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
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
(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 goods, alright
Relax the goods, alright
When everyone would stay away fom you
When everyone would stay away fom you
The lyrics of "11-11" by Team Sleep explore themes of isolation, loss, and the passage of time. The first stanza reflects on the memories of the past and the people who were once close but have now drifted away. The singer recognizes that it's unfair to try to forget about these individuals and pack their memories away. The second stanza speaks of the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life. The sound of water falling is used as a metaphor for the tears it brings. The embers are likened to memories being taken away by a fire.
The third stanza speaks of a present moment with a sense of disassociation. The sound drifting off outside is a disorienting distraction. The unlit drizzle represents the dullness of the present. The fourth stanza details an attempt at finding resolution. The elimination of the stasis burden could represent moving on from a situation of stagnation. Lou Rawls is mentioned as an example of someone with a unique voice. The line "If everyone was like Lou Rawls, then no more guys would sing with drawls" is a metaphor for embracing one's own individuality. Finally, the chorus is repeated, reminding the listener of the loneliness and isolation that can come with the changing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Not even fair to box away those old faces
Those old faces have value and should not be disregarded or forgotten.
Not even close to the way it was then
Things are different now and cannot be compared to the past.
When everyone would stay away from you
During a time of isolation when others did not want to associate with you.
How everyone would stay away from you
Further emphasizing the isolated state that was experienced.
And I don't remember
Indicating that memories may be fading or the past is becoming blurred.
How just the way the water fell down there
Descriptive of how the sight of the water falling affected emotions.
Could make you cry
The water falling was emotionally impactful enough to cause tears.
Half these embers
Referring to remnants of something that was once on fire.
Flew away into the dry brushes
The embers were caught in the wind and taken away by vegetation.
They were taken by the fire
The embers were lost to the larger blaze.
That sound drifting off outside
Descriptive of ambient noises heard outside.
There's an unlight drizzle
Light rain that isn't serious or heavy.
Going on
The drizzle is currently happening.
That sound faucets off
Describing the sound of a faucet turning off.
Hang me out the window
Requesting to be hung out a window, possibly as a troublemaking child would do.
No resolve
Implying unresolved issues or problems that need to be addressed.
For every piece of rice that falls
Every failure or setback has a corresponding consequence.
Another one falls in your shorts
The effects of a mistake or failure can compound and build upon each other.
Eliminate the stasis burden
Get rid of the weight or burden of staying in the same situation or being stagnant.
If everyone was like Lou Rawls
Hypothetically stating that if everyone were like Lou Rawls, a soulful singer, there would be no more drawling singers.
Then no more guys would sing with drawls
Reiterated from the previous line, meaning that the distinct style of a drawling singer would no longer exist.
Relax the goods, alright
Unwinding or loosening up.
When everyone would stay away from you
Repeating a previous line, further emphasizing the time of isolation or separation from others.
Contributed by Caroline R. 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