Silversun Pickups - Swoon

Grunge was nearly twenty years ago wasn't it? Not that we're getting a revival here... thank god, but 'Swoon' has probably brought it's older listeners a lot of nostalgia back from that glorious time of alternative rock. Dangerous as it is for Silversun Pickups, for a band that sounds so heavily like the Smashing Pumpkins they can easily be accused as a Smashing Pumpkins rip of act. So basically their follow up to 'Carnavas', which was received warmly, sets up 'Swoon' for some interesting listening.

'There's No Secrets This Year' opens 'Swoon' up to us and in emphatic fashion to, we already get the 90's buzz instantly and when Brian Aubert comes in we instantly remember Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins again and to be precise 'There's No Secrets This Year' sounds something of 'Gish' or even 'Siamese Dream'. Although, the song holds it's own, with the heavy distorted guitars bouncing of each other and Christopher Guanlao's drumming being the secondary drive of the song. Continuing with 'There's No Secrets This Year', it demonstrates that Silversun Pickups aren't a band of their time, a band that could have so easily fitted in, in the 1990's, more so than now, where 'alternative rock' now, comes in the form of My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco, and all having the ability to appeal to a screaming bunch of ignorant young teenagers and not much else.

'The Royal We' is a song which builds in tempo and speed until the very last chord has rung out, Aubert's vocals is the joy in to behold in this track as they keep you in suspense until he gives his all out in the verse leading up to the chorus. Once again, the guitar playing is the highlight, very-Pumpkins-esque once more, which it cannot escape, further more, the song will leave it's listeners exhausted with joy, as 'The Royal We' is epic in it's own hazy self, with it's blending dreamy rock influences mixed in with the odd splash of classical takes.

As the albums goes, midway we are ushered into 'It's Nice To Know You Work Alone', which is one of the few songs of the album that doesn't sound like the Smashing Pumpkins, as Nikki Monninger displays good stuttering bass lines broken up through-out the entire song and Aubert's grinding guitar adds the heavy rock theme to the track.

The final song in 'Swoon' is quite a surprise, 'Surrounded (Or Spiraling), which bows it's head to My Bloody Valentine vocally and with the fuzzy dreaming sparkling guitar lines during the slow parts of the song. As the song builds up, we get back to the Pickups, where they create their main riff through the chorus which intensifies the song as a whole and closes the album in fine fashion.

Silversun Pickups, again, not a band of their time, and 'Swoon' is definitely not an album of it's time either. Although, it's nice to hear the 90's alternative rock scene now and then revisited, it's not something Silversun Pickups should make a habbit of. The album on the whole is solid, created around heavily distorted riffs, powerful drumming and exquisite bass lines. Songs like 'Growing Old Is Getting Old', despite it's true irony, is way to dragged out and should be cut down in length, but the main problem for it's more aged listeners, is that it has Smashing Pumpkins all over the album, but if you can get your head round that, then there's no reason why people shouldn't enjoy this 90's nostalgic force.

3½ / 5


Linus Broadbent.