Silversun Pickups--Pikul

After hearing bootlegs of their own live shows, the Las Vegas group Silversun Pickups were so disgusted that they ran off to the studio to prove they could sound better. 10 seconds into Pikul shows not only that the group sounds better, but is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Their first hit, "Kissing Families" is a culmination of the ‘90s rock blend of shoegaze and alternative that has become Silversun’s trademark. Picking up comparisons to The Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine, the song features Brian Aubert‘s hauntingly quiet voice that – at any moment – can explode into a fury of emotion. The effect-ridden shoegaze guitar solo blows whatever expectation you had of the group out of the water, climaxing into a chilling cello instrumental that displays the group’s fine use of loud/soft dynamics.

Within "Comeback Kid," Silversun Pickups create a suspicious instrumental cloud of pint up paranoia and fear. Once again, Silversun builds up towering climaxes and tears them down with instrumental fall-offs that ricochet seamlessly into another brilliant guitar solo worth drooling over. "Booksmart Devil" is a low-key, smoke-filled-room style groove that moves slowly yet gracefully along. Supported by Nikki Monninger’s bluesy bassline, Aubert throws out some jazz-themed guitar solos in a jam that’s still catchy as hell. "The Fuzz" follows suit, building slowly upon a groovy line that finally culminates into a gale of ‘90s alternative stylings.

Silversun Pickups deliver a delicious blend of shoegaze and alternative ‘90s rock, yet with their own classical touch. This isn’t just a memory of an era of music gone by, this is a talented group taking these influences and wrapping it into their own idea of what music should be: deep, intricate, emotionally stimulating, and complex. No cheap shots are taken, and every song is as well-written and well-executed as the last. In their first single, Silversun Pickups blow away most veteran bands’ full-lengths. The quality and care put into every song, in combination with the explosive quality of their later full-length Carnavas, reveal a band ready to take the world by storm.

(Published at MusicEmissions.com)