The Sleepy Jackson: Luke Steele (vocals, guitar); Julian Hamilton (piano, keyboards); Kim Moyes (vibraphone, percussion); David Symes (bass guitar); Malcolm Clark (drums); Felix Bloxsom (percussion).
The Australian indie outfit the Sleepy Jackson introduced their eclectic, wildly creative aesthetic to the world on 2003's LOVERS. The band's sophomore release, PERSONALITY: ONE WAS A SPIDER ONE WAS A BIRD, continues their dedication to lush, symphonic pop with clear ties to the Beatles and the Beach Boys. The songs on PERSONALITY are dense and expansive, blending high-minded psychedelia, sweet, melody-based songwriting, and layered arrangements (which sometimes resemble lounge or easy-listening music). Fans of carefully constructed symphonic pop will find plenty to bask in here.
What the critics say...
Spin (p.85) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Steele's no '60s nostalgist -- with jazzy chords and cooing girls, his way-back machine is aimed precisely for 1985."
Q (p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Steele and co-producer Scott Horscroft have constructed choral textures that soar, mixing up layers of harmonies down to a single vocal wash, grafting them to strings, horns, guitar, a winging rhythm section and even sleigh bells."
Q (p.118) - Ranked #69 in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums of 2006."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.90) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[M]ulti-layered backing vocals and summery hooks tickle the spine with ever listen."
