Team Sleep performed a number of live shows on the United States' west coast in late 2001 and early 2002 with Todd Wilkinson, Dan Elkan (Pocket For Corduroy), Sonny Mayugba (Phallucy), Zach Hill (Hella), Rick Verrett (Tinfed) and DJ Crook handling instrumentation.
“We were never going to make a record, or start a band,” adds Wilkinson, “I was just sitting at home, playing guitar, and I started recording some stuff. It was never about trying to play shows, record in a studio, or anything of that sort. It was just bumming around. I had never been in a band, and I never wanted to be—we were just friends.”
It was rumored that Mike Patton (Fantômas, Faith No More) and Melissa Auf Der Maur (ex-Hole, ex-Smashing Pumpkins) would be involved in recording sessions. While Mike Patton did indeed contribute vocals to the track "Kool-Aid Party", this song did not make it to the album. Due to contractual obligations, any material Team Sleep releases will be through Maverick Records. Now that the album is released, it is known that only Rob Crow of San Diego based band Pinback and Mary Timony of the band Wild Flag (ex-Helium, ex-Autoclave) lend their vocals to the project along with Chino.
The only early Team Sleep recording to have been officially released was "The Passportal," an instrumental featured on the The Matrix Reloaded soundtrack. A version of "The Passportal" with lyrics and vocals by Chino Moreno has circulated on the internet under the title "Apollonia."
A full album's worth of material was finished between 2002-2003, but Moreno was reportedly angered after Team Sleep songs were circulated on the internet, mostly by the Deftones own official message board. This, coupled with the release and supporting tour for Deftones' fourth album, kept Team Sleep's recordings from being released. In 2002 there was also a Team Sleep world premiere on POWER 106 FM in Los Angeles: "Mercedes" was played once. The new album has done away with almost all of the previous tracks, only carrying over four of the originals, three of those heavily revamped.
Team Sleep's record was originally scheduled for a November, 2004 release, but Maverick Records were reportedly so impressed by the album they postponed the release until mid-2005 to allow for promotion. Chino supposedly commented that "(I) didn't know whether to be happy that they were impressed, or pissed that they didn't expect much (from Team Sleep) in the first place."
A DJ named 'C-Minus' opening at a Deftones concert at the House of Blues in West Hollywood in October, 2004 premiered the newest version of the Team Sleep song 'Cambodia' to the crowd. This song was later changed to 'Ever.' The official Team Sleep website surfaced and included an audio/video clip of the song 'Death By Plane.'
Rumors began to circulate in January 2005 that Team Sleep had broken up due to a falling out between Chino Moreno and DJ Crook. Many fans were distraught at the fact that the long-awaited project might never surface, but the rumors were later proved false.
May 10 was finally pinned down as the date that Team Sleep's self-titled debut album would be released. "The best part about it is having completion of something you've been working on, and having it done right," Moreno said in a statement. "It's fun, working with different people, everybody works differently. When I have time off from music, I want to make other music. That's what I do, that's what's fun, that's what makes me happy." ...(mtv.com)
Team Sleep has been described as "moody" and "beat-driven." More so than the Deftones, many themes and lyrics on the album are fantastical and imaginative in nature; drawing from such literary sources as Poe and historical events like the Jonestown Massacre. The completed album is less electronic in sound and much more 'alt' or 'indie' rock than when the project began.
'Ever' is considered to be the first single from Team Sleep. Notably absent from the completed album are 'Mercedes,' 'Apollonia,' 'Iceache,' 'Death by Plane,' 'Solid Gold,' 'Acoustic One,' and 'Kool-Aid Party'. However, a newer version of 'Kool-Aid Party' was released on the 'Ever (Foreign Flag)' single.
11/11
Team Sleep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
not even close to the way it was then
when everyone would stay away from you
how everyone would stay away from you
and I don't remember
how just the way the water fell down there
could make you cry
they were taken by the fire
that sound drifting off outside
there's and unlight drizzle going on
that sound faucets off
hang me out the window
no resolve
its all away
that sound drifting off outside
there's and unlight drizzle
going on
that sound faucets off
hang me out the window
no resolve
(that sound drifting off outside
there's and unlight drizzle going on)
for every piece of rice that falls another one falls in your shorts
eliminate the stasis burden, eliminate the stasis burden
if everyone was like lou rawls
then no more guys would sing with drawls
relax the goods, alright
relax the goods, alright
when everyone would stay away fom you
when everyone would stay away fom you
The lyrics to Team Sleep's song 11/11 speak to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and nostalgia for the past. The opening lines, "not even fair to box away those old faces, not even close to the way it was then," suggest that the singer is reflecting on memories that they're struggling to let go of. The next lines, "when everyone would stay away from you, how everyone would stay away from you," hint at the idea that the singer may have struggled with social isolation or rejection in the past, and perhaps longs for the way things used to be.
