“It’s a cloudy day again in my head.”
Coming out of Salt Lake City, Sunsleeper are back with their sophomore record, While You Can. Originally forming back in 2016, they quickly released their debut EP Stay The Same, which resulted in them penning a deal with Rude Records. This lead to the release of their debut full-length, You Can Miss Something and Not Want it Back, dropping in the summer of 2019. With their line-up now road-tested and cohesive, their time out in the pandemic explore themes of unfulfillment, trials of being a band and constant comparison in their writing. While You Can is produced by now famed producer, Will Putney, who is known for his work with the likes of Counterparts and Knocked Loose, as well as his guitar work in Fit For An Autopsy and END.
There is a daydream-like atmosphere that is present across While You Can’s 10 tracks, with track “In the Clouds” proving to be aptly named. The echoing guitars create a create a landscape that is further explored and expanded by frontman Mudgett‘s vocals. “I don’t think you will ever understand the fractures in my head” the track ponders, as each gently plucked chord carries “In the Clouds” along. Later track “Quitter” further indulges in this sound, with the riffs taking on an almost hypnotic nature. Further, the track includes the lyric, “Would you think I am pretty if I wrote songs like Phoebe?“, as a cute mention of everyone’s favourite indie sensation Phoebe Bridgers.
This isn’t to say that the entirety of While You Can exists a dream-state, with “Feel What You Can” offering up forceful moments reminiscent to some deeper cuts on 00s emo at times. Penultimate track “Way Out“, with its paced and amped up guitars and pounding drums, feels on the edge of snapping into something much louder and angrier. Further, even the odd acoustic moment is offered up, chiefly by mid-point track “Anywhere“, which offers an almost pit-stop moment to breathe. The record’s overall ordering allowing each cut to glide effortlessly into each other and prevent any sound overstaying its welcome, too, which is an impressive feat in and of itself.
While Sunsleeper’s sophomore record is a pleasant exploration, ending on a high note of the grand track “Thief,” it’s difficult not to escape the thought of where While You Can will sit given the sheer amount of music that’s currently on offer. While each drawing from their own influences and subtleties, there are bands such as The Comfort, Valleyheart and No Sun who all sit within a similar vein. While it is a valiant effort, it does perhaps lack that differential element that prevents it from becoming a record will see regular re-visits.
Despite this, for those looking for a record that dips its toes into the nostalgia of emo and shoegaze within a modern framework, While You Can is very much worth the exploration. It will find its place on many mixtapes and playlists for the quiet nights and long walks, with its thoughtful nature offering up something to contemplate and get lost within. While it does perhaps lack the ability to push the confines of the genre, for those looking to revel in those influences will find something more than to enjoy here.
6.5/10
While You Can is out tomorrow via Rude Records, and can be pre-ordered here.