Silversun Pickups' Debut, Carnavas Does it Right

The overall reaction from music critics to the Silversun Pickups usually revolves around the sounds that remind listeners of Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth. And those music critics would be largely correct. The biggest hit from the album, partially thanks to an appearance in Guitar Hero, is the song "Lazy Eye", which sounds like the Pumpkins "1979" from the muffled opening/main riff to the screaming dynamic breakdown in the middle. The other known highlight is the grunge-riff'd "Well Thought Out Twinkles". The rest of the songs make excellent use of walls upon walls of distortion and layered guitar effects without become overcome with synthetic sounds. Songs "Common Reactor" and "Melatonin" sound of a more accessible Sonic Youth with the distortion and subdued half-breath vocals. The only complaint is that some of the songs tend to blend together with similar sounds, each slightly less distinct than the last. The songs are excellent, no doubt, but when they all have the same tempo and similar sounds, you might get lost in the flow. On the same note, it's very good for long drives when you don't want to be constantly switching from energetic song to energetic song. It almost has a relaxed sound in some places.

The songwriting itself is excellent. Plenty of enjoyable melodies and musical ideas exist within songs that, fortunately, go well beyond the simple verse-chorus-bridge-chorus format of the standard chart hits. It says something when a band can avoid certain traditions and still make it onto the chart.

The musicianship here is excellent, especially the details of the layered guitars and pedal effects. The most distinct musical mark you will hear is vocalist/guitarist Brian Aubert's breathy voice (when he isn't screaming, that is), which has plenty of air to it without losing intensity and sinking to cheesy John Mayer levels of breathiness. The rest, drums, keyboard, bass, are all well-executed, without one shining over the other. (No Zeppelin-type guitar solos here, folks)

Overall, this is an excellent debut from a band than manages to meld clear influences from Smashing Pumpkins and Sonic Youth into a sound that still sounds recognizably unique. I highly recommend this to both fans of the mentioned bands, as well as those looking for one of the best albums of modern rock. And yes, you may be tempted to purchase "Lazy Eye" as a single and little else, but this is a flowing album best listened to as a whole.