SILVERSUN PICKUPS

"Swoon" (Dangerbird; 2009)

Reviewed by Jeff Rogers

Take The Smashing Pumpkins, Porcupine Tree and some other band (you'll have to listen and tell me) and combine them, then you'll have Silversun Pickups. They are labeled under Indie rock but they have some wicked guitar going all the time, unless they slow things down, but otherwise it's got a very forward sound.

Ah! Deadsy, would be the other band, primarily for the brooding synth sounding guitar riffs. They have an alternative rock sound so when they go all weird the guitar still sounds distorted. I think their concert would be stand up/sit down affair and if you didn't know the songs you might be caught off guard.

The vocals are really good and even though nothing stands out you can still sing along with most of them. The drums get going when the song tempo picks up, the bass is silent most of the time but you know it's there somewhere.

On the slower tracks there is a lot of odd stuff happening, much like a Porcupine Tree track. My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth and Modest Mouse are their influences so if you like those bands you'll probably dig Silversun Pickups.

I liked these: "There's No Secrets This Year," "Growing Old Is Getting Old," "Its Nice To Know You Work Alone," "Panic Switch," "Substitution," and "Surrounded (or Spiraling)."

Silversun Pickups: Brian Aubert - guitar/lead vocals; Nikki Monninger - bass/vocals; Chris Guanlao – drums; Joe Lester - keyboards/samples/sound manipulation.

For more information, check out http://www.silversunpickups.com.
 

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

 

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Revised: 01 Apr 2024 11:14:19 -0500 .