In the three years since their widely heralded debut, it’s obvious The Sleepy Jackson haven’t been slumbering. The new disc – wholly the creation of the band’s musical mainstay Luke Steele – amplifies its architect’s Brian Wilson wannabe aspirations via a lush, harmony-drenched bubbly brew. Having more to do with ambience than strict song structure, the material features swirling, shimmering atmospherics awash with rich textures and lavish instrumentation. Despite its spiritual underpinnings – God and the devil are referenced two times apiece in the album titles – this is an effusive mix, reminiscent of the Beach Boys’ heady late ‘60s output (think “Heroes and Villains� or Surf’s Up). It’s a full seven songs before the energy abates; Steele’s croaked vocal on “Miles Away� and the sleepy psychedelia inhabiting the aptly-titled “Dream On� show a more subdued side to the otherwise-persistent upward spiral. Nevertheless, adjusting to Steele’s Personality takes time; it’s only after repeated hearings that its essence sinks in. A well-worked conceit, it’s a throwback to the time when albums were borne of concept and more than a mere set of songs.
Lee Zimmerman
Release date: July 25, 2006
