Spawned from the same L.A. Silver Lake scene that begat Autolox and Giant Drag, quartet Silversun Pickups full-length debut Carnavas adheres to a similar fuzz laden aesthetic, only with a sonically loud bi-polar kick. Warning, this album will make you question the integrity of your speakers and/or headphones. Relax though, that hiss you hear is really the intense, distorted textures that lead singer-guitarist Brain Aubert and keyboardist Joe Lester intentionally execute. All while, drummer Christopher Guanlao and bass player Nikki Monninger maintain a tight reign on the rhythm.
Aubert’s bittersweet, sometimes-twee vocals (think Coheed and Cambria) are more pronounced than your standard, unintelligible shoe-gazing fare. You can actually make out the lyrics amongst the sugary harmonies. Said harmonies are SSPU’s most successful attributes, especially when bass player Monniger joins Aubert. SPSU has the ability to protrude these choruses from underneath layers of feedback.
“Well Thought Out Twinkles” launches with a gigantic guitar riff followed by Aubert’s falsettos, which are oddly reminiscent of Ween. “Checked Floor” sprinkles in the aforementioned syrupy harmonies with a restrained tension found in early Pixies tunes. “Little Lover’s So Polite” is a smoggy, obscure number about “waking up the core needs with smelling salt” “Future Foe Scenarios” begins with sexually ambiguous vocals that transform into Kurt Cobain style- guttural yelps.
“Melatonin” and “Lazy Eye” are the two most triumphant tracks of “Carnavas”; both capturing the manic- yet- tender, on- the –verge- of -eruption vibe that Silversun tries to allude. “Lazy Eye” in particular, convinces me that similarities to early Smashing Pumpkins work is indeed, undeniable.
Carnavas succeeds because the discord comes together so nicely. The aggression is adeptly conveyed amongst the haze, giving the entire album a crisp- blurry hum. Who would ever figure that combining grunge, show-gazing, and emo influences would work so well? |