Silversun Pickups – Tenterhooks

Lily Ceretto

Tenterhooks – Silversun Pickups

Listening to Tenterhooks by Silversun Pickups creates a melodic atmosphere and listening experience that feels deep as well. The band maintains their original sounds, leaning into a softer style, incorporating sounds of shoegaze and alternative rock. This album is a dreamy vibe, but I never once thought it was repetitive. I like comparing them to Phoenix with blurbs that sound like Slowdive. Meanwhile, I want to compare their lead singer, Brian Aubert, to Conor Oberst, simply a subtle comparison and difficult to fully define. Aubert’s voice is expressive, but not overpowering, but I emphasize that his vocals blend into the band’s instrumentation beautifully. This album breaks out their guitarist and drummer more than their vocals that I gather more from their previous works.

Nikki Monninger is the second vocalist in Silversun Pickups alongside Aubert. If you know me, I am a girl-band enthusiast. I am obsessed with female led bands such as Sonic Youth, Sleater-Kinney, or Ratboys. When Monninger’s voice pops up in songs, and Tenterhooks, specifically, I feel elevated. “Au Revoir Reservoir,” satisfies my need for the female vocals on this album perfectly, and I find it to be the cherry on top for all of Silversun Pickups songs.

There is familiarity in this album compared to the others of restraint: the drums are not banging or overpowering, the vocals are subtle and quiet, and the strings are bass-heavy rather than sharp or electric. Tension gathers while listening to this album, almost as though you are waiting for a heavy drop that never arrives, but it gathers a soothing ambience.

My overall favorite on this album is “Witness Mark,” with “The Wreckage” as a close second. Currently playing on 103.3 WZND, “The Wreckage,” is incredibly deserving for being on the charts as it is a change in pace from the rest of the album. It is incredibly catchy with a quick rhythm that can’t compare to the tracks that follow. This song showcases the band’s ability to balance mood and momentum demonstrating the praiseworthy success the band, album, and song deserves.

Tenterhooks stays consistent with Silversun Pickups previous works, despite the lack of explosivity that is seen in other albums of theirs. I invite listeners who enjoy bands such as Cocteau Twins, Interpol, or Slowdive to indulge in this album and Silversun Pickups discography overall.