Smart

This came out in 1995, the year of Britpop, and was the most representative of the trend for female-led guitar bands featuring charismatic frontwomen and anonymous musicians (the NME dubbed them 'Sleeperblokes'). Oddly, they reminded nobody of Transvision Vamp at the time, but then again this was a period in which Menswear were almost taken seriously.The band were led by Louise Wener, famously 'the most elegible Jewish woman' according to some magazine or other, and she had a big enough bag of controversial quotes (none of which I can remember) to be interviewed cosntantly by the music press. They survived for three albums in this way before splitting up (i.e. Louise sacked the band) due to Wener's shocking jaw-wobbling in the video for 'Romeo Me', three years later.As for the music? Fairly good, spiky guitar-led pop that, although painfully 1995, is still very catchy and fun.

Though in retrospect they might not have lived up to that label as well as Echobelly did, Sleeper's debut still has a ton to love.Though most attention will go to Louise Werner, who's sexy voice and sassy attitude carry a lot of the songs here, the backing music carry it even further, proving Sleeper is more than just an interesting and controversial frontwoman.Fans who miss 80's new wave pop will need to have this.

This was Sleeper's debut album. For many, it is considered not as good as the other two they released. For me, though, there is something raw and ebullient about Louise Wener and her mates' first offering. Her lyrics are up front, often amusingly bawdy, witty, tongue-in-cheek and sort of sexy in a grubby, punky way. Lots of great observational stuff. I agree, however, that the songs on the next two albums are more fulfilled pieces of songwriting, more catchy and cohesive. Some of those on here don't quite make it. Maybe that was part of the "indie" thing, though, that sort of home-produced punk ethic.TRACK LISTING1. Inbetweener2. Swallow3. Delicious4. Hunch5. Amuse6. Bedhead7. Lady Love Your Countryside8. Vegas9. Poor Flying Man10. Alice In Vain11. Twisted12. PyrotechnicianInbetweener is a jangly, riffy, poppy opener with one of those hooks Sleeper would be so good at delivering over the next couple of years. Louise Wener's "mockney" is irritating, as it would also be prove to be over the same period of time. Just pronounce those "t's" Louise. Her phrasing sounds clumsy, more difficult to drop the "t's" than say them. Swallow has an edgy, post punk-ish scratchy guitar opening with Louise singing about a creature in her wardrobe seeing her naked. Delicious is a frantic, energetic punky number with Louise suggesting "we should go to bed until we make each other sore...". Ok if you insist....Hunch is a slow, solemn number that doesn't quite come off, at least until it bursts into action half way through. Amuse is another low-key song that, unfortunately shows up the weaknesses in Wener's slightly deadpan voice. Bedhead is a new-wavey fast paced song with hints of early Joe Jackson about it. Lady Love Your Countryside is an odd song, lyrically, about various sexual activities. Again it is a very late seventies/early eighties-influenced number. Vegas is more in a mid-nineties "Brit Pop" jangly style. It ends with some crashing Oasis-ish riffs.Poor Flying Man slows the tempo down a bit until its cacophonous ending. Alice In Vain is an interesting, beguiling song, with a bit of cod-reggae in the middle and another of those punky vibes. Twisted is an excellent, big, chunky, bassy one. OK, it's a bit raw, sonically, but that sort of adds to its indie appeal. Pyrotechnician is also mightily full-on in its attack. It utilises some Big Audio Dynamite-style sampling too. Good stuff. This album would have gone down well in 1978-1979. It is quite retrospective all the way through. I really quite like this album.

Love it love it love it.

Classic..

Delivered on time and a good way to celebrate the silver anniversary of an album I love very much

Was never big on Sleeper in the 90's. Gave them a go recently and was pleasantly surprised by the results.