Worcester emo band Good Sleepy recently put out new single “Off Center” as they work on their next album, and meanwhile, they’ve made us a list of 10 of the albums that influence them most. It includes classic 2010s records by Title Fight, Marietta, The 1975, and more, as well as some much newer stuff like Carly Cosgrove and Saturdays At Your Place. Read on to see their full list and what they had to say about each one.
When they released “Off Center” (via No Sleep Records), they said, “This song is our first DIY release since 2020 when we remastered ‘Dessert.’ Currently drowning in demos working on a new album, but we had a blast playing this song live over the summer on tour. Really wanted to get it out there, so we worked hard putting it together in a small basement home ‘studio’ in Worcester County during the fall of ‘23. Recorded and produced by [drummer] Jack Wensky and [vocalist/bassist] Thomas Sullivan, let us know what you think of it :)”
Good Sleepy also have an upcoming Westfield, Mass show on February 17.
**
GOOD SLEEPY INFLUENCES
Defeater – Letters Home
I discovered this album when I was in middle school, and it forever changed my perception of my instrument and what could be done on the drums. I consider it to be the blueprint for my technical abilities and it was really a pivotal record for my journey into the world of hardcore & punk. To this day I still hear nuances I hadn’t heard back then. Joe Longobardi truly is one of my drumming heroes. – Jack Wensky (drums)
Marietta – Summer Death
Summer Death is one of the classic emo revival albums that shaped my love for emo and music in general. The vocals and lyrics are hard hitting and catchy, but soft at the same time, all the while conveying a seemingly perfect emo tone of melancholy and dreariness. The sound of the record with all of its imperfections have become one of the reasons why I love the DIY sound so much. – Seth Girard (guitar, backup vocals)
Vundabar – Gawk
This record was constantly in my rotation in high school, and I still cite it to be one of my all time favorites. We had this whole friend group who all listened to Vundabar, it was like a cult following in a way. This record was integral for my playing as it helped me with my dynamics and creative part writing ideas. Drew’s drumming complements Brandon’s guitar playing so incredibly well, and that taught me how to do the same thing in my own musical environments. – Jack Wensky (drums)
Carly Cosgrove – See You In Chemistry
This is an album that all of us cite as a milestone record. In our opinion Carly Cosgrove shook the world of emo as we know it with their game changing album See You In Chemistry. Every single track on this LP is so unique, personal, and relatable to musicians and fans in the scene. From lyricism to songwriting to composition, every minute of this record sounds meticulously crafted. Jack cites this as an album he uses frequently in his practice. We’ve had the pleasure of playing alongside CC for a few shows. It’s really surreal to have played with bands you look up to. – Good Sleepy
Guitar Fight From Fooly Cooly – Soak
One of my all time favorite emo records, I aspire in my writing to embody the energy that the folks in Guitar Fight present us with on this album. We played with Guitar Fight on our first tour ever in a kitchen in Baltimore. The crowd near broke through the floor of that house, stomping and jumping to the beat of their music. When they put out this record, every song took me back to how that show felt for me. I was young, 17 at the time, watching them and meeting them showed me for the first time in person what I loved so much about the emo scene. Soak and the rest of their discography is a must listen to for anyone into DIY and emo. – Thomas Sullivan (vocals, bass)
Micheal Cera Palin – I Don’t Know How To Explain It
We’ve been fans of MCP since we first started playing together as an emo band, and even before that. We were super honored to get to play with them on tour during the summer of ‘23, and humbled at every show with their unforgettable performances. Blowing it away with their cover of Sheryl Crowe’s “If It Makes You Happy”, even better than the original. “Go Home. Play Music. Feel Better.” was one of my top songs of last year, had it on repeat. Elliot, John, and Chad are all super talented musicians and deserve all the love the scene has to offer. – Good Sleepy
Title Fight – Floral Green
This band and album was the reason I got into hardcore/emo music. The album’s hard-hitting and emotive sound was the foundation of my love for the genre. Bass player Ned Russin’s engaging stage presence grew my love for live music and I most likely would not be performing today if not for the inspiration that Title Fight brought to me from such a young age. – Ryan Duggan (lead guitar)
Saturdays At Your Place – Always Cloudy
I had never heard of SAYP until we had the opportunity to play with them this last summer at Bummer Brews Festival in Columbus, Ohio, and boy did they blow me away. Every SAYP song perfectly catches the vibe that all of my favorite emo records have conveyed to me in recent memory. Legendary riffage, lyricism, and songwriting, it’s no surprise they have had so much success recently. Perfect songs to cry to but also make you wanna dance. Super proud to be label mates with SAYP. – Thomas Sullivan (vocals, bass)
The 1975 – The 1975
The 1975’s debut self-titled record has some of the most catchy unforgettable tracks in modern music. The band’s pop sensibility and wit when songwriting brings a new sense for creative endeavors, the possibilities and freedoms of trying out new directions in songwriting. – Ryan Duggan (lead guitar)
Oliver Houston – Whatever Works
Oliver’s Houston’s only LP inspired my playing since I first discovered them in high school. Their intricate, but catchy guitar riffs and vocal melodies make it a super fun and distinct, quirky record. This LP and the entire discography of Oliver Houston influenced many of our riffs and chord progressions. – Seth Girard (guitar, backup vocals)