Track Listing

1. Kissing Families
2. Comeback Kid
3. Booksmart Devil
4. Fuzz
5. Creation Lake
6. All The Go Inbetweens
7. Sci Fi Lullaby
8. Untitled
9. Untitled
10. Untitled
11. Untitled
12. Untitled
13. Untitled
14. Untitled
15. Untitled
16. Untitled
17. Untitled
18. Untitled
19. Untitled
20. Untitled
21. Untitled
22. Untitled
23. Untitled

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15313 in Music
• Released on: 2005-07-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Dimensions: .14 pounds

Customer Reviews

A fine pikul
Before their debut album, the Silversun Pickups debuted their retrogrunge sound in the "Pikul" EP. Basically this EP does what it's supposed to do -- shows off their style, presents a bunch of excellent songs, and introduces listeners to the Angeleno rockers' grimy, creative rock'n'roll.

It kicks off with one of their poppier songs, "Kissing Families," which blossoms out into a delicious rock song. "It's no wonder that we did it this way/Kept looking forward on paths sideways/It's everything that's connected and beautiful/And now I know just where I stand."

Things speed up even more with the ominous, fast-moving "Comeback Kid," which sounds like a budding hard-rocker. But then they try out some other sounds, not just the hard rock -- a song ruled by lots of clashing cymbals, slow-moving guitar ballads, and some ominous Radioheadish atmosphere over solid riffs and drums.

Basically, don't expect it to sound just like their full-length debut, "Carnavas." "Pikul" is softer and more atmospheric, but still with the hard-rock sound that they're known for. It's not as confident and hard, but there's still plenty of talent and range here.

They have a lot of mingled electric and acoustic guitar, with some drums that can smash or gently rat-a-tat. And there's lots of hard buzzing bass that builds up to grinding walls-o'-sound, and some thick mats of foggy keyboard, which gives a slightly psychedelic flair to their catchy, rawboned melodies.

Brian Aubert often gets compared to Billy Corgan, probably because (like Corgan) he has a rather high voice and some very bittersweetly evocative lyrics. His vocals are pretty good -- a bit androgynous sounding, but melodic and smooth -- and while some songs are too simplistically written, there are seeds of greatness in others. "There are twenty-four parts in a day/That divides me from you..."

In "Pikul," the Silversun Pickups sound like they're stretching their wings, and getting to know their own sound. Not all of it got used later, but it shows that they have plenty of room to expand.