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.
Kool-aid Party
Team Sleep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I drink up
Rich Cambodia
sailors warning
face down on the pillow
sweet dreams of a stuck night in jail
your eyes are tired
you think your just down on your luck
my luck is changing feel the raging
let the fire burn as we go
kool-aid party
it makes me horny
A fist full of tears
I scream when my ship has come in
Your ship has come in,
Your ship has come in.
Interpretation:
The song "Kool-aid Party" by Team Sleep may have several interpretations depending on the listener's understanding. Based on the lyrics, it may be interpreted as an experience of someone who is trying to escape the reality of their life by getting drunk and high on drugs. Cambodia represents the exotic land of drugs, and sailors warning symbolize the warnings that it might lead to something dangerous. This person might have been down on their luck and trying to forget their problems. Climbing higher on razor wire is a metaphor, which means doing something risky or adventuring while high. The line "My luck is changing, feel the raging, let the fire burn as we go" is an optimistic tone of making the most of the moment while it lasts.
Furthermore, the lyrics also feature a weird kind of Kool-Aid party that makes the person horny, which may symbolize a lustful desire. Here, the individual seems to derive pleasure from drinking and indulging in drugs, which makes them forget their worries and feel alive. The chorus line, "A fist full of tears, I scream when my ship has come in," is a reference to the person's feeling of being overwhelmed by emotions when they see a positive change in their life.
Overall, the song is a reflection of the emotional clutter and moral decline that results from dependency on drugs and alcohol. It speaks of a life that is lived on the edge, where one can either live a few moments of hedonistic pleasure or risk losing everything to addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I drink up
I am drinking alcohol
I drink up
I continue drinking alcohol
Rich Cambodia
A phrase to depict a luxurious destination
sailors warning
A sign of caution for a coming storm
face down on the pillow
Lying on the bed on my front
sweet dreams of a stuck night in jail
Having thoughts of being imprisoned overnight
climbing higher on razor wire
Struggling to get out of a dangerous situation
your eyes are tired
You seem fatigued
you think you're just down on your luck
Believing that things aren't going well temporarily
my luck is changing, feel the raging
I am feeling the increase in enthusiasm due to a change in luck
let the fire burn as we go
Let's enjoy the moment to the fullest
kool-aid party
A fun gathering where people drink a fruit-flavored drink called Kool-Aid
it makes me horny
It increases my sexual desire
A fist full of tears
Crying profusely
I scream when my ship has come in
I shout in excitement because my good fortune has arrived
Your ship has come in,
You are experiencing a positive turn of events
Your ship has come in.
You are experiencing a positive turn of events
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
FactYouInTheAsk
Lyrics-
(I drink up, I drink up)
A red sky morning
A sailor's warning
Face down on the pillow
Sweet dreams of the soft night in jail
(I drink up, I drink up)
Climbing higher
On razor wire
Your eyes are tired
You think you're just down on your luck
(I drink up, I drink up)
I drain the poison
Let's dip the boys in
The weather was rough
Like the sea in a port in a storm
(I drink up, I drink up)
The black cats are calling
And shameless brawling
The boys will be boys
We're so cool but we can't catch our tail
(I drink up, I drink up)
It's kool-aid morning
It makes me horny
A fist full of tears
And I'll scream when my ship has come in
Your ship has come in
Your ship has come in
(I drink up, I drink up)
A red sky morning
A sailor's warning
Face down on the pillow
Sweet dreams of the soft night in jail
(I drink up, I drink up)
Squeeze the throttle
And tip the bottle
I run from all friends
I don't have to die to see the light
My luck is changing
I feel a raising
Deep in your head
And I'll scream when my ship has come in
Your ship has come in
Your ship has come in
AURAL FIXXATION
I still remember when I first heard this years back. I was a little chemically enhanced and this song just dragged me down in the undertow. Dripping with atmospheric disturbance and decay. Dam I love how Patton is not afraid to disappear into any genre.
Billy Steward
My thoughts exactly
Beto Reis
A little chemically enhanced, that describes my entire twenties hahaha
AURAL FIXXATION
@Beto Reis 😂
manchalivin
This song certainly wins the spooky/freaky vote for Team Sleep songs. It stands out from the rest of their material and I am sure it is in no small part due to Patton being involved.
FactYouInTheAsk
Lyrics-
(I drink up, I drink up)
A red sky morning
A sailor's warning
Face down on the pillow
Sweet dreams of the soft night in jail
(I drink up, I drink up)
Climbing higher
On razor wire
Your eyes are tired
You think you're just down on your luck
(I drink up, I drink up)
I drain the poison
Let's dip the boys in
The weather was rough
Like the sea in a port in a storm
(I drink up, I drink up)
The black cats are calling
And shameless brawling
The boys will be boys
We're so cool but we can't catch our tail
(I drink up, I drink up)
It's kool-aid morning
It makes me horny
A fist full of tears
And I'll scream when my ship has come in
Your ship has come in
Your ship has come in
(I drink up, I drink up)
A red sky morning
A sailor's warning
Face down on the pillow
Sweet dreams of the soft night in jail
(I drink up, I drink up)
Squeeze the throttle
And tip the bottle
I run from all friends
I don't have to die to see the light
My luck is changing
I feel a raising
Deep in your head
And I'll scream when my ship has come in
Your ship has come in
Your ship has come in
skulpl82007
*like they say: "any port in a storm".
Jenny Lynn
Only Patton could make Mass Murder sexy. His voice alone could lead us to the future we deserve, if he chose to wield it so. Imagine, in his maturity, if he completely defined the chains and broke them. I believe he could easily bring us into 21st century proper.
Mike West
@Jenny Lynn on a Patton kick today and you’re commenting on every 3rd video I watch lol I feel like I’m stalking you on YouTube
Filipe Zabala
I listen
"Your SHIP has come in
Your SIP has come in"