Frogstomp - Silverchair

After weeks of ‘Silverchair are a great band’, ‘Daniel Johns is cool’ and ‘The new album is out, you should have a listen’ I finally succumbed to ravings of my 17 year old and ran off with his collection of 4 Silverchair CD’s. I had heard a number of track (how can you not living in the house with a teenager) and must say I was already interested (not that I’d tell him that, my ‘Deep Purple did it 30 years ago’ attitude rules) and a little impressed.
...albums have been produced I thought I would do the lot, one after another, in order of release and map the progress of the band as I see it. This might be interesting or it might be a big mistake on my part, who knows, who cares, it gives me a chance to listen and learn about a new band for the past couple of weeks. So on with the first review.
<Silverchair> Frog stomp</Silverchair>

The band history
Singer/guitarist ... more

After weeks of ‘Silverchair are a great band’, ‘Daniel Johns is cool’ and ‘The new album is out, you should have a listen’ I finally succumbed to ravings of my 17 year old and ran off with his collection of 4 Silverchair CD’s. I had heard a number of track (how can you not living in the house with a teenager) and must say I was already interested (not that I’d tell him that, my ‘Deep Purple did it 30 years ago’ attitude rules) and a little impressed.

Concept
Well, seen as only 4 albums have been produced I thought I would do the lot, one after another, in order of release and map the progress of the band as I see it. This might be interesting or it might be a big mistake on my part, who knows, who cares, it gives me a chance to listen and learn about a new band for the past couple of weeks. So on with the first review.
<Silverchair> Frog stomp</Silverchair>

The band history
Singer/guitarist Daniel Johns
Bass Chris Joannou
drummer Ben Gillies
All were born in 1979, were 15/16 years old when this album was released (1995) and already had success with the single ‘Tomorrow’ in 1994, being no 1 in Australia for 6 weeks. Daniel Johns is the main songwriter of the group and I think he has an amazing maturity both vocally and compositionally for a person of his age, in fact they all show maturity beyond their age, if I might be so patronising. They are Australia’s most successful contemporary rock band and have sold over six million albums worldwide. The style varies from medium to hard rock.
<Silverchair> Frog stomp</Silverchair>

CD Casing
A quite plain affair, with a big picture of a frog on the front, and the same frog repeated throughout the design, only in different colours. There are no lyrics.
<Silverchair> Frog stomp</Silverchair>

Israel's Son… it’s a meeting of minds, Led Zeppelin meet Pearl Jam with Black Sabbath refereeing, but served with its own spin. It creeps in like an unwanted guest, synchronised bass, guitar and drums, but very shortly into the song. I like it; it demonstrates maturity and rock-cool far beyond their age. It maybe the least original track on the album but its good and not a rip off at any stretch.

‘Hate is what I feel for you
And I want you to know that I want you dead
You're late for the execution
If you're not here soon, I'll kill your friend instead’
I think this is about terrorism, but more personal terrorism, such as bullying and fear.
::@::

Tomorrow… Echos of ‘Rush’ acoustic guitar lingers throughout the track, but woven in with powerful sections which they execute with great effectiveness. After the first part of the chorus is a bridge (‘you wait until tomorrow’) which has become the trademark of Mr Johns vocals and Silverchair’s sound. Lyrically Daniel Johns shows his great potential as a song writer on this album, with powerful, consistent vocals.

‘You say that money isn't everything
But I'd like to see you live without it
You think you can keep on going living like a king
Oohh babe, but I strongly doubt it’
It’s about putting things off, having excuses, not being true to yourself
::@::

Faultline… Begins with an almost discordant musical phrase. This is an interesting track, starting to test their muscles now. I love the melody line, not scared to try something a little different. The chorus is a pretty standard rock vamp but with nice harmonies, but just you expect them to return to the verse they drop in an early bridge, then dropping to the verse, nice. We have a Sabbath type play out, a crescendo of guitar and drums, and a sudden ending.

‘Unsuspecting brother doesn't know what to do,
When everything just falls to the ground, ohh,
He runs to find some cover, he doesn't have a clue
That his friend will never be found’
Its about loss I think, using a earthquake as a metaphor
::@::

Pure Massacre… This is different, the start has an almost misty mountain hop quality if my memory serves me. The rhythm is forever trying to fool you into believing it’s not common time, nice. Daniels almost free like vocals is excellent on this, its one of my favourite tracks. It continues to develop; second verse and they are climbing the hill, getting a bit heavier.

‘People dying for no reason at all
Age is no difference or if you're large or small
Families been torn apart
Doesn't have to be this way
Some people just have no heart
It's happening every day’
About war, victims, hopelessness
::@::

Shade… a ballad, very nice, very simple, maybe the most promising track in some ways. This grows on me with every listen; the melody line is simple and intimate. There is the clichéd build at the end of the track, but he is pleading, and he’s not quiet about it, very nice.

‘If you were abused
Find someone to help you
I know you were used
What are you gonna do?’
About looking for help, not suffering alone
::@::

Leave Me Out… Heavy riff driven song, strongest grunge number on the CD, but still with flashes of great guitar licks and clearly sang vocals throughout, compelling and loaded with teen angst (I have a house full of it, lovely). Nice break towards the end, unexpected.

‘Ohhh, you can lead a crowd
But I'm something you don't own’
The need to left to choose for yourself
::@::

Suicidal Dream… My favourite track. Semi ballad, the progression reminds me of something, but I can’t place it (maybe a slow version of a Yes track off 90125). It’s a lovely song, but so dark, lots of metaphor.

‘People making fun of me
For no reason but jealousy
I fantasize about my death
I'll kill myself from holding my breath’
About depression, loneliness and the need for help
::@::

Madman… An instrumental, when was the last time you heard one of these on a CD. Typical 3 piece guitar driven rock, with a bit of thrash for good measure. Not bad at all.
::@::

Undecided… Heavy grungy track but well crafted. The least developed track on the CD I think, the chorus is too Nirvana-rish for the fact to be ignored. Still some nice touches though, good harmonies, I certainly wouldn’t skip it.

‘Parent's breaking up
Wish they would decide
Whether to stay together
Can't make up their minds’
About how children can become victims where parents break up
::@::

Cicada… Anthem, most commercial track on here for me, but stylish and well delivered. It starts with a Bryon Adams style riff which makes you go ‘what’s that doing there’, but things change, as they do on this CD. Well thought out, but a little more predictable than previous tracks, I like it though, especially the guitar.

‘And now that he was in his teens
He started to learn what life means
Problems were still appearing
They didn't look like disappearing’
About growing up, changing, finding out things aern’t always easy
::@::

Drummer having a fit here and then into the unexpected commercial punk rock bash …

Findaway… What went on here, suddenly we have a teenage band playing new age, clean-cut punk. Did I say the previous track was an anthem, sorry here’s your anthem.

‘You've been locked, and you need to escape
You broke the law, it was a first offense
A drug addiction, subtracting all your privileges
Giving up just makes no sense’
About even though things go wrong, with help you can find a way
::@::
<Silverchair> Frog stomp</Silverchair>

Conclusion
A great first album, not perfect thank god, as that always spells trouble (how do you follow a perfect first album). It’s full of teenage angst and simple lyrics but what do you expect at 15. I enjoyed listening and it grew and grew on me regardless of age, impressive.

Links
To the official web site
http://www.chairpage.com/flash.htm
To hear Real player audio clips please go here
http://www.chairpage.com/media/audio/frogstomp.htm
Amazon £7.99 

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