Sleepy Sun's miles, months, and days in the van are a tangible presence in Spine Hits, an LP of whimsy, restlessness, and urgency that leaps nimbly from landscape to landscape with ease, irreverence, and a catch-em-before-they-ain't changeling nature. For the most part, the sprawling Zeppelin-esque epics that defined much of Embrace and Fever have been traded in for a potent pop-compact framework. But never at the expense of the dodging, juking, and downshifting instincts that set their older long form pieces apart from a thousand other psychedelic drone warriors.
Recorded under the big skies of the California high desert with Queens of Stone Age and Eagles of Death Metal alumnus Dave Catching, the jams on Spine Hits are alternatingly precision whittled and moodily muscular. Matt Holliman and Evan Reiss' guitars adroitly move from steamroller heavy to beachside airy and bouncing to interstellar- tinkering with texture and dynamics like never before. Vocalist Bret Constantino sings with a road-toughened, husky soul yowl and hush that occasionally betrays a society-weary frustration but more often hints at a way out. The rhythm section of drummer Brian Tice and Jack Allen is a super-cohesive, tricky, and tough-as-hell unit that keeps the Sleepy train on track as it teeters, creeps and runs wild across the land.
To any seasoned Sleepy Sun listener the new destinations will be surprises and revelations. "V.O.G." hints at a backstage conspiracy hatched on the Arctic Monkeys tour- buoyant and tight as a wire. "Boat Trip" moseys with a Lou Reed offhandedness- a postcard from Brian Wilson's forgotten vacation with the Velvets. "Still Breathing" is an elegiac nod to the band's early alignment with the Verve's dreamworlds.
For Sleepy spotters that came to love the band in its most massively rocking incarnations, there are the slow burns- "Stivey Pond" a sinister, stalking, and tender lurching beast bearing down on the subject of its obsession. And "Lioness (Requiem)" - a drifting, drowsy, late night lost in contemplation, dawn nowhere in sight.
Spine Hits isn't a portrait of a band in a moment. It's a box of snapshots spilled on the floor and blowing in the wind...left behind by a band that can't stop moving, but remembers what they left behind in a thousand colors.
Ooh Boy
Sleepy Sun Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the beach we were
Oh, my stars, they're soaring again
And you've gone on to leave your breath
Don't let the swell calm down
The water is drowning our faith
Don't let the evil light carry our own weight
And carry our souls away
It's a long way home
Ooh, boy, it's a long way
It's a long way home
Ooh, boy
Ooh, boy
It's a long way home
Ooh, boy
Ooh, boy
It's a long way home
The lyrics to Sleepy Sun's song "Ooh Boy" convey a sense of longing, nostalgia, and a yearning for connection. The opening lines, "The fire's out, the sun is down, On the beach we were," set a somber and reflective tone. It suggests that a moment of intimacy or passion has come to an end, and the imagery of the sun setting symbolizes the loss of brightness and hope.
The next lines, "Oh, my stars, they're soaring again, And you've gone on to leave your breath," evoke a feeling of awe and wonder at the vastness of the universe. It implies that despite the transient nature of human connections, the celestial bodies continue their eternal journey, reminding us of our own insignificance.
The chorus, "Don't let the swell calm down, The water is drowning our faith, Don't let the evil light carry our own weight, And carry our souls away," suggests a struggle against complacency and the forces that threaten to extinguish our spirit. It speaks to the importance of staying vigilant, resisting the pull of negativity, and preserving our belief in something greater than ourselves.
The repeated refrain of "Ooh, boy, it's a long way, It's a long way home" underscores the longing for a place of warmth, comfort, and belonging. It implies that the journey back to that sense of home and solace may be challenging and distant.
Overall, "Ooh Boy" reflects on the transient nature of relationships and the need to hold onto faith and hope amidst the struggles of life. It captures a bittersweet feeling of longing and the desire for a place where one truly feels at home.
Line by Line Meaning
The fire's out, the sun is down
The passion and energy have faded away, and the hope is diminishing
On the beach we were
We were once in a tranquil and peaceful place
Oh, my stars, they're soaring again
Our dreams and ambitions have resurfaced and are ascending once more
And you've gone on to leave your breath
You have moved forward, leaving behind your presence and impact
Don't let the swell calm down
Do not allow the excitement and momentum to dissipate
The water is drowning our faith
The uncertain and turbulent circumstances are eroding our belief
Don't let the evil light carry our own weight
Do not allow negative influences to bear the burden of our responsibilities
And carry our souls away
And take away our essence and identity
Ooh, boy, it's a long way
Oh, my friend, the journey ahead is arduous
It's a long way home
The path to finding our true selves and finding solace is lengthy
Ooh, boy
Oh, my friend
Ooh, boy
Oh, my friend
It's a long way home
The journey back to our authentic selves and finding peace is far
Ooh, boy
Oh, my friend
Ooh, boy
Oh, my friend
It's a long way home
The path to rediscovering our true essence and sense of belonging is distant
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bret Constantino, Brian Tice, Evan Reiss, John Allen, Matt Holliman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind