Silver Sun - Dad's Weird Dream

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 3 / 10 / 2006

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Review

Tastes in pop music are, for better or worse, formed in your teens and they don’t really change. The music business is currently run by men in their late 20's who have still not really got over the death of Kurt Cobain. If you, like me, happened to be 14 years old in 1998, then you were either following the first wave of nu-metal, and buying lots of shouty rock albums with occasional rap moments, by bands with ‘scary’ names (Coal Chamber, anyone?) or you were pretending you liked these bands, and really clinging desperately to anything with a hint of melody. My favourite album released in 1998 was (and still is) 'Neo Wave' by Silver Sun. The year before, Silver Sun had earned a lot of acclaim for their self-titled debut album, which had the hits ’Golden Skin’ and ’Lava’, but I preferred the second album. I still listen to it often, and I still think it is brilliant. I think it is the reason why I still think of myself as a pop fan, rather than a rock fan. Rock means wearing black, listening to people screaming and taking life very seriously indeed. Pop means liking tunes, and harmonies, and funny lyrics. Of course, pop or otherwise, Silver Sun enjoyed only minimal chart success, and didn’t release anything else before breaking up in 2000. I may have been one of the few music writers to feel genuine excitement when they announced they would be reforming at the end of 2002. I was certainly the only one to admit as much in public. Tough was the further two year’s wait for a new album, I’ll admit. But, much like the proverbial bus, two, 2004's 'Bubblegum' (2004) and last year's 'Disappear Here', have now come along almost next to each other! Sadly, too few seem to have noticed. Although seemingly with a sizable Japanese following, they haven’t really got as much credit in the UK. But who cares? Although at times ridiculous and overblown (but also because of this), their music is infectiously enjoyable. All the Silver Sun trademarks are here. Big, obvious melodies with silly lyrics, supported by glorious Weezer - 'Buddy Holly' style harmonies, and tons of fuzzy guitar lines. Its all so effortless, and all so good. Highlights include the incredibly catchy ‘Facts of Life’, and ‘Sweet Lucy’, which isn’t dissimilar to ’Julia’ from the band’s debut. But where that debut was a tad inconsistent, this is enjoyable throughout. There is no true classic in the vein of 'Lava', and I still prefer the 'Neo Wave' album. But this is still ace, and definitely the most fun album I’ve heard since, well, the last Silver Sun album.

Track Listing:-

1 Fallen
2 Sunday Gurl
3 Facts Of Life
4 Find Him And Love Him
5 Hi Scorpia
6 Rock N Roll Widow
7 See Me In My Dreams
8 That's Just What She Wants
9 Sweet Lucy
10 Getting It Together In The Country
11 Poppin
12 You Can Love
13 Dad's Weird Dream
14 Confusion
15 Last Day 2238

Label Links:-

http://www.invisiblehands.co.uk/
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https://twitter.com/InvisibleHandsM