I picked this disc up on a whim, based off one single I have heard on the radio. I was also familiar with their earlier breakout single 'Lazy Eye'. The album opens with a heavily distorted guitar riff, which sets the tone for most of the rest of the album. If you do not like your guitars thick and crunchy, Silversun Pickups is not for you.
The lead singer is a male, no matter what your ears may tell you. I remember when I first heard 'Lazy Eye' on the radio I asked my wife if she thought it was male or female, as I knew there was a woman in the band. We decided that it must be a female, with male backup. We were wrong. The singer's name is Brian Aubert. If the name doesn't convince you, he sports a beard in all of the videos I have seen. His vocals are instantly haunting, and definitely distinctive. Picture a mix between Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon) and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. There is one point late in the second track ' The Royal We' that is very reminiscent of Cronin.
The first single from the album is 'Panic Switch', although I think they could have chosen any of the tracks at random and had just as much success. The album is solid from beginning to end. If I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be 'The Royal We' based on the stunning vocal performance of the song. 'Sort Of'" would be a close second, as I like the guitar work in that song. I have no problem listening to the album straight through, and have done so many times (much to my wife's chagrin).
This is the best overall album I have heard in quite awhile. If you have enjoyed any of Silversun Pickups' singles I wholeheartedly recommend this album. I picked it up at an independent store for less than $13 and have no regrets whatsoever.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Selling Out (a rant)
I hate this expression. It is commonly used in a negative fashion to refer to well marketed bands or artists that are making big fat stacks of money. I say more power to them. As I see it, any artist that is looking for a record contract is trying to get paid to play music. I respect that.
Some artists make music for themselves, that is not easily understood or appreciated by others. Fine. Some make music specifically for the enjoyment of others. Great. Neither one is inherently better than the other. Some people create music to release their inner demons. They have every right to do so. If they want to share these feelings with their friends, even better. If their friends think it is good enough that they would pay money to hear it, sounds fine to me. If a large corporation thinks the song would help sell boogers on a stick, and the person has no problem with it, then neither do I. It shouldn't bother the fans either.
Unless you grew up with an artist or band, they were probably already making money off of their music before you had ever heard of them. They might not have been raking in the dough, but were most likely signed. Just because a band has become popular does not mean they have lost their artistic integrity. Get over it.
Some artists make music for themselves, that is not easily understood or appreciated by others. Fine. Some make music specifically for the enjoyment of others. Great. Neither one is inherently better than the other. Some people create music to release their inner demons. They have every right to do so. If they want to share these feelings with their friends, even better. If their friends think it is good enough that they would pay money to hear it, sounds fine to me. If a large corporation thinks the song would help sell boogers on a stick, and the person has no problem with it, then neither do I. It shouldn't bother the fans either.
Unless you grew up with an artist or band, they were probably already making money off of their music before you had ever heard of them. They might not have been raking in the dough, but were most likely signed. Just because a band has become popular does not mean they have lost their artistic integrity. Get over it.
Welcome
Welcome to my Blog. I hope this to become a place for discussions of all things musical, from CD reviews, to concert happenings, to artist updates I find intriguing. My plan is to review any new CD I buy, and any concert I attend. Since I am a family man and do not have unlimited resources, I will fill in with reviews of albums I already own.
I have no formal music training, unless you consider the 30 minutes a week or so we did in elementary school. I have attempted to play guitar/bass, but have never even had a glimmer of success. I couldn't carry a tune singing if my life depended on it. I do, however, have the utmost respect and admiration for those that have the talents and showcase them well. I grew up in a small town where there was not a lot to do, so I listened to the radio. Constantly. When i got old enough I started going to concerts. I was hooked. In my bachelor days it was rare for me to go more than a month without traveling several hours to see a big show. I could not even begin to count how many bands I have seen.
I would love to hear from local artists that want a review.
I will listen to anything once, a second listen has to be earned.
I will be honest.
I will only review albums I have obtained legitimately. (I reserve the right to review things that my friends have purchased, as long as they got it legally).
I have no formal music training, unless you consider the 30 minutes a week or so we did in elementary school. I have attempted to play guitar/bass, but have never even had a glimmer of success. I couldn't carry a tune singing if my life depended on it. I do, however, have the utmost respect and admiration for those that have the talents and showcase them well. I grew up in a small town where there was not a lot to do, so I listened to the radio. Constantly. When i got old enough I started going to concerts. I was hooked. In my bachelor days it was rare for me to go more than a month without traveling several hours to see a big show. I could not even begin to count how many bands I have seen.
I would love to hear from local artists that want a review.
I will listen to anything once, a second listen has to be earned.
I will be honest.
I will only review albums I have obtained legitimately. (I reserve the right to review things that my friends have purchased, as long as they got it legally).
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