Don't Wake Me Up is the debut studio album by American musical project the Microphones. It was released by K Records on August 24, 1999, and reissued on vinyl via P.W. Elverum & Sun on April 16, 2013. The album was recorded between April 25, 1998 and March 1, 1999, in studios in Olympia and Anacortes, Washington. Don't Wake Me Up is a lo-fi rock and indie rock album that uses metaphorical and sometimes cryptic lyricism. The album also includes field recordings, as well as elements of pop and noise rock. It received positive reviews from AllMusic, Pitchfork, and Sputnikmusic. Don't Wake Me Up gave Phil Elverum a small following, and "set a new precedent" for K Records, due to Elverum's production being perceived as high-quality despite recording limitations. Background After gaining presence in Anacortes, Washington's independent music scene, Phil Elverum joined the band D+, himself, Karl Blau, and Bret Lunsford at the time of his joining. He became associated with K Records with the release of D+'s debut album. After Elverum toured with D+, K Records founder Calvin Johnson gave Elverum access to the Dub Narcotic Studio, where he experimented with recording; Elverum lacked concern for the studio's modest equipment. Elverum began the Microphones initially as a solo project, releasing cassette tapes of tests and experiments. Recording and composition Don't Wake Me Up was recorded between April 25, 1998 and March 1, 1999, in Dub Narcotic Studio in Olympia, Washington, and the Business in Anacortes, Washington. The album was primarily written and composed by Elverum. The studios in which Don't Wake Me Up was recorded lacked high-fidelity recording equipment. Johnson said, "[Elverum] didn't have the attitude that this wasn't a real studio. He was more like, 'Hey, this is fun. Elverum described the studio as a "huge empty warehouse". Elverum was 21 at the time of the album's release, and 20 during its recording. During an interview with Impose, he said that "much of [the album] was recorded [...] at the same place where I did my high school recording experiments, so it was still very connected to adolescence." The album was partially recorded in Elverum's hometown, Anacortes, Washington, although he was living in Olympia, Washington at the time of recording. As he described, he had "newly moved away from home for the first time". Elverum stated he recorded the album "living nocturnally ... [d]rinking pots of black tea