25 Records of Christmas, Day 7: Silversun Pickups

The first thing I heard from this album was “Skin Graph”, and immediately I was drawn in by how good the drums sounded. Again, I have to say that I’m a full-length album guy. though. I heard “Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)” shortly after that, from Silversun Pickups’ newest release, Neck of the Woods. I was a bit scared. I couldn’t believe how much I liked the tracks, so I immediately assumed that the resulting record couldn’t be as good as those tunes. Turns out, I was wrong. (Also, check out that awesome album cover.)

Each song builds upon the next. Silversun Pickups have a way that they layer their songs so that they resemble a techno song: starting off with a basic layer of instrumentation, and gradually adding more and more before the exciting climax (and ultimate finish) of each track. That technique might be why the record clocks in at just under an hour, through eleven tracks. While some people may not be intrigued by the longer length of the tracks (the album’s songs come out to about 5-7 minutes each), it allows the band to create a complex and moving atmosphere. Each song has it’s own moments of brilliance.

Silversun Pickups, hailing from Los Angeles.

“Here We Are (Chancer)” almost takes on an R&B flavor with the solid percussion in the back and soothing, soaring vocals. The way the band incorporates intricate guitar work with synth sounds in “Simmer” is just brilliant, and the complementing vocals from Brian Aubert add to the kick about halfway through. The entire record is a grand, theatrical event. I feel like Silversun Pickups aren’t recreating the rock genre with this album; they’re merely stretching it to what it could be turned into. Tons of bands these days are known as “electronic rock” bands, just because they have a keyboardist or they have synths in their songs. Silversun Pickups is at the front of the pack when it comes to that comparison. 

I’ve always been a firm believer in the third record. By the time a band’s third record comes out, they’ve been able to shake off the dust from the first two, the experimentation is out of the way, and they know what works. Silversun Pickups’ third installment proves to be their star addition, much in the same way that Radiohead or Anberlin solidified their musical genre with their third records. I’m sure we’ll see some changes in the future from the band, but for right now, Neck of the Woods is some of the best music they’ve recorded.