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.
Foreign Flag
Team Sleep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm in awe
A face like you've never seen
I'm yours tonight
So come on
Light the stage
So we can all take off
Anywhere
Ever
You wear that cast so cool
And I'm in awe
A face like you've never seen before
Around
So come on, yeah
Light the stage
So we can all take off
Anywhere
We'll never come back
Ever
Lie on the stage
You picture all of us everywhere
We'll never come back
Ever
The lyrics to Team Sleep's song "Foreign Flag" describe a feeling of awe and admiration towards someone who appears to be new and unique, with a face that is unlike any other. The singer is drawn to this person's ability to dance and wear a cast (which is usually associated with injury or disability) in a cool and confident way. The repeated line "I'm in awe" emphasizes the singer's enchantment with this person, suggesting that they are almost mesmerized by their presence.
The chorus revolves around the idea of lighting the stage so that everyone can take off and go anywhere, never to return again. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for escaping reality and entering into a new, exciting adventure with this person. However, the final lines of the song suggest that this escape is not permanent, as they will "never come back, ever." This can be seen as a bittersweet ending, with the singer acknowledging that this experience cannot last forever, but still cherishing the time they have with this person.
Line by Line Meaning
You make that dance look so new
I am amazed by the way you are dancing, it feels like a fresh, innovative style
And I'm in awe
I am admiring you, feeling wonder and amazement
A face like you've never seen
Your appearance is so unique and charming, I have never seen anyone like you before
I'm yours tonight
I belong to you for this night, I am committed to being with you
So come on
Encouraging you to do something (presumably join in the dance, or continue with the night's activities)
Light the stage
Illuminate the performance area so that we can all see clearly and fully enjoy the show
So we can all take off
When the stage is well-lit and the performers are fully engaged, the audience will be transported to another place or experience
Anywhere
This new experience can take us anywhere, we have no limits
We'll never come back
This experience will be so powerful and transformative that we will never be able to return to the way things were before
You wear that cast so cool
I admire the way you carry yourself with grace and confidence, even though you have an injury
Around
I see you moving around with ease and comfort, despite your injury
Lie on the stage
Perhaps an instruction or suggestion to someone, to lie down on the stage (presumably to play a role or make a statement)
You picture all of us everywhere
You imagine all of us sharing the same vision or experience, no matter where in the world we are
We'll never come back
This experience will be so powerful and transformative that we will never be able to return to the way things were before
Ever
This experience will stay with us forever, as a powerful memory and inspiration for future growth and development
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GREG WELLS, WRITERS UNKNOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind