Brightside (Viva Saturn album)

Brightside is an album by the American alternative rock band Viva Saturn, released in 1995.[2][3] It was the band's final album, as Restless Records chose not to release 1998's Ships of Heaven.[4]

Brightside
Studio album by
Viva Saturn
Released1995
GenreAlternative rock
LabelRestless Records[1]
ProducerMatt Piucci, Steven Roback
Viva Saturn chronology
Soundmind
(1992)		 Brightside
(1995)		 Ships of Heaven
(1998, unreleased)

Production

The album was produced by Matt Piucci and Steven Roback, former bandmates in the Rain Parade.[5] It closes with a cover of "One for My Baby", a song made popular by Frank Sinatra; the cover first appeared on the Sinatra tribute album, Chairman of the Board: Interpretations of Songs Made Famous by Frank Sinatra.[6][7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
The Province[5]

Trouser Press thought that "the somber 'String Me Out a Line' conveys aching loneliness with haunting clarity, its gentle acoustic instrumentation and quiet vocal harmonies making it Brightside's most memorable track."[9] Stereo Review called the album "a well-crafted slice of retro-psychedelic pop-rock."[10]

The Province opined that "as Piucci and Roback were members of Rain Parade, a major player in L.A.'s Paisley Underground scene of the mid-'80s, Viva Saturn could also be seen by both as a chance to resolve some unfinished aspects of their past ... Unfortunately, Brightside, while attractive, is less substantial than any of their other projects."[5] Billboard concluded that Piucci "is especially impressive; his stint backing Neil Young in Crazy Horse is noticeable in his taut, laconic lead work."[6]

AllMusic wrote that "Roback's detached, nasal twang blends nicely into an atmospheric backdrop of textured guitars, piano accents and feedback."[8] The Rough Guide to Rock determined that the album "continued [the Rain Parade's] journey, rediscovering the plaintive melodicism mislaid in their 1988 comeback."[11]

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Send a Message" 
2."Black Cloud" 
3."Brightside" 
4."Here Comes April" 
5."Abandoned Car" 
6."String Me Out a Line" 
7."Mourn the Light" 
8."Distracted" 
9."Nothing Helps" 
10."Heart of You" 
11."One for My Baby" 

References
  1. Thompson, Dave (November 2, 2000). "Alternative Rock". Hal Leonard Corporation – via Google Books.
  2. Snyder, Michael (April 23, 1995). "RINGING SATURN". San Francisco Chronicle. SUNDAY DATEBOOK. p. 42.
  3. Takiff, Jonathan (July 10, 1995). "Dog days don't apply here". The Tampa Tribune. FLORIDA/METRO. Knight Ridder. p. 3.
  4. "Artist Biography by Tracy Frey". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. Harrison, Tom (19 Oct 1995). "Some disturbing conclusions". The Province. p. B6.
  6. Mirkin, Steven (Jun 3, 1995). "Restless' Viva Saturn more than a spinoff". Billboard. 107 (22): 11.
  7. DeRogatis, Jim (January 30, 1994). "Various artists, 'Chairman of the Board: Interpretations of Songs Made Famous by Frank Sinatra'". Chicago Sun-Times. Show. p. 8.
  8. "Brightside - Viva Saturn | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. "Viva Saturn". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  10. Simels, Steve (Nov 1995). "Viva Saturn - Brightside". Stereo Review. 60 (11): 126.
  11. Tighe, Chris (1999). The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. p. 798.
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