Tom the Lion - Sleep

(CD Album Review)

**1/2

Just all too similar!

The first thing I notice about Tom the Lion's album 'Sleep' was the great artwork but I was not sure it was going to be an album that would appeal to me. I never judge things from my first impression so I was going to give it a good try to see if I would enjoy it or if it would send me to 'Sleep'!!!. It starts of very slow and atmospheric before the interesting and when Tom's distinctive vocals come in you get a little interested to see how the song will evolve. The chorus really makes your senses at edge and pay attention but will that change later on in the album. The first track is the title track of the record and leads it on nicely to what comes next and really sets the scene for the whole album. The album verges from a cross between Elbow and Feeder to something more Avant-Garde and commercial modern, but makes you wonder what bands that it is similar too because their are so many. Maybe you should pick a venue in Shoreditch because I am sure you will find one of them playing on a Friday or Saturday night to pick from.

I think this strange mix up could even be more complexed than I first thought because I start to hear sounds similar to Pop Rock band Lawson and Rubylux to the recent work of Coldplay on their 'Ghosts' album, which is the strangest the band has done to date. Tom the Lion Yes!!! is a singer that is a little strange and would not appeal to everyone, they are most definitely an acquired taste and I am not totally shore I like it. The second song 'Motorcade' has the vocals added higher in the mix with a metronome style tempo beat and Radiohead Esq. guitar added in the mix. Well if the Oxford band where trying out their more experimental instrumental material. This track also has a very modern tone to it, which easily push the track into the mainstream, but also could push it back at the same time. This would be a possible single off the album if it wasn't so mellow.

'Silent Partner' is also on a similar vibe to the track before it, but actually is one I prefer with it's hints of Rupert Stroud to it. He is an artist I have been listening to a lot recently, and I love the darkness of his work which can be mundane and depressing at times but bring you back up at other times. It took me a while to get into him, so maybe you have to listen to Tom the Lion a lot to truly get it, but I am not sure I have that much time in the day or if I actually want to do it this time. I'm really not keen on the next track on the CD 'Oil Man', which is really repetitive and way too similar too other tracks on the album and that's not in a good way. This track makes me on nerves and is a very hard listen and I wouldn't want to do it to often, because I think I would totally become suicidal. Thank God this track is not too long and it's gone by quickly because it's a really hard listen.

'Beholder' has a nice story to it and is one of the more interesting and intriguing tracks on the album, but at times I feel like some other tracks off the album are just too laid back and this one is faster but still has that vibe. The whole album has a feel of being in the sun in Hyde Park with a band playing and the sound echo's from the P.A. all round the massive park surroundings.This laid back vibe continues on 'November's Beach' which is at the half way mark on the album (See I am counting the tracks... which is not a good sign). Tom the Lion toy to change things a little more commercial with the song 'Every single Moment' which is far more up beat that 'Winter's Wool' which has killer bass line to it. I think some people would love this track because it does have a modern feel to it and makes me think of the band Wild Beasts.

'Our beloved Past' is one of the best tracks on the album, but it's is far too late on the record and I feel your interest is a little lost by this point. So you don't really take notice of the last part. Like my attention really doesn't register the track 'Ragdoll' which doesn't make an impact on me at all. The strange thing is that it's shame that I feel this way and I think most people will too because, the last few tracks are some of the more interesting ones. Like 'Heal' which is quick a nice track to listen to and 'Come to Life' which is slow but very nice at the same time. I will be honest with you I would not listen to this album again, it was a hard slog and it was a little monotonous and really annoyed me in many ways. It had good promise and interesting ideas, but just didn't offer anything different. I think other journalist might love Tom the Lion and will be raving about 'Sleep', so maybe I am not one of the cool kids but this album just doesn't work for me.

Review by Dan Devour