RECORD REVIEWS
Silversun Pickups —Carnavas
Sometimes familiarity is a good thing. It can make you feel more comfortable when presented with a new and exotic situation, allowing you to be yourself. However, most people recognize the saying "familiarity breeds contempt," and that may be the Achilles' Heel of the Silversun Pickups' debut Carnavas. It sounds so much like so many other bands from the mid-1990's, ranging from Smashing Pumpkins, Catherine Wheel, Lush and other fuzzed-out alternative rock bands from the hey-day of the guitar that you almost feel like you've heard the album before you've, well, heard the album. That is not to say that it is unpleasant to listen to, in fact that sonic textures that the Silversun Pickups create show a lot of potential for the Los Angeles band, but they might try to wander out of the shadow of their predecessors before that can really make a name for themselves.
Maybe the point where the Silversun Pickups went wrong was choosing a producer that also brought us albums by, well, Smash Mouth. Possibly finding a producer that might push the envelope a little more could have helped the Silversun Pickups reach their potential, but who knows? I mean, if Kennedy didn't choose LBJ as his VP, maybe he wouldn't have been shot on Texas. Who knows. Anyway, maybe the Pickups and I got off on the wrong foot. I digress. Carnavas opens with "Melatonin," a song that starts with a very Adore-era Smashing Pumpkins riff to the point you think you might be hearing Billy Corgan's vocals kick instead Brian Aubert's. The fuzzed out guitars and random vocal howls seem all well and good, but you can't shake the feeling you've heard this before. The same might be said for "Well Thought Out Twinkle," except flash yourself back to Gish. Luckily, "Checkered Floor has more of its own personality. The song is more restrained until the distortion-rich chorus kicks in with a shoegazer feel without copping the feel totally from a specific band. To a lesser extent "Future Foe Scenarios" and "Waste It On" follow this formula, but it has a little too much of a Bush feel to the song structure. "Dream at Tempo 119" is similar but seems to be able to stand on its own feet more effectively.
One of the real gems on Carnavas is "Lazy Eye", which first appearing on the Pikul EP. The song builds into a distorted frenzy slowly as the guitar, bass and drums twirl towards the howled chorus mid-way through the song. The song doesn't borrow as much other tracks on the album, and is likely the best representative of the real promise that the Silversun Pickups possess. They can be both delicate and ferocious in a 6 minute package and it is in their moments that they can be truly captivating. "Three Seed" is another song that captures more of the mellow side of the Silversun Pickups, with the guitars drifting across the low, rumbling basslines. The closing song, "Common Reactor" returns to the Smashing Pumpkins influenced sound, but has a lighter feel than their alt-rock ancestors, allowing for a little less musical de ja vu.
Carnavas is not a bad album. In fact, for someone who is less intimately familiar with 90's alternative rock, it could be a downright great album. However, for those of us who spent a little too much time listening to WFNX or WEQX (yes, New England!), Carnavas is a little to eerily familiar sounding for its own good. It does have its moments where you feel the band is beginning to break out, but they are a little few and far between on their debut. Carnavas might not be the most innovative album of the year, but it at least leaves us with glimpse into what could be a respectable future for the Silversun Pickups.
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imaginary ash said on May 16, 2007:
Wow, a surprising take. Having seen them a couple of times last year before their stock soared, I was completely enchanted with all of them — Brian and Nikki would be up in front chatting with the audience in a very friendly manner in between mind-blowing songs. It's sort of a bummer to hear that they may have turned into divas. I'm holding out hope that this was just an off night and they're super exhausted from all the endless touring and stuff.
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Clarie said on May 31, 2007:
I hope they are as cool as they were at The Trouabdour. Perhaps just a bad night~~~
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ibetnoonehasthisname said on February 18, 2008:
good review, but I thought Lazy Eye was their most pumpkins-esque song. 1979 anyone?...
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Alex said on April 1, 2008:
Truthfully, the new Smashing Pumpkins album didn't do it for me, save a couple of tunes. The Silversun Pickups did a nice job of capturing what I like about the Smashing Pumpkins, however, I can't help but feel like they were an SP cover band who started writing their own music. They even have the same setup. Awesome drummer, the bashful female bassist, pseudo-androgynous singer.
I think they sound the most like Gish era Smashing Pumpkins (i.e, the faster Rhinocerous riff in Waste It On).
The author mentioned tha Lazy Eye was the Gem. You should really listen to Drown, from the "Singles" sound track.
I like them, as a matter of fact, I like them a lot, however I can't help but feel the Album somehow belongs to someone else.
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H. F. Clibron said on June 10, 2008:
Lazy eye was not on their Pikul EP. There are no repeats of songs from the EP to the LP.
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Erik Gonzalez said on June 10, 2008:
Huh. Well, then I must have some weird alternate take of "Lazy Eye" on my iPod. Go figure.
