Hubbard produced the group's 1999 independent debut, Palewaves , which was recorded at a studio in Memphis in less than a week. And the lyrics adapt the introspective, often depressive stance that has become part and parcel of the vast majority of sadcore artists. The group does step outside its slow-core margins here and there, though. But, while songs like these infuse Sleeping with an decidedly infectious pop sensibility, the album is still plagued by an abundance of weaker material. And, over everything, the album is regrettably beset by a vocal attack that is, as often as not, noticeably out of tune.
Bright spots do exist.
But despite its mostly agreeable musical and lyrical construction, the preponderance of overly nondescript material makes the second album a frustratingly inconsistent listen from start to finish.