Rob's Album Of The Week: Ty Segall's Sleeper

by Rob Duguay (Under The Radar)

Bay Area rock & roll phenom Ty Segall has been in so many different bands that the amount might compare to your average music junkie's record collection.  He's put out music as a member of The Perverts, The Traditional Fools, Epsilons, Party Fowl, Sic Alps and currently with Fuzz along with collaborating with the likes of Mikal Cronin and White Fence just to name a few. Ty has also released 8 solo albums by the way, and the kid is only 25.  In fact, his 8th solo record titled Sleeper is coming out today. The album is a slight departure from his trademark dirty amplified brilliance with the songs being all based on Ty's strumming on an acoustic guitar. With his Bolan-esque voice, Ty holds it all together in an album that definitely has that 60's psychedelic feel but keeping it honest through his skills on guitar. 

Using old-school analog equipment to record the album at an apartment in San Francisco, Ty captured the warm sound that makes Sleeper such a fantastic piece of music. There's also a sense of intimacy from front to back on the album, you can hear every nook and cranny coming from Ty and it makes Sleeper very special. I could picture Ty performing these songs at a tiny coffee house as well as playing them at The Fillmore, wonderful versatility is another awesome thing I could say about this masterpiece. I'm always one of those types that says "The louder, the better" when it comes to an album, but when a musician as talented as Ty Segall wants to do something different I say he can do whatever he wants. 

Another week, another album. To be honest when I heard that Ty was coming out with a new solo record I got a little giddy. He's always been one of my favorites and I find it stupendously amazing that at such a young age he has produced a catalog that rivals the most seasoned of musicians. With that being written, it doesn't make it any easier to decide my recommended tracks off of my Album Of The Week. As the sands flow through the hourglass, here goes something:

"The Man Man" got some blues going on with Ty's licks on guitar and the electric riffs at the end are just the cherry on top of this musical sundae. The title track "Sleeper" is pretty good too, a violin-tinged epic ballad about dreaming about someone and hoping that dream comes true when you wake up. "The Keepers" reminds me a lot of Van Morrison's album Astral Weeks, just the way the guitar flows has that timeless aesthetic that pleases the nostalgics. "Come Outside" is another one of those bluesy numbers but this time Ty's voice gets overdubbed to make it sound like an aquarian choir is singing from the heavens. Like always, I can only name a few. That doesn't mean the other tracks off of Ty Segall's new album should go ignored, from start to finish Sleeper is exquisite. 

Ty Segall will be going on a little tour in support of Sleeper starting at FYF Fest in Los Angeles on August 24th and it'll be concluding at The Holland Project in Reno, NV on September 9th. Unfortunately for us New England live music fanatics Ty won't be playing in the region this time around but if you're willing to make the trip he'll be at The Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn on August 29th and the following night he'll be at The Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Until Ty Segall hits your friendly neighborhood music venue and blows the place to smithereens, you gotta get your hands on Sleeper. It's one of the best albums to come out so far in 2013 and you'll definitely know why after giving it a listen.