Originally called
Smugface and playing an aggressive, somewhat progressive style of alternative rock in line with the nu metal of the late '90s and early 2000s, it wasn't until around 2004 that this Atlanta-bred quintet changed its sound and image, and subsequently its name to
City Sleeps.
Smugface consisted of core members
Adriel Garcia (guitar),
John Whitney (drums), and
Elliott Sharp (vocals); early demos -- produced by
Rick Beato from Universal recording act
Billionaire -- got the band considerable attention in underground rock circles, as well as on the popular music site MP3.com. Members of alternative metal outfit
Cold got wind of the group and were impressed, eventually bringing them to the attention of
Limp Bizkit's
Fred Durst, who almost signed
Smugface to his Interscope imprint, Flawless Records.
Things were slowly changing internally, however, and by 2003,
Smugface were noticeably transitioning into a much more melodic rock band, complete with big guitars and near-pop choruses. This new sound led to the band being noticed by producer
John Feldmann (of the ska-punk band
Goldfinger), who had previously worked successfully with similar groups like
the Used and
Story of the Year. He contacted the group in 2004 and the guys flew out to Los Angeles to record with him.
City Sleeps -- as they were then going by -- were soon signed to Maverick/Warner Bros. Records, and by the following year, they had completed their debut, entitled
Walker's Ridge, which was scheduled to be released in early 2006.
However, things didn't quite work out, and the label dropped the band before the album saw the light of day. The end of the year found bassist
Brad Allen (ex-
Family Force 5) stepping in to replace
Mars Davlan, completing the quintet of
Sharp,
Garcia,
Whitney, and guitarist
Steve Miloszweki.
City Sleeps ultimately hooked up with New Jersey-based hardcore label Trustkill Records in mid-2007, releasing their album -- renamed
Not an Angel -- that October. Dates in the U.K. with Welsh rockers
Funeral for a Friend finished off the year. ~ Corey Apar, All Music Guide