On their second album The It Girl, the British group Sleeper manages to avoid the sophomore slump and produces yet another solid record.
The band's first full-length album, Smart, was a major hit in the group's homeland, but could only garner success at American modern rock and alternative stations. The followup seems likely to follow the same path, but continues to explore new territories and directions.
The title is a gentle poke at the trend of having one token woman each year (or decade) in the spotlight - the wartime Betty Grable (with the infamous pose over her back) personifies the "It" girl of the 1940's.
On the musical spectrum, Sleeper fall somewhere in between the Cranberries and Echobelly - rocking harder than the O'Riordan clan, but never capturing the searing guitar prolific in Glenn Johannsen's playing. The big hit, "Sale of the Century" captures some of the Smiths airier moments, a la "Ask". The Smiths comparison shouldn't come as a complete surprise; The It Girl was produced by Stephen Street, who has also worked with the Smiths. And is that a Smiths lament in "Dress Like Your Mother", where lead singer Louise Wener sings that "you sold your old punk records / read the book instead / you lost your sense of humour / but you kept the queen is dead"? In a lyric sheet where the only capitalized word is London, it's hard to say.
Though the album may be a bit difficult for American audiences to swallow, other tracks to check out include "Nice Guy Eddie" and "Stop Your Crying". The It Girl is another delicious treat for the followers of Britpop.
