In terms of espionage, a sleeper agent is a spy placed in a target country or organization and acts as a potential asset to a mission if needed. They lie in wait for their moment to swoop in and save the day. Much like the definition, the up and coming band Sleeper Agent has been lying in wait for four years only to grab you by the ears in the past couple months. They've gained popularity through alternative radio stations like XM's Alt Nation and Tampa Bay's 97x, and now it's high time you check them out for yourself.
Sleeper Agent recently played the St. Pete State Theatre March 7th in support of the band Fun., where they put on an explosive performance that I certainly wasn't expecting from an opener. The band was short and sweet with their banter, and played almost their entire track listing in the thirty minute slot they were allotted. Their movements on stage were almost choreographed, the band's onstage chemistry overpowering with every hair flip and guitar jerk expanding and imploding like a breathing machine.
Talking to them after the show, Zooey Deschanel doppleganger and lead singer Alex Kandel said they'd been touring for two years now with likes of Cage the Elephant and Fun. She announced during the show that the band just found out they'd be playing Jimmy Fallon later in the month. The band is also listed to play the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival this April in Indio, California.
Sleeper Agent hails from Bowling Green, Kentucky and has been around since 2008. In 2011 their career really took off with their debut album Celabrasion which was released on Mom + Pop Records. They've garnered a "Bands to Watch" from Rolling Stone and received other media attention via MTV, but have flown mostly under-the-radar on the music scene.
On their Facebook, they list bands they like including The Pixies, Foxy Shazam, Girls, and the Black Lips. It's clear they pull a bit of influence from the eclectic group of music they listen to. The overall feel of the show was high-energy headbanging with a shot of girl power and a large dose of catchy instrumentation and lyrics. After buying their album and listening to it on repeat for the rest of spring break, it's safe to say that Sleeper Agent has more then just a touch of brilliance.
The album opens with "Get It Daddy," an angsty anthem chockfull of intelligent quips like: Pick your posies/ring a rose/Pavlov's pup gotta hit the road and Cuz I plucked my brows just to look the part/wanna sink my line to a catchy heart. Checking out the music video, laden with schizophrenic camera cuts and colorful pinatas, Sleeper Agent is a young band that you might want to invite out for a few drinks and see what happens. Kandel's unique voice echoes early eighties punk princesses, and is layered with her singer/guitar playing counterpart, Tony Smith, whose grungy tones give Celebrasion and Sleeper Agent their punchy, fun feel.
It's hard to pick other standout tracks since each one clocks in at around three minutes, and nothing feels like excess fat. Each track is crafted to it's particular emotion. "Love Blood" is a psuedo-ballad for the lovestruck, the rhythmic pushing and pulling of the riffs mimicking sexual tensions. It'd be hard for crowds of screaming teens and twenties alike to not get hot and bothered with lines like these: Three licks on a swinging vine/you popped your tootsie role/because our love/keeps our bodies moving on/keeps us singing monotone/keeps our love blood flow. Dragging out the flow, Kandel and Smith harmonize with sensual flair.
"Bottomed Out" follows without missing a beat–the highlight being Kandel's nonsense vocals on the bridge topped off with Smith's lyrics and Justin Williams' drumming crescendo. "Force a Smile" and "Proper Taste" both have the same vibe with back-and-forth vocals and guitar lines that are standouts all their own. "That's My Baby" is the most poignant of the album. Where "Love Blood" is the sexy pin-up, "That's My Baby" is the forlorn Girl Scout. It's the slowest Sleeper Agent gets on Celebrasion, letting listeners linger over the sweet sentiments and sugary keys.
Kandel and Smith outburst with guttural passion throughout the album, and effects from Keyboardist and Synth-master, Scott Gardner, are as organic as a hammer hitting a garbage can-looking lid to high-tech electronics. The guitar hooks stick like Bubble Tape in your hair and the lyrics come effortlessly alongside the simultaneous frivolity and frustration.
Each song flows seamlessly into each other which makes Celebrasion an easy on-repeat to play through your worst high school memories and best college shenanigans.
Critic's Rating: 5/5 Stars
Amanda Sieradzki can be reached at minaret.arts@gmail.com.
