Cobra Verde / Haven’t Slept All Year

Scat

Cobra Verde is back with their first original studio disc in five years. Haven't Slept All Year rolls out twelve songs and enough sounds to span four decades of rock--power-pop with monster riffs, bubblegum hooks, analogue synths, and whomp-and-stomp beats.   The band entered the studio soon after releasing their 2003 powerhouse, Easy Listening. It proved to be Cobra Verde's most successful disc to date, spawned three US tours and inspired raves, smiles, bloodshot eyes, and drunken stupors across the country.   One problem. When prepared to record the follow-up, they didn't want to do what so many bands would: repeat themselves and devolve into formula. So they recorded a covers disc--Copycat Killers (Scat, 2005)--and used songs such as "Get the Party Started" or "Play With Fire" as guinea pigs to explore new sounds and styles. Little did they know that what started as an experiment would also lead them to recording a cover of Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You" for The O.C. as well as an appearance on the show.   The experiment eventually led to their latest, Haven't Slept All Year, all over the map in terms of sound and style. It opens with a badass riff, then detours into wounded singalongs, glittery pop, blue moods, and raging, glorious rock. And yet it never loses its way: it's idiosyncratic and identifiable as only Cobra Verde can be.

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