TOKEN



It was a inoffensive enough listen, but not for me.i’m not sure what genre it is
Metal Pop?
Some tracks sounded ok but the singers voice reminded me of Hozier on a number of tracks ,others sounded like Metal by numbers.
I won’t be bothering with any of their other output nor joining their ever increasing fan club.

4/10
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Sums it up for me as well but i liked it a lot more than i thought i would.
The vocals reminded me of Depeche Mode.
Chokehold a decent enough start.
Then all the songs not really doing anything for me.Slow starts and then a big dramatic finishes.Bang average at best and all very samey but i can understand why folk like them.
Begining to wonder if i will ever like a so called metal/rock album record again.
Still listen to Thin Lizzy to this day and the live Whitesnake album but that's about it.
5
 
It didn't make the bottom spot but it's only above the much maligned The Streets and the recently maligned sperpentwithfeet. Sleep Token's Take Me Back To Eden certainly pulled in the punters (16) but not the points, finishing with an average of 4.16.

Thanks to @southamptonblue for the brave and unusual nomination, given that he seems to have put it forward for a slaughtering.

This week's nominator is @shackattack but you'll have to wait until this evening to find out what he's got lined up.
 
A bit of thread news: I'm off to Florida for 2 weeks on Saturday (and my wife has told me to keep my mouth shut about Ukraine and say that the only Donald I'm prepared to talk about is Donald Duck).

In my absence, @Coatigan has once again kindly volunteered to step in. Please make it easier for him in being ready with your nominations and write-ups. The next two weeks are planned to be:-

26/03/2025 @Mancitydoogle
02/04/2025 @GoatersLeftShin

Then we finish off the round as follows:-

09/04/2025 @Big Joe Corrigan
16/04/2025 @Kippaxpete
23/04/2025 @Mr Grumpy

i.e. two members who have put less appearances in than the Loch Ness Monster so Mr Grumpy might as well be ready for 9th April, just in case.
 
Music to me is a bit like football - defining moments and events in your life. Like football some are more memorable than others - most of my selections have played signifant moments in my life.
For that reason my choice is - Gorgeous George by Edwyn Collins
The opening track is here



Edwyn first came to my attention re Orange Juice / Postcard records
Like a lot of artists particularly his solo music he is known for " A Girl Like You"
In 2005 he had 2 cerebral haemorrhages and contracted MRSA whilst in hospital
I saw him at Maida Vale where he did a radio 4 mastertapes session on this album - still touring and this year will be his final tour. A producer, talented artist, his acerbic wit and arrogance ( some would say) still remains to this day.
 
shackattack said:
Music to me is a bit like football - defining moments and events in your life. Like football some are more memorable than others - most of my selections have played signifant moments in my life.
For that reason my choice is - Gorgeous George by Edwyn Collins
The opening track is here



Edwyn first came to my attention re Orange Juice / Postcard records
Like a lot of artists particularly his solo music he is known for " A Girl Like You"
In 2005 he had 2 cerebral haemorrhages and contracted MRSA whilst in hospital
I saw him at Maida Vale where he did a radio 4 mastertapes session on this album - still touring and this year will be his final tour. A producer, talented artist, his acerbic wit and arrogance ( some would say) still remains to this day.
Click to expand...


No clues - Boooo!
Artist/album - Hurrah!

Not listened to this for a long time so should be enjoyable.

There's a few interesting videos about Edwyn and his recovery where he talks very openly about it, which are worth a watch. I'll let BH do the honours as he is good at fishing out the interesting vids.
 
Now my hands are bleeding and my knees are raw’

Don’t think I’ve heard any of his other stuff. Revert back in a week.
 
threespires said:
No clues - Boooo!
Artist/album - Hurrah!

Not listened to this for a long time so should be enjoyable.

There's a few interesting videos about Edwyn and his recovery where he talks very openly about it, which are worth a watch. I'll let BH do the honours as he is good at fishing out the interesting vids.
Click to expand...
Sorry was in a rush - the dvd on his recovery though a bit arty is worth a watch - the title was the words he repeated throughout his early recovery " the possibilities are endless ". The book that his wife and Manager Grace wrote is a worthy read. This is a half decent video re his recovery





Roddy and Edwyn



 
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Initially thought "Oh no, its that one hit wonder Ezra ."
But, no, it's not.

I remember the hit single (who wouldn't? It was played to death).
Wasn't really a fan of it back then but this is now. I'm suspicious that the single is an outlier and that I'll prefer the album.

Interesting pick.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
Initially thought "Oh no, its that one hit wonder Ezra ."
But, no, it's not.

I remember the hit single (who wouldn't? It was played to death).
Wasn't really a fan of it back then but this is now. I'm suspicious that the single is an outlier and that I'll prefer the album.

Interesting pick.
Click to expand...
It’s a great single but no idea if it’s representative of his usual output.

I was abig fan of Aztec Camera but can’t really remember ever listening much to Orange Juice. Looking forward to this
 
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