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.
Ligea
Team Sleep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i killed a man of mine
in his Montana town
i was hunted down by hounds
hear the nighthawks cry
the voices dry and hollow
hear the crowd cheer
they cheer me to the gallows
In 1985
i was doing time alive
i made a plan to escape
and then as the lady of the lake
hear the crowd it goes
their voices dry and hollow
cant you hear them call
they cheer me to the gallows
1995
was the year i came out for trial
i listened to his song
and watched the sun make the shadows long
hear the nighthawk call
his voice is dry and hollow
hear the crowd call
they cheer me to the gallows
hear the nighthawk call
his voice is dry and hollow
hear the nighthawk call
in a voice thats hollow
Team Sleep's song Ligea tells the story of a man who has committed a murder and is haunted by his actions for the rest of his life. The song is divided into three parts, each representing a different time in the man's life.
In the first part, set in 1969, the man expresses remorse for killing someone in a town in Montana. He describes how he was subsequently hunted down by dogs and is now hearing the voice of the nighthawk, which is crying in a dry and hollow tone. The crowd is cheering him to the gallows, reflecting the man's sense of guilt and desire for punishment.
In the second part of the song, set in 1985, the man is in prison and is planning his escape. He hears the crowd's voices, which are dry and hollow, as they cheer him again to the gallows. The lady of the lake is also mentioned, perhaps indicating his hope for redemption or a new beginning.
The third part of the song is set in 1995 and is about the man's trial. He listens to a song and watches the shadows lengthen in the sun. Once again, the nighthawk's voice is dry and hollow, and the crowd is cheering him to the gallows. The repetition of this theme throughout the song emphasizes the weight of the man's actions and his longing for release.
Overall, the song is a powerful exploration of guilt, redemption, and the weight of one's actions on their conscience.
Line by Line Meaning
In 1969
During the year 1969
i killed a man of mine
I killed one of my own kind
in his Montana town
In the town of Montana where he lived
i was hunted down by hounds
I was pursued by hunting dogs
hear the nighthawks cry
Listen to the night bird, the nighthawk, crying
the voices dry and hollow
The sounds are empty and lack emotion
hear the crowd cheer
Listen to the audience applaud
they cheer me to the gallows
They cheer as I am sent to my execution
In 1985
During the year 1985
i was doing time alive
I was serving a prison sentence while still living
i made a plan to escape
I created a scheme to get away
and then as the lady of the lake
And then as if guided by a mystical force, the lady of the lake
hear the crowd it goes
Listen to the sound of the audience
their voices dry and hollow
The sounds are empty and lack emotion
cant you hear them call
Can't you hear them beckoning?
they cheer me to the gallows
They cheer as I am sent to my execution
1995
During the year 1995
was the year i came out for trial
This was the year I was put on trial
i listened to his song
I heard his melody
and watched the sun make the shadows long
And watched as the sun cast long shadows
hear the nighthawk call
Listen to the night bird, the nighthawk, calling
his voice is dry and hollow
The bird's call is empty and lacks emotion
hear the crowd call
Listen to the audience calling
they cheer me to the gallows
They cheer as I am sent to my execution
hear the nighthawk call
Listen to the night bird, the nighthawk, calling
his voice is dry and hollow
The bird's call is empty and lacks emotion
hear the nighthawk call
Listen to the night bird, the nighthawk, calling
in a voice that's hollow
In a manner that is empty and lacks emotion
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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