Widows Weeds

Description

Silversun Pickups have always considered their sonic density a source of pride, their four studio albums revealing additional sonic gifts with each subsequent spin, and their fifth album, Widows Weeds, is no exception. The band members were in agreement with the albums starting point (the urgent synth-rocker Neon Wound) and closer (the aggressive, throttling We Are Chameleons) and admitted that everything in between, including how the rest of Widows Weeds was sequenced and how the album unfolded, often surprised them.

To make sense of these ideas, Silversun Pickups enlisted producer Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Sonic Youth). Vig and mixer Billy Bush helped craft a confident, unrestrained album in which every instrument is clearly audible. Cure-like keyboards hold their own against riffs on Neon Wound and the spring-loaded It Doesnt Matter Why. In the end, recording with Vig surpassed the band members already-high expectations. He really listens to each band member, and he puts a great value on each individual, and what they can add to the music, Nikki Monninger says. It was very collaborative with him. Hes such an easygoing person, and he put everybody at ease.

During the making of the album, the band was wrestling with challenges in their personal lives. Joe Lesters father passed away. Brian Aubert, meanwhile, found himself in an extremely dark place, for reasons he couldnt immediately explain. I didnt know how to get out of it, Aubert says. Finally, I was just like, something big has to happen. His solution was getting treatment and getting sober during the gap between recording sessions a decision that immediately improved his mental health and creative outlook. The record does have a mourning vibe, but its not sad, he says. Its change. Its growing up and moving on and letting go of things. And its okay to be sad about those things and mourn them. Its actually healthy to do so and take the time to do it. At the end of the day, its going to be much better and much more fulfilling when you get through it.

Widows Weeds ends up being about rebirth and renewal. For Aubert, moving forward involves staying connected to his own self (and remembering to prioritize self-care) and being attuned to creative impulses when they arise. If that means going outside of his comfort zone, so be it, Aubert says. This album feels the most naked out of all of them.