New Silverchair unique - but not good unique

Silver chair

"Young Modern"

Release Date: August 21, 2007

Record Label: Eleven Records

The biggest problem with the new Silverchair album "Young Modern" is that as it plays it is easy to forget that a CD is playing.

Perhaps the reason for this is that the album doesn't use any catchy intros to draw listeners into the music, instead each track comes straight at you with generic vocals and a sound that may be unique. But unique is not always a good thing.

The songs "Reflections of a Sound" and "All Across the World" sound more like show tunes for an upcoming Broadway show than modern rock and roll. Both of these songs seem out of place on the album and drag on for way too long.

While it's hard to compare the new album with any band past or present, the fluctuating vocals and the use of piano and other instruments on "Young Modern Station" and "Reflections of a Sound" give the album some similarities with an unrefined old school Sonic Youth or Pixies.

Daniel John's vocals in the new album are its only saving grace. They are a lot more powerful and he has definitely shown he has a decent singing voice that can go to all tempos and vary along with the bass line and drum beat of each song.

The lyrics of the new album have to be the biggest disappointment, though. Obviously the progression of the band has taken them from frivolous songs from their high school days to a more deep symbolic path. However, many of the words, such as when Johns says, "In the sun we are found to be reflections of a sound," rhyme well and fit in with the music but can't possibly be deciphered as meaning anything other than words thrown on a page.

It is hard to believe the same band that produced hit songs like "Tomorrow" or "Freak" came out with this album. Granted, the trio has obviously grown up since the long haired flannel shirt days of their first album "Frog Stomp," but a more subtle change would have been a better path.

In the five years since Silverchair has come out with an album, it is safe to say their musical approach has taken a full 180. Unfortunately, with their new approach, it almost seems like they are trying too hard to gain acceptance in the artistic genius ranks of Bono or Elton John and should have just been content with being alternative rock stars in the same ranks of a Candlebox or Collective Soul.

Eugene Clark can be reached at eclark@siude.com or at 536-3311 ext. 275.