Review: Silversun Pickups - Swoon
3 / 10. Lackluster follow-up to a dynamic breakthrough
Apr 21, 2009
In late 2006-early 2007, the first single from LA band the Silversun Pickups first full-length album, “Carnavas,” made its way onto both alterna-rock airwaves and indie rock playlists. That song was the visceral nod to mid-90’s alternative fuzz, “Lazy Eye,” now a Rock Band staple and a song that is proving to be among the best rock singles of the decade.
What do you mean by ‘90s rock, exactly?
Much of what has been written on the Silversun Pickups’ has compared the band some form of “’90s rock,” which is a difficult category to pin down; especially considering this broad genre includes the likes of Limp Bizkit, The Wallflowers, and Nirvana, and also has countless artists and bands that are still touring and a choice few that are still incredibly popular.
However, what critics are getting at in calling the band “’90s rock” is that much of what the Silversun Pickups do is the type of no frills, back-to-basics, pre-digital effects angsty alternative rock ‘n’ roll that dominated much of the early and mid ‘90s, despite the fact that the band formed in 2005.
The band’s first album “Carnavas” is a logical evolution of that attitude in a 21st Century format. The album had more complex song structures, better production and a few more bells and whistles throughout, ultimately making it one of the best albums to be released in late 2006. If Billy Corgan were still alive, this would be the type of album the Smashing Pumpkins would be making. (Wait, Corgan is still making music?)
Silversun Pickups’ second album, “Swoon,” was released on April 14, 2009
While “Carnavas” was a bold and exciting debut, the band gets altogether too comfortable in their skin on “Swoon.” With “Carnavas,” the band had crafted a unique sound – considering the times – and put themselves in position to take the next step into alterna-stardom. The album had a bold, energetic quality to it, especially when lead singer Brian Aubert would push his considerable vocal limitations up into the really high notes, like in the climax of “Lazy Eye.”
Unfortunately on “Swoon,” the band slips into doing what they quickly became good at a second time without bringing much else to the table. Actually, they removed a few crucial elements from their arsenal that ultimately makes “Swoon” an album worth forgetting. Gone is the gritty, fuzz-ed out guitar work that made songs like “Well Thought Out Twinkles” so enjoyable, and gone is any indication that the band is trying to break new ground with their music.
A big step backward
The best song on “Swoon” is the album’s first track, “There’s No Secrets This Year” which roars in with dueling distorted guitar riffs and stadium-sized drums. Unfortunately, this is about as good as it gets on “Swoon.” Much of the album is fairly predictable, low-energy alternative rock that all sound like inferior versions of “Waste It On,” one of the weaker tracks from “Carnavas.” Even the single “Panic Switch” is boring and it seems the band is trying to force something that simply might not be there.
If the band doesn’t right the ship on their next album, Silversun Pickups could fall into the category of ‘90s rock that nobody wants to be associated with – the one hit wonder.