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Mike Mess said on June 10, 2008:
Wow! I'm glad someone commented on this as I hadn't read this review. I have a 7" version of 'Lazy Eye' and about 9 other songs that are about much much slower...i can remember (hazily) when they didn't sound as much like the Smashing Pumpkins and (referring to the review) they had another guitar in the band-his name oddly enough: Kennedy. In fact, I once compared them to the Afghan Whigs and ever since Carnavas came out I've been kicking myself for writing that review 4 or 5 years prior. Anyway, They've been in the studio for a couple months and most of us are waiting on pins and needles.
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Lane said on June 28, 2008:
I have only recently, within the past four months, begun listening to SSPU and I have to say: "Love 'em!!!" I get the comparisons to Smashing Pumpkins. Indeed, I would hazard a comment that SSPU have embraced the Gish/Siamese Dream era of the Pumpkins wholeheartedly. But I ask you: Is that a bad thing? I've missed that sound so much. The soft, scared vocals occasionally venturing into the tortured wail of the forlorn and not the reverse (which is what I disliked about the change in SP's sound between Siamese Dream and Melon Collie). Anyone can scream into a microphone over blaring guitars, and indeed today that seems to be the norm more often than not. But to be able to create delicate textures vocally over a dense backdrop requires the ability to restrain. To build until the tension is palpable. Then release it at the right time. That's songcraft... Everyone rips off someone these days. The trick is to sound as good or better than those you are "borrowing" from. I think that SSPU has succeeded in this area, and I am looking forward to the new album.
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Nathan said on July 5, 2008:
I have loved this band since "Pikul" came out a few years ago. I get the constant Pumpkins references, but there's also some Sonic Youth "Daydream Nation" going on. It's funny though, because their two records are very Pumpkins'ish and there is also a band on their label, Sabrosa Purr, that was very Nirvana'ish. Those two bands and then Darker My Love who sound sort of My Bloody Valentine'ish to me. Seems like someone over there really loved the 90's and is signing bands that remind them of that time! But, I'll take those 3 over all the whimpy Arctic Monkey's and dancy, electro bands out there. At least they have some balls!
I hope, as you said that this night was just an off night, because any band that gets to play festivals should feel lucky enough to be grateful. Not pretentious and complain about it. I'm sure there are a million bands that would love to be in their position. But, I still love them! "Pikul" is one of my favorite records of the past couple of years and I can't WAIT for the new one. Whenever that is.
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Segrid said on July 10, 2008:
Erik,
Maybe you have the remix of "Lazy Eye" on your iPod? They released a remix EP after Carnavas.
SL
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Reviews
Dave in Brooklyn said on May 16, 2007:
I saw these guys play at Webster Hall in NYC last night. I have listened to Carnavas for the last 3 months. It's easy enough on the ears, quite enjoyable actually, perfect for a summer drive with the top down.
But I'm not sure I can really get into it any more after last night's show. I mean, it's totally forgivable that they are blatantly channeling Smashing Pumpkins. But did the lead singer have to emulate the worst of Mr. Corgan's personality, too? He was a total nancy-boy dick the entire night.
First, he scolded some dudes in the front row for jumping/dancing too much and bouncing into some cute young thangs. Now, I couldn't see what was going on, so it's impossible for me to know whether these were meatheads being assholes, or just guys getting a little too exuberant for a band they liked. So maybe he was right to play the stage traffic cop game. But he could have defused it by just telling them to chill. Instead, he used it as an opportunity to embarrass them. It was kind of a shite move, really.
At one point during the show, he said it was the NYC show they've always wanted to play - then he continued to diss Webster Hall by adding "well, maybe not the venue." (For the record - WH has been putting on some great shows of late. I saw Ted Leo there last week and the energy was 200% better...and a few months before that, Sonic Youth put on the show of the year there in support of Rather Ripped.)
OK, so then, after hamming it up for some industry execs (or, more likely, the drunk interns of industry execs, the execs more likely being at the Arctic Monkeys show across town) he started rambling on about how SSPU is playing some cheesy summer concert festivals...and how some of the other bands on those bills suck....and how this is really his crowd...
But if you go to their website, they are playing nothing but cheesy summer festivals for the next 3 months. If you don't like 'em, don't play 'em! But if you play 'em, then don't be a dick about it. Nobody is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to take the stage after Buckcherry. Take the money, put on a good show, and keep your pretentious mouth shut.
To be honest, the band is really held together by the solid bass playing of Nikki Monninger and the kick-ass drumming of Christopher Guanlao. My friends and I especially liked Guanlao's super-tall crash cymbal, which emphasized his decidedly Tayshaun Prince-like length and was fun to watch. To be honest, Aubert's guitar playing is pretty ordinary - it's barely audible unless he's completely shredding.
Last time I ever see them live - too bad, because they are easy on the ears otherwise.