The next section of the song juxtaposes two different images: the peaceful serenity of falling water, and the violent destruction of a fire. The lines "I don't remember how just the way the water fell down there, could make you cry, half these embers flew away into the dry brushes, they were taken by the fire," suggest a kind of bittersweet nostalgia, as the singer is remembering a past moment of beauty that has been lost or destroyed.
The remainder of the song uses a lot of fragmented phrases and repetition to create a sense of confusion or indecision. Lines like "hang me out the window, no resolve, it's all away," reinforce the idea that the singer is feeling lost and uncertain. The last lines, "eliminate the stasis burden, if everyone was like lou rawls, then no more guys would sing with drawls, relax the goods alright, when everyone would stay away from you," seem to suggest a desire to let go of past pain and move on to something better. Overall, the song paints a picture of someone who is grappling with feelings of loneliness and nostalgia, but who is ultimately trying to come to terms with the past and move forward with their life.
Line by Line Meaning
not even fair to box away those old faces
It is unjust to push aside and forget about people from the past.
not even close to the way it was then
Things have changed so much that it is not even remotely similar to how it used to be.
when everyone would stay away from you
There was a time when nobody wanted to come close to you.
how everyone would stay away from you
Recalling a time when people kept their distance from you.
and I don't remember
The singer is having trouble recalling certain details of the past.
how just the way the water fell down there could make you cry
The sight of something as simple as rainfall could trigger an emotional response in the individual.
half these embers flew away into the dry brushes
Some of the sparks from the fire escaped and spread to the surrounding dry area.
they were taken by the fire
The fire consumed the sparks and made them a part of it.
that sound drifting off outside
A sound can be heard in the distance, fading away.
there's and unlight drizzle going on
It is lightly raining outside.
that sound faucets off
The sound being heard abruptly ends or stops.
hang me out the window no resolve its all away
A feeling of despair and hopelessness, with nothing left to be done.
for every piece of rice that falls another one falls in your shorts
A phrase that appears to have no inherent meaning or significance.
eliminate the stasis burden, eliminate the stasis burden
Repetition of a phrase that seems to carry a sense of urgency or importance.
if everyone was like lou rawls then no more guys would sing with drawls
Hypothesizing a world where everybody sang like Lou Rawls, and how that would lead to a different style of singing entirely.
relax the goods, alright
A phrase that is somewhat ambiguous but could imply a request to take things easy and unwind.
when everyone would stay away fom you
Reiteration of a previous line, emphasizing the negative impact it had on the individual.
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Portuguese Beach
Not even fair to box away those old faces
Not even close to the way it was then
When everyone would stay away from you
How everyone would stay away from you
And I don't remember
How just the way the water fell down there
Could make you cry
Half these embers flew away into the dry brushes
They were taken by the fire
That sound drifting off outside
There’s an unlight drizzle going on
That sound faucets off
Hang me out the window
No resolve
That sound drifting off outside
There’s an unlight drizzle
going on
For every piece of rice that falls
Another one falls in your shorts
Eliminate the stasis burden, Eliminate the stasis burden
If everyone was like Lou Rawls
Then no more guys would sing with drawls
Relax the gods alright
Relax the gods alright
When everyone would stay away from you
(that sound faucets off)
When everyone would stay away from you
(hang me out the window, no resolve)
Bertolini The Great
This song helped me alot during alot of pain i went thru as a teenager. Without this song idk where id be. Thank you Deftones and Pinback. Team Sleep forever 🖤
Emily Wire
this is my favorite song by Team Sleep. I made a CD for my dad with pictures of my brothers and I when we were young to this song, So awesome.
Richard Dundas
This whole album is special to me. I got a lot of find memories that these tracks bring me back to
juulesisoffline
Richard Dundas me too man, reminds me of my first year of college always listening to this on the way to class and looking at the scenery around my campus, it was the absolute best year of my life and this is the soundtrack to it
punkflop
Rob Crow’s vocal style really works well in this song, but nothing comes close to when Chino comes in at 2:05. That’s when the song really takes off and never fails to give me goosebumps. (dropped @ www.trackdrops.com)
john1120
punkflop sorry that intro he stole chino shine.
Aaron Madrigal
john1120 I agree
Domenic Piscitelli
@john1120100%
Crystalline B.
Used to love listening to this before falling asleep.
Krazee Jake
That's why their called team sleep haha