Tag: 3rd Man Records

Sleep – “Hempispheres” review

Sleep is a revered stoner metal band from San Jose, California consisting of drummer Dale Crover, guitarist Bubba Dupree & their only constant member in co-founding bassist/frontman Al Cisneros. Their 1991 full-length debut Volume 1 was solid, but Holy Mountain along with Jerusalem & Dopesmoker have all become stoner metal landmarks of their own. Returning in 2018 with their highly acclaimed 3rd Man Records debut The Sciences, they’re back again almost a decade later for their 6th studio LP albeit 2nd for Jack White’s indie label.

“Have Spacesuit Will Travel” conceptually inspired by Robert A. Heinlein’s novel of the same name left me torn as both a lead single & and intro because I didn’t feel like it pushed the stoner metal, space rock or stoner rock sounds forward in any way until “The Morrisist” comes through with another take on those styles that I’d consider decent at best except there’s a noticeably heavier Om influence than before & it’s brevity makes a good justification for being the 2nd & final single. However, Dale’s drumming left me equally unimpressed as Bubba’s guitar work.

The messy stoner title track would easily be my lest favorite if I had to pick one largely in part of the guitar tones being ripped out of the Kyuss playbook hence why it makes for my least favorite song here & once the 11-minute jam session “Arrival of the Industry Ships” delivers some of Al’s finest singing performances although his bass is blown out to the point where it can be distracting for some listeners, the closer “Whole Wheat Mountain / Well Baked” finishes Hempispheres oddly saving some of Bubba’s finest shredding for last.

This being Sleep’s being first album without co-founding guitarist Matt Pike was a huge concern of mine going in & although I still hold these guys in high regards, Hempispheres has the most likelihood of becoming the weakest entry in their discography yet unfortunately. I don’t mind Al Cisneros’ subdued vocals or the heavy psych undertones & even Dale Crodder’s drumming as someone who appreciates the Melvins, my issue lies with a great deal of Bubba Dupree’s riffs feeling thin compared to Matt’s & that’s why the stoner metal outfit’s newest incarnation leaves me on the fence. Either Bubba steps his game up or Al & brings Matt back.

Score: 3/5

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Jack White – “Frozen Charlotte” review

Jack White is a 51 year old musician, singer/songwriter, producer, businessman & actor from Detroit, Michigan known for being the frontman of the seminal garage rock revival duo The White Stripes. He would later drop his solo debut Blunderbuss under his own label 3rd Man Records in tandem with XL Recordings & Columbia Records in 2012, which was followed up with Lazaretto & Boarding House Reach prior to him declaring his independence in 2022 with Fear of the Dawn & Entering Heaven Alive respectively. His previous full-length No Name has quickly become his most beloved statement since The White Stripes’ disbandment & his 7th studio LP looks to dethrone it.

“G.O.D. & the Broken Ribs” accompanied by the b-side “Derecho Demonico” each get the ball rolling with a fusion of blues rock, alternative rock, punk blues, hard rock, garage rock revival & rap rock retelling the story of Adam & Eve in addition to breaking down is only rule of not starting what he can’t finish. “There’s Nobody Here” gives me some punk blues/garage punk vibes singing about sending smoke signals in the air with no one around while “Raising the Grain” commandingly heads for the catacombs where the river flows.

Meanwhile on “You’ll Never Fix Me”, we have Jack embracing a noisier sound encouraging to turn the lights off since he’s seen & heard enough just before “Nobody Knows” finds himself confused by all these questions until he suggests that it could be the human ego speaking to him. The final single “Dollar Bill” combines blues rock & garage rock revival with acid rock to sing about money & power while “I Can’t Believe What I’m Hearing” gives the impression that it was most likely conceived following his impending divorce from his 3rd wife Olivia Jean.

“Thick as Thieves” turns the blues punk influences back up singing about a loyal relationship where they fulfill each other’s needs while the bluesy “All Alone Again” explains that there isn’t an obstacle stronger than greed. “She’s in a Frenzy” continues from there exploring themes of envy & after “Making Contact” criticizes big tech for misinformation dominating social media these days, “Neighbors Blues” spends the last 5 minutes radiating some heavy Led Zeppelin vibes to vent that the people living next to him never have anything kind to say.

Carrying over the raucously frenetic energy of No Name a couple years ago, Frozen Charlotte doesn’t dethrone it’s predecessor to become my favorite of his since leaving Columbia although I do appreciate the intimacy. The hard & blues rock styles are being prioritized more than his previous outing although we still get hints of punk blues, garage punk, psychedelic rock, alternative rock, garage rock revival, rap rock & acid rock packing a punch that longtime fans will quickly recognize that additionally leaves an open door to anyone who’s been recently introduced to Jack through this.

Score: 4/5

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