:: Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

Silversun Pickups

For a band that's been together for over six years, it's a debut that's long overdue. It's almost as if LA's Silversun Pickups spent the time making sure that their first official release sounded more like a greatest hits than a debut. Furthermore, there's hardly a bad song on the whole album. Brian Aubert leads his band roaring into heavily distorted guitar rock; a mixture of fuzzy angst and quiet-loud dynamics. Aubert is well backed by an excellent band, bassist Nikki Monninger, keyboardist Joe Lester and drummer Christopher Guanlao. “Carnavas” has only sharpened the edges of an already tight outfit promised by their excellent earlier material. Aubert's raw vocals, with the often moody accompaniment of his band mates, conjure images of the beast that lurks beneath the glitz and glamour of Hollywood; the drugs, the misdirected ambition, the things that are anything than what they first appear. There are intricate melodies. The addition of Monninger's harmonies serves as a delicate contrast to Aubert's own vocals. The stutters and atmospherics of Lester's keyboards that open “Checkered Floor” will leave most listeners gasping for breath by the time its crashing chorus explodes in a spray of guitar. Aubert shows he can be a master of the dramatic, as evidenced by their live favourite “Lazy Eye”. Also, his soothing tone manages to go from gently sung passages to pure aggression in a millisecond. He channels emotions with ease and maturity, like he's been releasing records for years. One of the standout tracks is “Rusted Wheel” which starts ominously enough, with thinly picked guitar notes that echo in the background. The song builds layer upon layer to its gratifying crescendo. Rarely will you hear a debut as powerfully affecting as Carnavas, brimming over as it is with confidence. The strength of Silversun Pickups lies in what many bands spend years trying to perfect; their ability to tap into their emotions and spread them all over the musical spectrum. This natural flow allows the listener to pick and choose what's most meaningful to them.