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JFH Music Review



Cool Hand Luke
The Sleeping House



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 12 tracks: 47 minutes, 17 seconds
Street Date: October 14, 2008


It's been over four years since The Fires of Life. Granted, we were treated to a rarities/best-of release last year in the form of The Balancing Act, but the last time Cool Hand Luke released a proper, full-length album was in the first half of '04. At last, the wait is over.

The band's fourth release, The Sleeping House, continues in the tradition of atmospheric, moody, indie piano rock that they practiced on their previous three outings. There is nothing dramatically different about it, (If anything, it sounds a bit more reigned in than their other efforts) but it just feels like a record from a band who has been around the block for a while. In fact, Cool Hand Luke has been making music for ten years, and while it is hard to label an album of theirs as "accessible," this is easily their most accessible release to date. All of this, while keeping true to their indie alt rock sound, and playing it better than ever.

Lyrically, Cool Hand Luke stays true to form. These songs are deeply spiritual and resonating. Materialism and humanism are confronted on "Buy the Truth" ("If I had a dime for every dollar I've wasted trying to be happy/I could retire because I would be miserably wealthy/Then I'd have the time to see that I'd thrown out my life/Like the paper and maybe the time by God's grace to start it all over."). "Failing in Love" attacks superficiality in friendship, claiming that true love confronts sin, and does not sugar coat it ("Am I your enemy if I speak truth?/And the whispers in my ear…I sing from roofs/No, I'm your enemy if I don't say enough/Oh, that you could see this truth is love.")

Indeed, Cool Hand Luke performs at the top of their game here. They might not win any new converts with The Sleeping House, but those able to see the merit in this band's beautifully crafted work will have another addition to their already impressive collection. Fans should be delighted at this next chapter. It's been well worth the wait.

- Review date: 10/12/08, written by Josh Taylor




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. Record Label: Lujo Records
. Album length: 12 tracks: 47 minutes, 17 seconds
. Street Date: October 14, 2008
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Fast Asleep
  2. Cast Your Bread
  3. Failing in Love
  4. Buy the Truth
  5. The Mirror
  6. Eye of the Storm
  7. The City Prevails
  8. Spirit Sing
  9. Wondertour
  10. The House
  11. Incomprehensible Sleep
  12. Wide Awake
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This Wednesday, October 8, 2025
SINGLES
Amy Jay Back to What's Natural - Single (independent)

This Friday, October 10, 2025
ALBUMS
Citizens m us eum [Anotherland Records]
Jesus Culture Send The Fire: Live From London [Capitol CMG]
Tasha Layton Life in Me [BEC]
Myles Maestro Dead End Road - EP [Syntax]
Make Sure Starry May Morning (independent)
SNT. VINCENT Final Greetings [Syntax]
Razzie Digital Psalms - EP [Syntax]
Josh Wright LEAD (Deluxe) (independent)

SINGLES
Holly Brand One Thing He Wouldn't Do - Single [Integrity]
Chosen Road Daddy Was a Navy Man - Single [Thoroughbred]
Drakeford Writing on the Wall - Single (independent)
EJ Swavv & Jeff Knox Deja Vu - Single [Syntax]
Kelo Memory Lane - Single [Syntax]
MAYIA Pass Me Not - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Like You - Single [Syntax]
Jeannie Ortega Decipher - Single [Syntax]
Run51 Song Of My Soul - Single [DREAM]
Zane Vickery Name (Live at Greenbriar) - Single (independent)
Vineyard Worship & Dreaming The Impossible Praise You For Eternity - Single [Vineyard]

Next Friday, October 17, 2025
ALBUMS
ANTHNY DIARY ENTRY 1 [Provident]
Blanca Full Bloom [Curb]
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas [Gaither]
Geoff Moore and The Distance Foundations (Re-Release) [Girder]
Geoff Moore and The Distance A Place To Stand (Re-Release) [Girder]
Nate Parrish Make Me A Mountain (independent)
Psallos The New and Better Way: Hymns of Hebrews (independent)
Anne Wilson Stars [Capitol CMG]

SINGLES
Zane Vickery All Things New - Single (independent)

DVD
Chris Blue Every Day Is Christmas DVD [Gaither]


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