Houseshow’s 2-Minute Modern Classics: Lala Lala’s “Sleepyhead” (2016)
(Re-)introducing you to the best indie albums of the current era
by Katie Ingegneri
Welcome to the second edition of my series, “Houseshow’s 2-Minute Modern Classics.” As you’ve probably noticed if you’re a fan of Houseshow, I tend to specialize in long-reads and deep-dives with interviews and explorations of my favorite indie music. But sometimes short-form content is fun to write and easy to read, so I thought I’d challenge myself to highlight some of my favorite indie albums of the past decade, within the limit of Medium’s minute-count listing at the top.
Lala Lala is the project of English-born, Chicago-residing musician and artist Lillie West and assorted friends, usually an all-female crew. Her 2016 album, “Sleepyhead,” was something I was shocked it took me so long to listen to — but then I instantly fell in love with it, an excellent collection of catchy modern grunge anthems with funny, honest lyrics, upbeat hooks, and heavy guitar action. Lala Lala tours with today’s circuit of hot indie/garage/punk bands like Cherry Glazerr, Frankie Cosmos, Chastity Belt, Together Pangea, and more, and deserves a huge international audience. I caught the group at Cole’s Bar a while back and I remember seriously enjoying their set, but why I didn’t go home and listen to “Sleepyhead” right away, I have no idea. “Sleepyhead” is like Nirvana or Pixies reborn via this young Brit lady, and it fucking rules.
“Fuck With Your Friends” would be the album’s traditional hit single if Lala Lala was a rock band in the 90s. And it deserves to be a hit — a funny, empowering, singalong anthem. The album is full of compelling standouts that easily stick in your head, including “Dream Song,” “Cool Party but Then We All Left,” “Nothing,” “Lala Song,” and the entertainingly titled “Okie Dokie Doggy Daddy” (which includes a Samuel Beckett reference with the lyrics “I can’t go on, I’ll go on,” transposed to a modern era), alongside the melancholy solo guitar of the heartbreaking “Best Biggest Bully” and reminiscences of her family back in England with “Moon Baby Sun Star.” “Sleepyhead” is a modern classic from start to finish, and Lillie is most definitely an exciting talent to keep your eyes on.
