While Lala Lala‘s The Lamb was widely-acclaimed as one of 2018’s best new releases from an emerging artist, Lillie West‘s debut record as Lala Lala, 2016’s Sleepyhead, has long been available only as a digital release. On August 23rd, Hardly Art will proudly release Sleepyhead—with brand new artwork—on vinyl, CD, and a new run of cassettes. You can stream album standout ‘Fuck With Your Friends’ above and pre-order the record today.
Originally released in October 2016 as a long-since sold-out self-released cassette, Hardly Art is proud to announce that Sleepyhead, the debut full-length from celebrated Chicago band Lala Lala, will be available for the first time ever on LP and CD (along with a new run of cassettes).
Recorded in a basement over the course of five days during a typically-inhospitable Midwestern winter, Sleepyhead is an auspicious—if, at the time, criminally overlooked—debut effort from the young songwriter Lillie West and her then-lineup of supporting players (Abby Black on drums and Karl Bernasconi on bass).
Unlike 2018’s critically-acclaimed The Lamb, Sleepyhead is a rawer, more punked-up album with fewer lyrical metaphors obfuscating it’s intimate, direct emotionality. Committed to tape in an urgent outburst of creative energy, the self-produced record eschews overdubs and takes unfussy aim at the listener’s ears, heart, and the lump in their throat.
Album standout ‘Fuck With Your Friends’ was a breakthrough moment for West—it was the first song she ever wrote, one that tumbled out of her fully-formed, setting her on the path that’s led to her recent successes. Its also emblematic of Sleepyhead’s confessionalism and fearless forthrightness: “I drink more than I want to ’cause it makes you easier to talk to / And what you’re saying is boring,” West sings.
This pressing of Sleepyhead also includes new artwork and LP copies arrive on cloud-coloured vinyl. It will be available worldwide on August 23rd, 2019.
Lala Lala
Sleepyhead
LP/CD/digital/cassette
August 23, 2019
01. Excorcism
02. Fuck With Your Friends
03. Dream Song
04. Cool Party but Then We All Left
05. Okie Dokie Doggy Daddy
06. Nothing
07. Bully
08. Monolith
09. Bed
10. Lala Song
11. Future Flower
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