Take Control (album)

Take Control is the debut studio album by American rock band Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, released in 2003 on Seeland Records. The album is characterized by its avant-garde and experimental approach to rock music, incorporating elements of progressive rock, art rock, experimental metal, and chamber rock. Lyrically, the album explores themes of control, manipulation, societal structures, and the human condition.

The album features the band's signature blend of unusual instrumentation, complex arrangements, and theatrical vocals. Instruments used include electric guitars, bass, drums, violin, keyboards, and various unconventional percussive instruments. The album's sound is often described as dissonant, angular, and rhythmically complex, with frequent shifts in tempo and time signature.

Notable tracks on the album include "Sleepytime Gorilla Museum," which serves as an introduction to the band and their aesthetic, "1978," a lengthy and dynamic track with multiple distinct sections, and "Powerless," a more subdued and introspective piece.

Take Control was generally well-received by critics, who praised the band's originality and ambition. While not a commercially successful album, it established Sleepytime Gorilla Museum as a unique and influential force within the experimental rock scene. The album remains a cult favorite and is considered a key work in the band's discography.