Ghosts (Sleeping at Last album)

Ghosts is the second studio album, and major label debut of the alternative rock band Sleeping at Last. It was released on October 7, 2003 on Interscope Records. The band found some success with their single "Say".

Background and recording

The band initially received major record label attention after providing Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan a copy of their self-released debut album, Capture in March 2001.^[2][3] While not credited as a producer, he did help the band shape the album:

"We've had so many conversations with [Corgan]. He never interfered with what we wanted to do, but he'd tell us what he thought was really strong. He'd say, 'That's a great direction. You can tap into more of that, if you want.' He taught us a lot about song arrangement. And he always said he really believes in what we're doing."^[3]

Frontman Ryan O'Neal would spend the following two years writing the album, including writing out the lyrics on an old typewriter, without composing any of the music in mind during the sessions.^[3] With all of the lyrics written out, he then began working on applying the lyrics to musical compositions; some went effortlessly, while others took extensive reworking.^[3] Corgan, impressed with the work, helped them secure a record deal with Interscope Records in late 2002.^[2] The band cancelled plans to record an EP in order to focus their efforts on their major record label debut.^[4] The band initially planned on starting the recording sessions in 2002 and then releasing the album in early 2003,^[4] though the recording sessions ended up not starting up until the beginning of 2003, and took six months to complete.^[3] The band recorded in music producer Steve Albini's Electrical Audio studio,^[3] and per the studio's recommendation, worked with Susan Voelz on the album's orchestral arrangements, as the band generally knew the sounds they wanted to make, but did not necessarily have the means to convey it on paper.^[5] Corgan also helped get them in contact with a number of people in the music industry he had previously worked with, including producer Bjorn Thorsrud, who Corgan had then recently collaborated with on his Adore and Machina/The Machines of God albums with the Smashing Pumpkins,^[6] and mixer Alan Moulder, who had also worked on the Machina sessions.^[3]

Promotion and release

The album was released on October 7, 2003.^[1] The band found some success with their single "Say". The song was featured prominently on Fuse TV's "Oven Fresh" countdown, appearing at the top of the chart.^[7] The band also performed the single live on Fuse's IMX program.^[7] The band toured extensively in support of the album, doing a national tour with Switchfoot^[1] and also touring alongside Corgan's other band at the time, Zwan.^[7] The album's title track was also featured on the Warner Brothers television show version of Tarzan.^[8]

Reception and aftermath

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Melodic	[6]
Hip Online	[9]

The album was generally well received by critics. AllMusic favorably compared the album to the work of Radiohead and U2, stating that " Ghosts could have easily become yet another album bleeding emo-inflected tears for the torturous souls of its creators. Instead, it's a life-size star map flecked with glimmering jewels of melody and the wondering promise of youth.^[1] Melodic similarly praised the album's "huge" and "dream-like" sound.^[6] Hip Online was less positive about the album, stating that, overall, the album represented a failed attempt to create Radiohead, U2, Goo Goo Dolls or Brit pop album.^[9]

The band would chose to leave Interscope prior to releasing the band's independent follow up, Keep No Score.^[10] The split was amicable, as Ryan O'Neal stated that working with the label had overall been a positive experience, but the band was so hands-on with the process that they felt they could do just as well of a job independently.^[11]

Track listing

All tracks written by Sleeping at Last. 

Personnel

References