September 29th, 2023 (Nashville, TN): Nashville’s favorite rock duo, Sleep Nation, release new LP ‘AND THEN THERE WERE 2…,’ alongside a new music video for the featured track “The Ballad of Billy Jones.” You can listen to the LP above, and watch the video here.
Sleep Nation’s newest LP, AND THEN THERE WERE 2…, is a sprawling 20-track beast with multiple gems within its steely blues-rock exterior. Discussions of the everyday man’s life, as well as the struggles of ardent desire to better ourselves, serve as the underpinning for this new release. Sincere vocals, cross-genre instrumentals, and classic rock elements permeate throughout the album, providing a little something for everyone, but especially those of us who favor an old-time blues vibe, only married with more modern sparkle.
Featured tracks include:
SPACEman – SPACEman’s light rock ‘n’ roll start draws you in immediately with playful vocal span before lulling you into a false sense of security with its calm, introspective instrumental moments…until you register the lyrics and hear that the “quiet moments” are actually overlaid with torment. “Can you hear me scream?” brings us into reality as the work song vibes of the track lay bare the true meaning of this piece: asking for help from the Spaceman, from the “interstellar superstar.” A soul-baring track, forward pressing and real, SLEEP NATION’S SPACEman stirs up the kind fist-pumping ‘screw The Man’ anthem that we all love.
The Ballad of Billy Jones – Smoky vocals, bad trips, and possibly demons…? Sleep Nation’s The Ballad of Billy Jones gives us that much more. The piece starts with steely Appalachian vibes as we are charmed with percussive vocal elements, enticing lyrics, and sincere storytelling. The ballad brings us along as Billy Jones sees something strange on the side of the road. Dread rises as we as listeners are helpless to help Billy, and yet we crave the ending. The song speaks to the mistakes that can be made when we are under the influence of addiction, and the strength that is necessary to bring ourselves out of it. “My name is Billy Jones and you won’t take me back,” repeats as we are led out of the song, almost trusting in the hopes of a normal life. You can watch the video for “The Ballad of Billy Jones” here.
Listen here: https://soulspazm.ffm.to/andthentherewere2
