The riff is king! Not! On Sleeping Giants, the explosive Casket Salesmen, a collaboration of ex-A Static Lullaby members Phil Pirrone and Nathan Lindeman, have accomplished what few before them have done: bridge pop - progressive - and jam-band into a cohesive, commercially accessible collection. Sure the thundering motifs that would rattle Jimmy Page from his comfy chair and put the fear of Zeus in Ritchie Blackmore abound, however Pirrone and Lideman’s soaring vocals, luminescent harmonies, and melodic prowess are downright Beatle-esque - a rarity in their chosen hard rock genre. The boys keep it interesting for rock scholars as well: dig the jazzy sax break by guest Steve Borth on “Forked Tongues” (echoes of Traffic), the ironic Bill Hicks blurb which punctuates the somnambulant ballad “Goodnight Jugdish” (name check the Abbey Road security guard who appears on Dark Side of the Moon) and the spooky organ passages, upper-register bass licks, and swift time-signature shifts of “Art Sandwich” (Time and a Word anyone?). Heavy music needs a savior on the airwaves: Sleeping Giants proves these guys are it.
Tom Semioli
Release date: October 31, 2006
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