Young Modern

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Daniel Johns’s teenage years were spent emulating Nirvana, so only now is the hairy-chested 28-year-old encountering his awkward phase. He casts a wide net of piano-driven Britpop mediocrity, which painfully comes to a head during the seven minute-long “Those Thieving Birds.” The music is constantly upbeat, feeling more comfortable and genuine than the angst and despair of Silverchair’s ca... read more

Description: With front man Daniel Johns at the helm, Silverchair refuses to do the same thing twice. When the Australian trio released their first album, Frogstomp, in 1995, they were merely 15 years old. Each new album since has been a dramatic departure from the last, and the band eventually shed their sticky grunge image with 2002’s Diorama. A returning cast of producer Nick Launay (INXS, Talking Heads), mixer David Bottrill (Tool, Muse), and legendary composer Van Dyke Parks (U2, Beach Boys) coddled Young Modern--yet another completely different version of Silverchair. The lyrics are pensive, the melodies cathartic, and the music i
With front man Daniel Johns at the helm, Silverchair refuses to do the same thing twice. When the Australian trio released their first album, Frogstomp, in 1995, they were merely 15 years old. Each new album since has been a dramatic departure from the last, and the band eventually shed their sticky grunge image with 2002’s Diorama. A returning cast of producer Nick Launay (INXS, Talking Heads), mixer David Bottrill (Tool, Muse), and legendary composer Van Dyke Parks (U2, Beach Boys) coddled Young Modern--yet another completely different version of Silverchair. The lyrics are pensive, the melodies cathartic, and the music is distinctly refined. Having already proven his epic vocal ability, Johns appeals to more creativity and experimentation this time around. He retains his singing style, but at times he is reminiscent of AC/DC's Brian Johnson, at others of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson. Listeners will be shocked to learn that the upbeat opening track, "Young Modern Station," is the heaviest rock song on the record. "Straight Lines" is a celebratory pop fête, and "If You Keep Losing Sleep" makes Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" sound almost docile. Van Dyke Parks's renowned talent shines on the tracks with orchestral arrangements like "All Across the World" and the three-part epic "Those Thieving Birds." The entire album is seamless and offers new facets with each listen. Once again, Silverchair has clearly taken another giant step forward. --Jordan Thompson

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