I'm going to start this review off by saying I have not always been a fan of this group. When "Lazy Eye" started getting some attention in 2007, they were on my radar. That chick in that Silversun Pickups band has an interesting voice, I thought. Lolz.
I don't know why, but it took a while to take the band seriously after I figured out that was a dude singing. This must be exactly what it felt like after watching The Crying Game in the '90s. If this was just another Coheed and Cambria, whose voice is nothing more than a gimmick, then that would be that (ugh. They suck). But after listening to Silversun Pickups a few times on the radio and taking time to soak it in, I actually liked how much singer/guitarist Brian Aubert sounds like a rock castrato with a bad addiction to cigarettes or something. I eventually realized what makes it special: this band doesn't give a rat's ass if it's popular or not, it's going to crank up the distortion while refusing to sing like grunting pigs or shrieking Tasmanian devils.
However, there is a very problematic method in the way this band approaches an album. If you listen to Neck of the Woods, then listen to the band's debut, Carnavass, you would not hear too much of a difference. It's as if Silversun Pickups is a panic switch itself — in the on position, it's a mess of rage-filled noise rock; in the off position, it's a catchy combination of power pop and shoegazing. But these albums sound remarkably similar. This demonstrates little growth or substantial exploration since the band first appeared. Even though it has a fantastic sound, it needs to step outside of the comfort zone in order to become something better.
The only thing that sounds close to an attempt at trying new things is "Make Believe," a tune with pop-punk flair more in line with New Found Glory or Silversun's fellow Californians, Blink-182. This leads into the best song, "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)," which is not a departure from the usual offerings, but dynamic in that it is rather successful in combining both the angrier and gentler spirits of the band.
Everything else sounds like melodic auto-pilot. No matter how hard it tries on Neck of the Woods, Silversun Pickups cannot escape the neo-alt aura for the sake of creativity. Even "The Pit," a lyrically sound track despite cliched title, is not immune from the air of trendy pseudo-psychedelia the radiates from its performers.
In summation, what makes this band so memorable is also its Achilles' heel. The attentive listener wants to pay attention, but can't help nodding off, especially because the songs are about :30 longer on average on this EP when compared to the other two. Neck of the Woods serves as an example for bands everywhere unwilling to take a leap into the unknown. These groups are good at the music they play, but they will not be remembered as those who tried to move on to greener pastures.
For Your Consideration: "Make Believe," "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)."
For Next Time: Expect the new Nas sometime this week.
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