the silversun pickups

Grating and disjointed, calling the Silversun Pickups "uncompromising" would be an understatement. They use every weapon available to convey their angst; with Brian Aubert's acerbic vocals and arsenal of potent instrumentation, they're never at a loss for sonic scope. But the Pickups use this up-tempo and aggressive force judiciously throughout Swoon, balancing it with occasionally brooding and somber tracks.

On "Panic Switch," they channel the same raw vocals and rapid-fire guitar riffs that made "Lazy Eye" a sleeper hit on their last album, 2006's Carnavas. Slower songs such as "Draining" or "Catch & Release" effectively demonstrate their range when contrasted with the fast-paced majority of the record.

However, the Silversun Pickups could benefit from some self-restraint. If every song (regardless of tempo) featured the same progression from subdued intro to protracted scream-fest, then that expected vocal explosion would cease to be a surprise. On "Sort Of," the group seems aware of this fault. The track is a departure from the rest of the album, maintaining a steady momentum from the first bar, and derives its strength from venturing outside of the band's comfort zone. It is undoubtedly the strongest song on Swoon.

Have you heard of the Silversun Pickups? Don't be embarrassed if you haven't, because it would probably help their street creed. But, can you really be "alternative" if one of your songs is used to front Volkswagen ads? The whole "cooler-than-thou" attitude just doesn't ring true when you drop the pretense as soon as money becomes involved.

Maybe it's inevitable that the counter-culture will be enveloped by the mainstream, but the true artists persist nonetheless, as if they hadn't noticed. On their sophomore record, Swoon, the Silversun Pickups seem to have embraced that inevitability, rendering that "uncompromising" attitude disingenuous yet nevertheless captivating.