Silversun Pickups Barely Flicker Throughout "Nightlight"

Silversun Pickups knows how to generate sexual heat. Their discography shows this writ large. "Panic Switch" electrified. "The Royal We" played to vocalist Nikki Monninger's forte, namely her mysterious, prominently suggestive retro luster stage presence. The new "Nightlight" wouldn't have any intrigue to show for it were it not for the dazzle of the accompanying video. You never enjoy fingering a band as guilty of phoning something in but Silversun Pickups rely too much on past glories and then assume newly converted and faithful alike are simply going to melt from the initial note to the climax. If the hook's not prominent your audience won't have much reason to stick around. Rest assured signs of a pulse are visible in "Nightlight" but not of a jump right out and grab you nature. I'd say "warmed over" serves as an adequate description. Nikki's chops haven't rusted. Would that she had saucier material to put it in practice. Blissfully cryptic lyrics are part of this outing's playbook. "When the wind, behind our eyes swell. Starring down all, who generalize well. A chemical change of the spirit will be the exchange for our visit". (Insert head scratching noises here) I'd say you had me and then you lost me but I'm not sure you really ever had me. Despite this the mystery's highly appreciated. Nikki's at her best when the chorus is going full tilt. This passage speaks to the anthem aficionado in all of us. "If we say that (WE WANT IT). We only want it with the lights out." I'd be more merciful if the energy level was as high amplification like this consistently throughout the song. What does any of us get out of a rock number if the participants aren't plugged in completely? You can hear Brian Auber's guitar playing but there isn't the insignia of a guy who's fully wedded to his instrument. Chris Guanlao does the best he can with what's he's been given. Again, the theatrics outweigh the technical skills. "Well Thought Out Twinkles" had the perfect dirty wind in the hair sound for a ride on a long California highway. That's what I call an easy sell. "Nighlight" goes for the blood and discomfort of modern motion picture. Videos these days are in every sense of the word the mini motion pictures MTV likely had in mind when videos first the airwaves. Joe Lester should be saluted, or cursed, depending on which side of the fence you're focused on, for giving "Nightlight" the motion picture cheesiness that begs us not to take it seriously. The key concept is "energy". When Silversun Pickups remember not to be stingy with the chemistry they can really draw you into their world. "Nightlight" blew a fuse before any of us had the chance to get acquainted. Best this foursome regroup and make sure their next cut happens to be...dare I make this awful joke...illuminating.