alternative Silversun Pickups

quote Last.fm

Silversun Pickups is an American alternative/shoegaze band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 2005. The band consists of Brian Aubert (vocals and guitar), Nikki Monninger (bass and vocals), Joe Lester (keyboards) and Christopher Guanlao (drums). The band members are friends who had played together previously or in mutual friends’ bands. Silversun Pickups is signed to Dangerbird Records. They have released two full-length albums, Carnavas (2006) and Swoon (2009), and one EP, Pikul (2005). The band managed two Top 10 singles on Billboard’s Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2007: “Lazy Eye” (#5) and “Well Thought Out Twinkles” (#9). In 2009, their managed their third top 10 on the chart, “Panic Switch” (#4).

Silversun Pickups have been compared to The Smashing Pumpkins (possibly due in part to Brian Aubert’s vocal style) and 90’s shoegazing bands like My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Ride and Slowdive. Silversun Pickups claim they have been heavily influenced by Modest Mouse and The Velvet Underground as well as other lesser known acts.

Their first break came when a friend mailed a boombox demo to CMJ and they were accepted. They got their start in many of the most important L.A. clubs and began to draw a strong following upon the release of the Pikul EP. This culminated in frequent touring, including a co-headlining stint with Viva Voce.

Pikul EP (2005)


1. Kissing Families - 4:50
2. Comeback Kid - 4:10
3. Booksmart Devil - 4:26
4. The Fuzz - 5:54
5. Creation Lake - 3:43
6. ...All the Go Inbetweens - 7:49
7. Sci-Fi Lullaby - 5:00

Carnavas (2006)


1. Melatonin - 4:04
2. Well Thought Out Twinkles - 4:02
3. Checkered Floor - 4:51
4. Little Lover's So Polite - 4:58
5. Future Foe Scenarios - 5:20
6. Waste It On - 4:13
7. Lazy Eye - 5:54
8. Rusted Wheel - 6:00
9. Dream at Tempo 119 - 4:51
10. Three Seed - 5:40
11. Common Reactor - 6:01
12. Mercury (Japanese/vinyl bonus track) - 5:38
13. Table Scraps (Japanese/vinyl bonus track) - 6:18

Swoon (2009)


1. There's No Secrets This Year - 5:33
2. The Royal We - 4:47
3. Growing Old Is Getting Old - 5:54
4. It's Nice to Know You Work Alone - 4:45
5. Panic Switch - 5:44
6. Draining - 4:55
7. Sort Of - 5:28
8. Substitution - 4:41
9. Catch and Release - 4:40
10. Surrounded (or Spiraling) - 4:45
11. Currency of Love (iTunes Pre-order only) - 5:30