Year in Rock 2012 Nominee: Silversun Pickups

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SILVERSUN PICKUPS
Mean Spirits
From: Neck Of The Woods
Released: May 8

When a band is shovelled enough cynicism, they're bound to react. After years of Smashing Pumpkins comparisons via pissy journalists or over-analyzing listeners, Silversun Pickups crawled out of that unwanted shadow with third album Neck Of The Woods. Incorporating gothic electronics into their sound (think less Smashing Pumpkins' Adore and more New Order) slowed the Pumpkins comparisons (except for those comparing this record to Adore), but it also made for a more startling listen, with less payoff. A glaring exception is Mean Spirits, a driving monster-rocker that is as bold with its fuzzed-out base layer as it is with its acoustic tinged frosting. It's an ice cold beer floating in a lake of muddy water.

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