Silversun Pickups - Swoon
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CD Details
Artist: Silversun PickupsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2009-04-14
Music Label: Dangerbird
Soundtracks:
- There's No Secrets This Year
- The Royal We
- Growing Old Is Getting Old
- It's Nice To Know You Work Alone
- Panic Switch
- Draining
- Sort Of
- Substitution
- Catch and Release
- Surrounded (or Spiraling)
Music reviews of Swoon
Music Review: They are ready for the siege. 4.5/5
Rating: 5 Stars
It has been two and half years since the Silver Lake quartet released their critically acclaimed debut full length, 'Carnavas'. The album that has stuck with me ever since it's release, and made itself a nice and comfortable little home at the number three spot on my list of favorite albums of all time. So, as one might expect, Swoon has a lot to live up to. Well, at least for me, anyway. That being said, I can definitely tell that Aubert and his band of merry men (and woman) have been hard at work these past two years. Finely crafting each and every track to make each one its own entity. There are no two tracks here that sound similar. Most of them starting and ending on totally different notes.
Aubert is in prime form for the majority of the album. One of the things Swoon has on Carnavas from the get go is diversity. Mainly in Brians' voice. He seems to be stretching it to places he was afraid to take it on Pikul and Carnavas. His guitar playing is still spot on, as well. His freakouts are still in full effect, but it seems as if he has adapted more of a Johnny Greenwood approach to the slower songs...which is NEVER a bad thing. Nikki is still a beast on the bass, as you would expect. Holding down the low end better than most other bassists in the genre, and somehow making each and every run memorable. Mr. Guanalo is easily one of the most recognizable and 'odd' drummers in the scene, today. I mean that in the best way possible. His stage presence is also better than about 98% of all drummers in existence. But that is a whole other story in itself. Finally, we come to Joe Lester. His synth prowess and studio trickery really gives this album (and the Pickups as a whole) the atmosphere that makes everything come together. His love affair with Cat Fancy also makes him amazing.
The album opens with possibly the 'grungiest' note the Pickups have ever crafted. From that point on, you know this is going to be a whole new experience. 'There's No Secrets This Year' is definitely a very Pumpkins-ish inspired track. The bouncy guitar in the verses is very accessable and catchy. The chorus is also the poppiest thing they have ever done. It takes a while to get into, and this cut will either be a love it or hate it track. I am on the fence about my decision, though. Go figure. 'The Royal We' is an excellent follow-up to the first track. From it's opening statement, "We are ready for the siege", the song never lets up. The incorporation of strings makes it sound twice as epic and powerful, and from 2:10 on, it becomes one of the greatest compositions they have ever crafted. Auberts' voice is the best it has ever been. Definitely one of the best cuts.
'Growing Old Is Getting Old' slows things down for a bit. For the first half od the song, that is. This could actually be my favorite track from the album. Nikkis' runs are in prime form and lay the structual foundation of the song. The addition of the strings once again add a whole new element to the music. Once Christopher jumps in at around three and a half minutes, the song becomes an epic (and undeniably catchy) sonic assault. Amazing song. "It's Nice To Know You Work Alone" opens with another of Nikkis' signature and powerful bass lines. This song includes my favorite verses from the album and one of the catchiest choruses, as well. Brian also shines on both vocal chords and guitar, in this song. 'Panic Switch' was the obvious choice for first single. It is easily the catchiest track on the album, but it is far from average. The chorus is the catchiest thing this side of A Skylit Drive, and it just has a remarkable, almost micheavious, flow to it. Also, it includes some of the most powerful and in-your-face drumming on the album. Way to go, Chris.
'Draining' is the most relaxed and laid back track on the album. Now, normally I am a sucker for the "chill" cuts but, this one just seems to be lacking something. the synth is great, and so is the guitar...but it just seems to be missing that special something that made tracks like 'Three Seed', 'Table Scraps' and 'Sci-Fi Lullaby' so amazing. It's still a good song, though. And the latter half is pretty, well...pretty.
'Sort Of' picks up the pace again, and does so amazingly well. It has a very down-tempo intro that leads into some of my favorite vocals from Aubert. The drums seem very primal and jumpy, which works well for the track. This could be the "fuzziest" cut from the album, which is far from a bad thing. Great outro, as well.
Now, a lot of people would call 'Substitution' a very "average" track, but I beg to differ. Yes, I agree that it sounds like a song that almost any other band could make, but I guarantee that almost none of them could do it as well as these guys. For me, it's the most uplifting track. With a ridculously hooky chorus, and an excellent bridge. Definitely a "feel good" song. 'Catch And Release' is an all around superb track. Aubert sounds his most soulful on this one, with an almost Jack White-esque snarl. This is also Joes' shining moment on the album. His synth work combined with the subtle use of strings makes this a truley other-worldy feeling song. Nikkis' bass is also at its most seductive, here. The final track 'Surrounded (Or Spiraling)', would have worked way better if it was't the closing track for the album. That is not saying that this song is weak. It's just semi-weak as a closer. I am incredibly picky on song placement. I can see how this would be perfect ender lyrically, but I just wish they would have added an outro to the song that would have made it fit better. All that aside, this is still a great song. Actually, a very above-average one.
The final verdict: Better than Carnavas? No. Was it expected to be? No.
This album is a logical step in the right direction for SSPU, and even though I don't like the album quite as well as the last, I can still tell they put just as much work and heart into this album. Maybe even a little more. Also, only three albums to date have gotten a 5 star rating from me, and one of them happens to be Carnavas. Swoon has come exceptionally close to making the list, as well.
I love these guys more than ever.
Description of Swoon
The follow-up to the critically acclaimed "Carnavas."Alternative Rock CDs
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