Asleep Next to Science is the debut studio album by American progressive rock band Orbs. It was released on August 17, 2010, through Equal Vision Records and produced by Jamie King, known for producing Between the Buried and Me and Alesana.[1]
| Asleep Next to Science | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | August 17, 2010 |
| Recorded | February 2009 at Basement Studio |
| Genre | Progressive rock, experimental rock, post-hardcore |
| Length | 66:42 |
| Label | Equal Vision |
| Producer | Jamie King |
Background
editOrbs entered the studio at The Basement recording studio in Winston-Salem, N.C. in February 2009. It was produced by Jamie King, who worked with Between the Buried and Me on Colors and The Great Misdirect. On April 4, 2010, the band released a free download of two songs from the album to fans who signed up to their mailing list.[2]
The band describes the album as "the product of long-distance friendships linked through an appreciation for music, nature, and a mutual desire to defy common song structure."[3]
A tour in support of the album began on August 19, 2010 in Greensboro, N.C.[4]
Reception
editThe Allmusic review by Ned Raggett awarded the album 3 stars stating "Asleep Next to Science, the group's first full release, is both a familiar enough supergroup-styled effort thanks to the bandmembers' various backgrounds in acts like Between the Buried and Me and Abigail Williams and a modern version of it given that their work grew out of Internet-based collaboration. The album almost resists criticism in a way, though, because it is exactly all that – come in expecting theatrical compositions, metal-tinged and emo-tinged and more besides, and you'll get it down to the concluding piano flourishes on 'Sayer of the Law,' not to mention plenty of keyboard breaks throughout courtesy of Ashley Ellyllon. The descending break and coda to 'Something Beautiful' show that the quintet can hit the epically melancholy heights with the best of them, and if such moments aren't always constant throughout the album, they happen enough times to set a good tone. Adam Fisher's vocals are the make-or-break point throughout – there's something sweetly, strangely inspirational about hearing his thin, almost dorky whine riding the arrangements on songs like 'A Man of Science,' and a few times he makes it work unexpectedly, much like Billy Corgan did with his own out-of-place singing. At other points it's more hair-pulling, however, though song titles like 'Megaloblastic Madness' and the two-part 'The Northwestern Bearitories' might cause more double takes in the end – or the line 'Chupacabras on the wing' in 'People Will Read Again.' "[5]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Alternative Press |    [citation needed] |
| Lush Beat | [6] |
| Rock Sound | (8/10)[7] |
| Allmusic | [5] |
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Sayer of the Law" | 7:21 |
| 2. | "A Man of Science" | 5:45 |
| 3. | "Megaloblastic Madness" | 7:53 |
| 4. | "The Northwestern Bearitories"
| 10:05 |
| 5. | "People Will Read Again" | 10:10 |
| 6. | "Something Beautiful" | 5:38 |
| 7. | "Lost at Sea" | 5:45 |
| 8. | "Eclipsical" | 14:05 |
| Total length: | 1:06:42 | |
Personnel
editOrbs
- Adam Fisher – vocals, electronic programming
- Dan Briggs – guitar, bass[8]
- Ashley Ellyllon – keyboards, piano
- Clayton Holyoak – drums, percussion
- Chuck Johnson – Additional vocals on "We the Animal" and "Lost at Sea"[8]
Production
- Produced by Jamie King
- Audio mixing by Jamie King
- Illustration by Ben Tuttle
References
edit- ^ "ORBS | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos". www.myspace.com. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "Invalid Friend ID". Archived from the original on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2010-08-28. Mailing List Blog. Retrieved on 2010-08-27.
- ^ [1] Band Site. Retrieved on 2010-08-27.
- ^ [2] Orbs – New Album. Retrieved on 2010-08-27.
- ^ a b Raggett, N. Allmusic Review accessed March 23, 2011
- ^ [3] Lush Beat. Retrieved on 2010-08-27.
- ^ [4] Rock Sound. Retrieved on 2010-08-27.
- ^ a b Asleep Next to Science (CD booklet). Orbs. Albany, New York: Equal Vision Records. 2010. p. 15. 80170.
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