Review by Richie Pirone
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Silverchair. Most of us likely remember the band from their debut Frogstomp way back in 1995 and their hit “Tomorrow.” That was over ten years ago when the band’s members were merely 15 years old. As would be expected, the band has matured a bit little in 12 years both as people and musically. On Young Modern it is clear from the get go that Silverchair has grown into their own sound. The opening track “Young Modern Station” is a very upbeat tune that has a very indie feel showing listeners immediately that the band has grown out of being grunge copy cats. “Straight Lines” has a Coldplay feel to it with its piano laden intro, but Daniel Johns and company manage to fill the aural space much better than Coldplay would. Again proving that the band has influences other than Pearl Jam and Nirvana, “Reflections Of A Sound” is a very Beatles-esque song reminiscent of the band’s Sgt. Pepper’s days. For those looking for a taste of the older Silverchair, your best bet is “Mind Reader” a straight ahead rocker with a radio ready chorus. In the song, Daniel Johns does his best Iggy Pop impression in the verses while letting loose on a Hammond B3.
While Silverchair may not rock the way we all remember on Young Modern, the band certainly has grown up and moved forward musically. Much of the album has traces of what is likely on the band’s iPod from The Beatles to Coldplay to Maroon 5 (ok, so only one of those bands is really any good but I just tell it like I see it), which is at least a step forward from their younger years. I was never a huge Silverchair fan before but after a few listens this record is growing on me. I’m more attracted to the rockers on Young Modern as some of the lighter songs, especially the ones screaming Sgt. Pepper’s, are growing on me.