Album · Sleeper
Smart by Sleeper
Smart is an album by Sleeper, released in 1995. 2 songs from it have charted on rock radio countdowns, with 2 countdown appearances in total. The biggest is “Inbetweener”, on 1 list with a best position of #67.
Smart, Sleeper's debut album, landed on 13 February 1995, a Britpop record with a sharp tongue and a bit of cheek. Louise Wener, who sings and plays guitar, had teamed up with guitarist Jon Stewart back at Manchester University; in London they found bassist Diid Osman and drummer Andy Maclure, played as Surrender Dorothy for a spell, then became Sleeper after signing to Indolent.
Ian Broudie produced and Stephen Street mixed, and between them they keep the guitars bright and tight while Wener's voice cuts through with a sly, knowing edge. The noisier American bands they loved, the Pixies above all, rumble away under the pop sheen, and "Swallow" and "Inbetweener" show both sides of the coin. Even the sleeve is a wink: a photo of the Mercury Seven astronauts. A 25th anniversary deluxe edition followed in 2020.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs from Smart on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inbetweener | 1 | #67 | – | 2025 | |
| 2 | Swallow | 1 | #48 | – | 1994 |
Only songs that appear on at least one countdown are listed. Release data from MusicBrainz.