Team Sleep is the side project of Chino Moreno from the Deftones, along with about half a dozen other people who aren't as famous. If you're familiar with the Deftones, you might have some idea what to expect. 'Teenager' off of 'White Pony' started life as a Team Sleep song, and 'Lucky You' from the Deftones self-titled album guests DJ Crook, who is another member of Team Sleep. Another good reference point would be that Team Sleep is to the Deftones what A Perfect Circle is to Tool, the vocalists mellower, more melodic side project. Team Sleep is gentler than A Perfect Circle though, while there are still a couple of 'rock out' songs, they're nowhere near as heavy as the likes of 'Judith' or 'Pet'.
Chino sings on about half the songs, and his style is still the same twisted howling he does on the Deftones' albums, but given a different context by the quieter, more restrained music. His songs tend to be the louder ones though, the other main vocalist, Rob Crow, sings on the gentle, upbeat tracks. There are also a few nice instrumentals, which tend towards the moody, ambient side.
The album has a wide variety of guest musicians (Mike Patton was rumoured to be making an appearance, but he hasn't shown up in the end), so the music has a lot of variety, both in terms of the genre, varying between electronics and analog instruments, and in terms of mood. There's happy, gentle, upbeat songs, heavier rock songs, and moody downbeat ones. My favorites are, uncharacteristically, the happy upbeat ones, but the album as a whole is pretty good almost from beginning to end. Like the last Deftones album it takes a couple of listens before it really starts to appeal, as the songs aren't very hooky. Hopefully these guys will be making a new album at some stage in the future, but it probably won't be anytime soon as the Deftones have a new album out later this year.
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