Year in Rock 2012 Nominee: Billy Talent

BILLY TALENT

Surprise Surprise

From: Dead Silence

Released: September 11

Billy Talent's debut album was as exciting as it was successful, but it was also an album very much of its time; the years haven't elevated it to classic status for most but hardcore fans, and the band has struggled with diminishing returns at home (while seeing their popularity rise overseas, particularly in Germany). It reached the artistic tipping point with their third album, one that was painfully mediocre given the phenomenal quality of its first two songs (Devil On My Shoulder and Rusted From The Rain). Dead Silence sustains the quality longer, and makes strides in finding a balance between artistic merit and commercial viability. Their subject matter hasn't changed dramatically from their recent albums, but the sound has branched out; this is a band that's not scared to try a few new things, even at the risk of embarrassment. Fortunately, the risks are largely rewarded, especially on the raging garage rocker Surprise Surprise; too bad they decided to go ahead and embarrass themselves with a video that's campy way beyond the point of being endearing.