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Sleeping Star

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sleeping Star
Studio album by
Released1994
RecordedMay 1993 and January 1994
StudioChiswick Reach, London; Wake the Dead
LabelBar/None[1]
ProducerEpic Soundtracks
Epic Soundtracks chronology
Rise Above
(1992)
Sleeping Star
(1994)
Debris
(1995)

Sleeping Star is the second album by the English musician Epic Soundtracks, released in 1994.[2][3]

Soundtracks supported the album by touring with Evan Dando.[4][5]

Production

[edit]

Sleeping Star was produced by Soundtracks, who had long wanted to move from the noisy rock of his previous bands to a more classical pop sound.[6] Luke Haines contributed to the album, as did Kim Gordon, J Mascis, Will Pepper, and Henry Olsen.[7][8][9]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Calgary HeraldA−[11]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[8]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[12]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[13]

Trouser Press wrote that the album "often approximates the warm, jamming feel of a vintage Band record—an impressive feat when you consider how much of the project is essentially solo."[14] Entertainment Weekly thought that Soundtracks "continues to stake out a territory where Brian Wilson, Laura Nyro, Brill Building pop, and Hunky Dory-era David Bowie converge."[12] The Calgary Herald deemed the album "an unassuming gem," writing that "Soundtracks' songs wear hope, sadness and longing in many colors."[11]

The Washington Post determined that "Waiting for the Train" "gets awkwardly overwrought, but the album's most effective tunes employ a slow-burn style that rewards repeated listenings."[15] Stereo Review advised: "Think a less sodden Alex Chilton, or a post-modern version of Bread, and you've got it."[16] The Boston Globe praised the "gorgeous pop feel and emotional tug" of the songs.[17]

AllMusic wrote that "'Emily May' has a rolling piano line and up-tempo rhythm that makes it the highlight of the disc."[10]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by Epic Soundtracks

No.TitleLength
1."Something New Under the Sun" 
2."There's Been a Change" 
3."Don't Go to School" 
4."Tonight's the Night (Rock'n'Roll Lullabye)" 
5."Waiting for the Train" 
6."Emily May (You Make Me Feel So Fine)" 
7."Baby I Love You" 
8."Hear the Whistle Blow" 
9."There's a Rumour" 
10."Tired Eyes" 
11."I'll Sing a Hymn" 
12."I Believe" 

Personnel

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  • Epic Soundtracks - acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, piano, organ, lead and backing vocals
  • Will Pepper - bass; guitar on "Emily Man (You Make Me Feel So Fine)"
  • Harry Georgeson - middle 8 guitar solo on "Something New Under the Sun", guitar on "I Believe"
  • Anthony Thistlethwaite - saxophone on "There's Been a Change" and "Waiting for the Train"
  • Julia Palmer - cello on "Hear the Whistle Blow" and "I'll Sing a Hymn"
  • Anne Ahem - violin on "Hear The Whistle Blow" and "I'll Sing a Hymn"
  • Asyam Kael - backing vocals
  • Claudio Pinto - hand claps on "Emily Man (You Make Me Feel So Fine)"
  • Henry Olsen - string arrangements

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Epic Soundtracks". Perfect Sound Forever. Archived from the original on 2021-10-22. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  2. ^ Sarig, Roni (Jan 1995). "Sound advice — Sleeping Star by Epic Soundtracks". Interview. Vol. 25, no. 1. p. 45.
  3. ^ "Epic Soundtracks Found Dead". Rolling Stone. November 25, 1997. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  4. ^ "Rock Experimentalist Epic Soundtracks Dead at 37". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  5. ^ Blardinelli, Jill (December 8, 1994). "What Women Want". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Sprague, David (Oct 29, 1994). "Bar/None seeks wider appeal for Epic Soundtracks". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 44. p. 15.
  7. ^ "Luke Haines". Record Collector. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  8. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 299.
  9. ^ Bream, Jon (November 20, 1994). "Lemonhead Dando and pal play Uptown". Star Tribune. p. 6F.
  10. ^ a b "Sleeping Star". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  11. ^ a b Buckingham, Brooker (5 Feb 1995). "Recent Releases". Calgary Herald. p. B10.
  12. ^ a b "Sleeping Star". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-04-04. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
  13. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. pp. 1057–1058.
  14. ^ "Epic Soundtracks". Trouser Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  15. ^ "An Epic Move: Punk to Crooner". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ Simels, Steve (Apr 1995). "Quick fixes — Sleeping Star by Epic Soundtracks". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 4. p. 92.
  17. ^ Sullivan, Jim (10 Nov 1994). "Evan and Epic". Calendar. The Boston Globe. p. 25.