Heavy Stereo

Sometimes you like something in spite of yourself. "Sleep Freak" has much to discourage recommending it. First and foremost, the whole thing is one gigantic rip-off of John Lennon's 1970 hit "Instant Karma," complete with whacked Phil Spector-style production and a totally xeroxed, distorted snare-drum/tambourine beat. Go ahead and sing "And we all shine on" while this is playing, and snicker! Add to that that the band sounds as lazy as an unemployed narcoleptic. The singer's nasal mumble sounds a wee bit like Oasis's Liam Gallagher without the occasional stirring innocence, and the style is a seemingly bandwagon-jumping glam/psychedelic mix, and it seems like this review should have been over already, game, set, match. But, it isn't. Play this more than once or twice and it becomes like that cold that hasn't put you to bed, but you can't seem to shake it either. After a while that verse is getting kind of catchy, and you notice both the B-sides "Magic Sponge" and "Pleasure Dip" are even better, and dagblast it all, you're actually looking forward to their new single "Smiler" and first LP (which will likely be released here via Creation's connections with Sony)! Bastards! They may drag us kicking and screaming, but if this single portends their future, we'll wonder why we resisted so stubbornly. ~ Jack Rabid, All Music Guide