Silversun Pickups is an L.A. band that is polished, famous, and relies on simple guitar to do the studio work with a nightclub sound. They have had three previous full-length successful releases and have built that renown over thirteen years. Better Nature is the first since 2012 and comes at a time when indie is still electronic-alternative abound like the past decade, so there is something to live up to for them.
This record begins well though with the edgy opening track, “Cradle (Better Nature)”, which is energetic and interesting. Next up, “Connection” is oddly sinister and sardonic with dark bass and lyrics that are questioning, “How in the world can I explain when words leap off the page?… This is no connection.” Then, “Pins and Needles” just gets more interesting as it goes, an atmospheric indie jam with thematically relaxing lyrics and chorus. It is almost like alternative more than electronic. Continuing on, “Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)” is similar to the previous electronic tracks, but with weird though acceptable bass rhythm. Emotional. “Friendly Fires” is moderate slow jam, a little too simple and almost like it was meant for live more than studio.
Unfortunately, the next song, “Nightlight” is underwhelmingly simple and droning in the way some indie does now. The last number, “The Wild Kind” seems lost, as if it does not know whether to be light ‘70s rock or electronic-alternative. Silversun Pickups is an oddity in indie today, both being part of pop-indie, and not part of anti-culture. The record mimics many of the electronic themes from previous well-received albums, and this is neither terribly beneficial nor particularly harmful. In some places one might have expected growth, but if “Connection” or “Better Nature” fail to stray into more artistic rock, this is still going to appeal to many.
Making their place in indie continue as not quite Spoon or Wilco, but in a good way not Joanna Gruesome or Bleachers. The release is well done, with a good dark twist, sinister and subversive sound and lyrics. What is done on certain tracks though shows finesse as well as energy. Better Nature is not overly risky, but unquestionably will be a highlight album to fans of the band and the electronic-indie genre.
