In a scene where abstruse lyrics and ironic detachment are all the rage, Alien Boy’s high-stakes, loud pop is as refreshing as it is surprising. In the grand tradition of emo and pop-punk—and perhaps rock ’n roll in general—lead singer and songwriter Sonia Weber uses her songs to communicate subdued desires and secret grievances. Alien Boy’s debut LP Sleeping Lessons is a collection of lullabies for the pop masochist; like all good, emotional music, Weber’s songs are resonant because they’re unmistakably human.

Alien Boy takes their name from a Wipers song, but elsewhere the group’s PNW lineage is felt in a mordant grit gleaned from Team Dresch and early Heatmiser. It sets the tone for Weber to mix her deep-seated love of early 2000's generational touchstones with a Britpop frostiness to brilliant and totally unique results—from the tremolo dives and Stone Roses references on Ride-y opener “Somewhere Without Me”, to the sun-kissed, sub-three-minute power pop bliss of “600 Days”. Weber’s melodies are so bright and effective it’s easy to forget they come from a place of absolute emotional torment.

1. Somewhere Without Me
2. If We Don't Speak
3. Only Posers Fall In Love
4. Just Kids
5. I Just Can't Feel It
6. Hooked, Glued, You
7. Depression
8. On The Ride Back Home (You Know What I Dream Of)
9. 600 Days
10. Sleeping Lessons

First Pressing (Vinyl):
200 Opaque Purple / Smoke Split
300 Pink / White Mix

Second Pressing (Vinyl):
200 Translucent Orange w/ Smoky Black Swirls
300 Seaglass

Third Pressing (Vinyl):
500 Opaque Yellow

First Pressing (Cassettes):
70 Gray Tint w/ Clear Liner
100 Black
130 White

Second Pressing (Cassettes):
200 Lime Green