Apr 08 2009
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Due out next week, Silversun Pickups have recently put the finishing touches on their second album, Swoon. It’s been almost 3 years since their debut, Carnavas, which made quite a splash with the song Lazy Eye.
The first single, Panic Switch, gives listeners a taste of what this album will sound like. The first 50 seconds are filled with a screeching guitar solo that may turn off as many listeners as it attracts, but once you get to the chorus it’s obvious why they released this song as a single. The melody is endearing, pleasant, and most importantly, memorable. I foresee extensive radio play for this song in the near future, and it’ll get a lot of ear-time with gamers as it’s being released for Guitar Hero as well.
It’s Nice To Know You Work Alone is another song that will soon be available for Guitar Hero, and it’s a good one. This song has an interesting combination of soft vocals, crunchy guitar, hard drums, and a string section. The combination of these instruments makes it easy to see why the band is often compared to the Smashing Pumpkins.
There are a few softer songs on Swoon, such as the dark sounding Draining, which gives listeners a change of pace from the heavier stuff. The depressing effect is strong on this song, and I can get a good sense of what the songwriter(s) was feeling when the song was written. This song could easily be a soundtrack to a movie, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I hear it in that scenario one day.
Overall, the album is a great second effort for a relatively new band. They’ve managed to maintain the same sonic signature from Carnavas, while at the same time evolving their sound to create something new. I’d love to see this band live to see if they can impress me some more.
Check out myspace.com/silversunpickups
Sincerely,
BW.
