Better Nature
Better Nature is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles alternative rock band Silversun Pickups. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee,[7] and was released on September 25, 2015. It is the first of the band's albums to be released on their own label, New Machine Records; as well as their first to be supported by a Pledgemusic campaign. The album was announced on July 15, 2015.[8] The lead single for the album, "Nightlight," was released to radio on August 6, 2015. It was accompanied by a music video, directed by Mark Pellington and starring Boardwalk Empire actor Meg Steedle.[9] The album's second single, "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)," was premiered via The Daily Beast on September 10, 2015.[10] An accompanying video, directed by Scott Weintrob, was released to YouTube and Vevo the following day.[11]
Better Nature | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 25, 2015 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 51:06 | |||
Label | New Machine | |||
Producer | Jacknife Lee | |||
Silversun Pickups chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Better Nature | ||||
|
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 65/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Absolute Punk | 8.5/10[3] |
Consequence of Sound | C−[4] |
Sputnikmusic | [5] |
Under The Radar | 6.5/10[6] |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Silversun Pickups
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Cradle (Better Nature)" | 5:20 |
2. | "Connection" | 4:34 |
3. | "Pins & Needles" | 4:42 |
4. | "Friendly Fires" | 5:28 |
5. | "Nightlight" | 4:52 |
6. | "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)" | 3:50 |
7. | "Tapedeck" | 6:02 |
8. | "Latchkey Kids" | 3:42 |
9. | "Ragamuffin" | 6:00 |
10. | "The Wild Kind" | 6:36 |
Total length: | 51:06 |
- The end of "Tapedeck" leads into "Latchkey Kids" (aka the end of "Tapedeck" is a studio session of "Latchkey Kids" that then transitions into "Latchkey Kids")
Vinyl track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Cradle (Better Nature)" | 5:20 |
2. | "Connection" | 4:34 |
3. | "Pins & Needles" | 4:42 |
4. | "Friendly Fires" | 5:28 |
Total length: | 20:04 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Nightlight" | 4:52 |
2. | "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)" | 3:50 |
3. | "Tapedeck" | 6:02 |
Total length: | 14:44 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Latchkey Kids" | 3:42 |
2. | "Ragamuffin" | 6:00 |
3. | "The Wild Kind" | 6:36 |
Total length: | 16:18 |
Reception
Better Nature received mostly positive reviews.
Charts
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 22 |
US Billboard 200[14] | 16 |
Personnel
- Silversun Pickups
- Brian Aubert – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars
- Nikki Monninger – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (6), vibraphone (7)
- Joe Lester – keyboards, synthesizer, sound manipulation, drum machine, sequencer, backing vocals (5)
- Christopher Guanlao – drums, backing vocals (5)
- Additional personnel
- Jacknife Lee – additional keyboards, mixing, production, programming
- Alan Moulder – mixing
Tour
Concert by Silversun Pickups | |
Associated album | Better Nature |
---|---|
Start date | 10 September 2015 |
End date | 23 July 2017 |
Legs | [N/A] |
No. of shows | 152 shows |
The tour for Better Nature actually started 15 days before the release of the album.
Setlist
[15] [16] Setlist won't count omissions due to the Sliversun Pickups' weird touring settings.
- Cradle (Better Nature) (dropped after 22 April 2017)
- Connection (played on 28 September 2015)
- Well Thought Out Twinkles
- Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings) (played on 10, 27, 28, 29 September 2015, 8 December 2015, 6, 9 May 2016, 23 August 2016, added on 23 April 2017, dropped after 4 May 2017)
- Nightlight
- The Royal We
- Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
- The Pit
- Pins and Needles (played on 29, 30 September 2015, 25 April 2017)
- Friendly Fires
- Latchkey Kids
- Panic Switch
- Ragamuffin (dropped after 13 June 2017)
- Vasoline (played on 5 December 2015)
- Growing Old Is Getting Old (played on 6 May 2016)
- Rusted Wheel (played on 26 April 2017)
- Lazy Eye
- Little Lover's so Polite [ENCORE]
- Catch and Release (played on 10, 28 September 2015, added on 23 April 2017, dropped after 4 May 2017) [ENCORE]
- Cannibal (played on 10, 27 September 2015, rarely played from December 2015 to April 2017) [ENCORE]
- Substitution (played on 29 September 2015, occasionally played after April 2016) [ENCORE]
- Three Seed (played on 14 April 2016, added on 25 October 2016, dropped after 5 May 2017) [ENCORE]
- Kissing Families (occasionally played) [ENCORE]
- Dots and Dashes (Enough Already) [ENCORE]
- The Wild Kind (added on 27 September 2015, dropped after 5 May 2017) [ENCORE]
References
- "Better Nature by Silversun Pickups". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- "Better Nature - Silversun Pickups - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- "chorus.fm". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- "Album Review: Silversun Pickups – Better Nature". 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- "Review: Silversun Pickups - Better Nature - Sputnikmusic". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- "Better Nature". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
- Brendan Hornbostel (15 July 2015). "Silversun Pickups announce new album, 'Better Nature,' will be released in September". LA Times. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- Caitlin White (15 July 2015). "Silversun Pickups Announce New Album Better Nature". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- Brian Leak (6 August 2015). "Silversun Pickups release cinematic video for new single, "Nightlight"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- James Joiner (10 September 2015). "Hear a New Silversun Pickups Track". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- Beth Kellmurray (11 September 2015). "Listen to Silversun Pickups' Dreamy New Song, 'Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)'". Diffuser.FM. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
- "Silversun Pickups - Better Nature". Discogs. 2021.
- "Australiancharts.com – Silversun Pickups – Better Nature". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
- "Silversun Pickups Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
- "Silversun Pickups Average Setlists of tour: Better Nature | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
- "Silversun Pickups Tour Statistics: Better Nature | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.