Ty Segall's Sleeper, Rockabilly & Show # 472

After releasing three albums last year of Psychedelic, Garage and general loud proportions in 2012, the first release from Ty Segall in 2013 is the acoustic filled album entitled Sleeper. While many critics and fans mention Segall’s ability to write more melodic Pop songs on albums such as Goodbye Bread and even last years Hair that he recorded with White Fence, Sleeper takes that to another level. Sleeper is ten songs all acoustic, with the exception of electric guitar at the end of “The Man Man”, all of which reflects a stripped down approach to Segall’s sound. As he stated in an interview for Billboard.com, “I couldn't have written a loud, heavy song if somebody had paid me to. I tried-it just wasn't working." The songs all reflect the recent passing of his adopted father and the aftermath which included a fall out with his mother. This album serves as a sort of therapy for that time, as Segall has also stated in interviews.

All of the music reflects a 60s Psychedelic Folk influence. Comparisons have been made to early T Rex, Bert Jansch, Donovan and John Fahey. The First track “Sleeper” was initially written by Ty for his girlfriend as she was sleeping, but in the context of this album and its background it takes on another meaning. “The Keepers” doesn’t sound like it would have been out of place on Hair, “She Don’t Care” is a bitter Psychedelic Folk song complete with orchestral strings, “6th Street” digs deep with its Blues sounding guitar slides and 60’s vocal harmonies, while “Sweet C.C” reflects a T-Rex sound. Sleeper ends with “The West” a dusty Country flavoured Folk song which ends the album on a poignant note given its context. The song also, as does most of the songs on this album, has more than one meaning and connotation. It can be directly related to Ty Segall’s situation which spawned this album, or to anyone listening that can take their own meaning from it. The words amongst the acoustic melodies are veiled in words that are more universal, but we do get brief glimpses into Segall’s frame of mind at different points throughout the album. Sleeper starts off 2013 showing us a stripped down version of Ty Segall we haven’t heard before. The title of the album may be Sleeper, but is just as exciting as even the loudest Ty Segall album.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the next few week’s I will be filling in for the time slot prior to mine from 9 AM – 10:30 AM on CJAM 99.1 FM. Each of these shows will focus on Roots Rock oriented genres. This week I focused on the Rockabilly genre playing a mix of old and new artists within the genre, many obscure artists were included in the mix as well. You can view the play list and download the program along with this week’s episode of Revolution Rock which followed from 10:30-Noon.

Part One:
Revolution-A-Billy Play List:

1. Elvis Presley – I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
2. Jack Scott – Geraldine
3. Jack Scott – Save My Soul
4. Wanda Jackson – Fujiyama Mama
5. Clyde Stacy - So Shy
6. Whitey Pullen – Broke Waitin’ For A Break
7. Tandoori Knights - Big Belly Giant
8. Hal Willis – My Pink Cadillac
9. Kenny Smith - I'm So Lonesome Baby
10. Aubrey Cagle - Rockabilly Boy
11. Parker Cunningham - Dry Run
12. Ray St. Germain & The Satins - She's A Square
13. Little Billy Stoltz & The Stotlz Bros – Rock & Roll Riot
14. R. Dean Taylor – At The High School Dance
15. Joe, Ron & George - Roachie
16. Zig Dillion - On Down The Line (Alternate Take)
17. Bloodshot Bill – Thunder And Lightning
18. Jerry Jerry & The Sons of Rhythm Orchestra - Bad Idea
19. The Dusty Chaps - Yukon Buddy
20. Hellbound Hepcats - Hellbound Hepcat
21. The Stray Cats – Built For Speed
22. Vince Taylor And The Playboys – Brand New Cadillac
23. Johnny Carrol - Two Timin'
24. Baker Knight – Bring My Cadillac Back
25. Robert Gordon With Link Wray - Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache
26. Stingin' Hornets - Hornet Hive Hop
27. The Phantom - Love Me
28. Tay Falco's Panther Burns – Come On Little Mama
29. Ray condo & His Hardrock Goners – Sweet Loving On My Mind

Download part one (Revolution-A-Billy) here.

Part Two: 
Revolution Rock Play List:

1. Monomyth – 10,000
2. Old And Weird – All of My Friends
3. Holy Cobras – Escalation
4. The Crabs – Victim
5. The Abandos – Speed Ball (Demo)
6. Dum Dum Girls – Wasted Away
7. Crocodiles – Summer of Hate
8. King Khan & The Shrines – Yes I Can’t
9. The Falcons – Somebrero Del Diablo
10. Dan Sartain – Telegram Sam
11. 101ers – Maybeline (Live)
12. Bo Diddley – Gunslinger
13. The Kinks – Milk Cow Blues
14. Sex Pistols – No Future (God Save The Queen) (Manchester Square Session 1976)
15. Gang of Four – I Found That Essence Rare
16. Pluto - Details
17. The Dirtbombs – Stuck Under My Shoe
18. Nothing At All – Nothing At All
19. Modern Lovers – Hospital
20. Simply Saucer – I Take (Demo)
21. Ty Segall – Sleeper
22. Ty Segall – Sweet C.C.
23. Ty Segall – The West
24. Elvis Presley - Mystery Train

Download part two (Revolution Rock) here.

Subscribe to Revolution Rock as a Podcast.