Silversun Pickups are one of the most popular indie rock bands in the world and have been for a long time now.
The band from Los Angeles has changed a lot over the years, but they’ve kept true to who they are. They feature Brian Aubert, Christopher Guanlao, Joe Lester, and Nikki Monninger. Aubert’s singing is memorable and distinct. You always know a Silversun Pickups song when you hear it.
Aubert and Monninger met on a flight in 1994 when Aubert saw Monninger stealing drinks from the cart. It was a funny meeting that changed their lives forever.
Did you know the band name comes from the Silversun Liquor Store? It’s where they would go to “pick up” alcohol.
They released their first EP, Pikul, in 2005. “Kissing Families” was the biggest hit, and with good reason. It’s a great song. Their earlier work has been compared to Smashing Pumpkins, which I’d say is accurate. This early album is noisy and psychedelic.
They followed up with their first official album, Carnavas, in 2006. They put the music industry on notice with this incredible album. “Checkered Floor,” “Lazy Eye,” “Little Lover’s so Polite,” and “Well Thought Out Twinkles” are some of the best songs the band has ever made.
The success continued with Swoon (2009) and Neck of the Woods (2012). There are great songs littered through both albums, like “Panic Switch,” “Substitution,” and “Catch & Release” on Swoon. Neck of the Woods has “Dots and Dashes,” “Bloody Mary,” and “Here We Are.” It also marked a change in sound for the band, as they abandoned their shoegaze influences, using more electronic elements here.
One of their best albums, Better Nature, came out in 2015. “Cradle,” “Pins and Needles,” “Latchkey Kids,” “Circadian Rhythm,” and “Connection” stand out to me in what could be the most consistent album they have ever put out. I’d highly recommend this one. By this point, they had changed their sound to a more classic indie sound without a lot of the noise and distortion of their earlier work.
Widow’s Weeds from 2019 has “It Doesn’t Matter Why,” “Freakazoid,” “Straw Man,” and “Neon Wound.” Another fantastic outing for a band that doesn’t have a bad album.
Their latest effort, Physical Thrills, came out in 2022 and follows the path of their last album. Another strong one here, with “Sticks and Stones” and “Scared Together” standing out as hits. This album is played on Evolution 107.9 regularly. You’d better tune in to hear the best that Silversun Pickups have to offer!