Y’all ever have a song you didn’t like at first, but grew on you later?

One song that now lives rent free in my head is “Words Are Worthless” by the band Sleep Theory. Specifically, the live one-take sing through version the band shared a couple months ago. This version not only made me appreciate how intricate the vocals were, but how the lyrics were surprisingly relatable.

For those not familar with Sleep Theory, they are from Memphis, Tennessee and combine R&B, metal, and pop for a really unique sound. The band members are lead vocalist Cullen Moore, guitarist/unclean vocalist Daniel Pruitt, bassist and secondary vocalist Paolo Vergara, and drummer Ben Pruitt.

I first started listening to Sleep Theory last year after I heard their single, “Gravity”. Once I found out about their debut album Afterglow, I streamed it, then bought an MP3 of the album to listen to offline. For a time, the album would be my go-to exercise album, especially on days when my anxiety was high.

To circle back to “Words Are Worthless”, the reason I didn’t like the song when I first heard it was because I usually preferred the loud hard rock songs like, “III” and “Paralyzed”. At first, this song felt too soft for my taste, but the live studio version changed my mind.

Now, I love “Words Are Worthless” because of how the lyrics capture the desperation of someone who wants to help someone in a bad place, without falling into that bad place themselves. It relates to me as a dementia caregiver who has to learn to protect my peace while  acknowledging my mom’s words and emotions. Sometimes, there is no getting through to someone who isn’t in a healthy state of mind, but you can acknowledge them without wasting your emotional energy.

Anyway, Sleep Theory has been one of my favorite bands since last year. With their album Afterglow and live studio versions of “Words Are Worthless” and “Gravity”, they’ve shown why they are forced to be reckoned with.