The Riot Grrrl bands get short shrift on Sleepless, with mediocre tracks from Babes in Toyland (from Minneapolis) and 7 Year Bitch. While they could be the subject of a compilation of their own, the songs on the grunge compilation give the impression of having been tacked on.
The second half of the CD is not all disappointing, however. There's a cool Helmet-like song called "Tribe" that was recorded by Gruntruck right as Seattle was poised to hit the world stage. The song is about finding camaraderie in alienation, and it's almost touching to hear Ben McMillan sing "come on and join our tribe." If only he knew how many people would do just that in the proceeding months. What happened to the Seattle rock scene answers the question, what if you had a party and everybody came? Well, it wasn't pretty.
Surely the best track on the second half of Sleepless is "Second Skin" by the Gits off of their debut record Frenching the Bully. It was recorded in 1992, but, thanks in large part to the unique vocals of Mia Zapata, it doesn't suffer from the stench of decay that afflicted so many other Seattle bands of the era. Unfortunately, there was never a follow-up to Bully because, in a tremendous and heartbreaking waste of talent, Zapata was raped and murdered in 1993. The crime went unsolved for a decade before a drifter from Florida was arrested. He was convicted in 2004.
Enough time has passed since grunge ruled the rock roost to take a look back and decide if any of this music is worth remembering. Sleepless in Seattle argues, successfully, that it is. It just might not be the songs you're thinking of. So if you're an aging rocker itching to fly the flannel one more time, or if you're a neophyte wondering what all the fuss is about, give Sleepless a spin. You might be surprised at what you find. Just don't let the Nora Ephron reference deter you.
Article comments
1 - Jeff Burlingame
Well done and nicely researched. If you don't, you could do this professionally.
-- Jeff
2 - Jon
One of the hallmarks of aging Seattle hipsters is how they pick the bands that are, like, totally not cool. And then they harp on them and their undeserved success as long as they have your attention.
Very authentic parody ;)
3 - Lee
Thats one of the best reviews I've read. I've bought the Album off the back of this, good to read an article from someone who genuinely knows their stuff