Ghosts

Sleeping At Last

Interscope Records

“Recommended…

Ghosts

Sleeping At Last

Interscope Records

“Recommended if you like Smashing Pumpkins and Radiohead.”

Though its name sounds like a soothing bedtime CD, three-man band Sleeping At Last’s songs are far from lullabies.

They haven’t been around all that long – they were formed only five years ago, when brothers Ryan and Chad O’Neal started the band with the help of their friend Dan Perdue in a basement near Chicago. In ’99, they self-released their first CD, followed a couple years later by Capture. However, Ghosts is their most recent, arriving from Interscope Records.

Their sound is somewhere between their inspirations: Radiohead and Smashing Pumpkins. If you listen closely, you may think the lead singer sounds like the lead vocalist from Lifehouse. It’s great music to listen to if you are chilling out with your significant other or writing a paper. With Ryan as lead vocalist and guitar front man, Chad on drums, and Perdue on bass, their rhythm flows smoothly and stays rather constant. Yeah, it’s a good make-out CD.

The guys give their listeners hope and inspiration about fulfilling their dreams, living life and experiencing love that touches the soul. Perhaps it was their belief in themselves and their music that gained them the friendship and support of the lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins, Billy Corgan. He listened to their demo tape at a show, and gave them the breakthrough they needed to finally be heard – not just from outside their basement door.

Their first full-length album, Capture, was the CD Corgan listened to and offered his advice about, before eventually giving them the chance they needed to begin recording Ghosts. Through Corgan’s influence, Ryan realized if this CD of theirs was to have any chance, he needed to focus more on his writing. Ryan did so by pouring the truth out of his heart, producing songs that are filled with feeling, about a band that has found itself.

Perhaps life has begun taking on a whole other meaning to the band members of Sleeping At Last. The realization that if you work hard and don’t give up, success is waiting in the end, though this is only the beginning for the guys.

Their conscious choice to sing from deep within themselves is apparent throughout Ghosts. They explore a truthfulness that pours out from their lyrics. If it is true that they sing from their life’s experiences, then the first track, “Say,” explains that they may have found what they’re looking for, “Say what you really want to say/And the truest of forms will show/Finally you’ll find your soul.”

It looks like Sleeping At Last is nowhere near ready to be tucked down into bed.