Silversun Pickups make tremendous return with "Swoon"
Lewis Brown, Writer
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Entertainment
Silversun Pickups return like a lightning bolt in a storm and make their presence known with their sophomore album "Swoon". The L.A. based indie quartet band make an incredible leap from their 2006 debut album "Carnavas" with a feeling of musical maturity and confidence. Lead singer and guitarist Brian Aubert comes back swinging with distorted, yet crisp, riffs and a more controlled and elaborate vocal range. With amazing beats from drummer Christopher Guanlao, deeply rich bass licks and well blended backup vocals from bassist Nikki Monninger, and brilliant electronic blasts from keyboardist Joe Lester, the Pickups give a real feel of unity as a band.
The album consists of ten tracks all averaging around five minutes with a total playtime of fifty-one minutes and ten seconds. The first track, "There's No Secrets This Year," starts off with a fast distorted riff and smooth's out into a calm, yet up-beat, tempo that keeps hitting hard until the sixth track "Draining." With the interlude feel of "Draining," the rhythm fires back up with track seven "Sort Of" and doesn't back down until the end of the final track "Surrounded (Or Spiraling)." The most noteworthy tracks on the album are "There's No Secrets This Year," "The Royal We," "Panic Switch," "Sort Of," and "Surrounded (Or Spiraling)."
Overall, fans of Silversun Pickups will not be let down with their new album release "Swoon." With the same 90's grunge inspired sounds they've come to be known by, the band takes it a step higher and are creating a sound more of their own. The Silversun Pickups are a caterpillar in the cocoon, slowly growing and maturing and eventually to hatch into something bigger and more beautiful. I give this album 4 out of 5 stars.
If you like this artist you'll also like: The Smashing Pumpkins, Coheed and Cambria, My Bloody Valentine, and Sonic Youth.
The album consists of ten tracks all averaging around five minutes with a total playtime of fifty-one minutes and ten seconds. The first track, "There's No Secrets This Year," starts off with a fast distorted riff and smooth's out into a calm, yet up-beat, tempo that keeps hitting hard until the sixth track "Draining." With the interlude feel of "Draining," the rhythm fires back up with track seven "Sort Of" and doesn't back down until the end of the final track "Surrounded (Or Spiraling)." The most noteworthy tracks on the album are "There's No Secrets This Year," "The Royal We," "Panic Switch," "Sort Of," and "Surrounded (Or Spiraling)."
Overall, fans of Silversun Pickups will not be let down with their new album release "Swoon." With the same 90's grunge inspired sounds they've come to be known by, the band takes it a step higher and are creating a sound more of their own. The Silversun Pickups are a caterpillar in the cocoon, slowly growing and maturing and eventually to hatch into something bigger and more beautiful. I give this album 4 out of 5 stars.
If you like this artist you'll also like: The Smashing Pumpkins, Coheed and Cambria, My Bloody Valentine, and Sonic Youth.
Be the first to comment on this story