Seldom will you see praise showered upon a band wary of exploring new ground with their music. Seldom will you hear a band so intent on perfecting their sound while clinging dearly to a proven formula that has delivered success. After the initial accomplishment of Silversun Pickups‘ debut LP, Carnavas, comparisons were drawn often to 90’s rock icons Smashing Pumpkins and self-proclaimed influence My Bloody Valentine. Comparisons will work to the advantage of a band, contingent on the fact they forge past the similarities and focus on what sets them apart. The Los Angeles quartet has dedicated themselves to digging in their heels and exploring the depth of sound with Swoon, their second and most recent release.

Most of the selections on Swoon embody the art of the crescendo; whether the songs begin forcefully or sweetly, each will intensify driven by the innumerable components laid therein. In the first three-quarters of “Growing Old Is Getting Old,” the slowly deliberate thumping bass line leads the way into an array of dreamy, skittish guitar licks and a delicate vocal melody. Slowly but surely they are followed by a vigorous drumbeat, urging those licks to transform into a full-on barrage of guitar and a piercing, elevated articulation of lyrics. Calmly aggressive, lead singer Brian Aubert expresses his haunting vocals amidst the throes of a constant change of tempo built by the scratchy distortion of his guitar play and the incorporation of an orchestral component. “The Royal We” and “Surrounded” are the most accurate examples of this back-and-forth clash, each tempo fighting for song supremacy.  The first single, “Panic Switch” is the most grandiose highlight of the album. Relentless straight from the get-go, the guitar provides the impetus, surrendering to drum and bass several times only to erupt into a polyphonic explosion around the 4:00 mark.

Silversun Pickups has done themselves and the general public a service by taking their time in the studio and not rushing the completion of the second release under Dangerbird Records. Take a listen and surely you will find this to be a strikingly fulfilling compilation for any occasion… well maybe not EVERY occasion. But from what I hear, their live performance will sway any fence-sitter. The band is currently touring across the pond, only coming back stateside for a slew of music festivals. Keep your eyes peeled!