Two voices, one mind

Silversun Pickups offer an energetic experience with their newest album, Physical Thrills. The duo Brian Aubert and Nikki Monninger have been working together for 20 years and their combined musical style gives the audience an easy flip between softer tones and a song with some edge in it, without compromising cohesion. “Scared Together” is a song that leans into strong power chords and arpeggiating synths, immediately leading to the next track beginning with a gentle piano and Monninger’s muted voice. Rather than feeling jarring, the contrast adds to an eerie stillness to “Alone on a Hill.” The wistful contemplative nature of “Alone on a Hill” is present throughout the project, with songs such as the opening track, “Stillness (Way Beyond).”

The first song begins with soft guitar and a vocal chorale that reverberates throughout your ear as it gently grows until Aubert begins the first verse. As the music surrounds the listener, it creates a feeling of timelessness, the lyrics read “Time it seems is not my friend, no other way this will end.” It remains unclear what race against time the artists are going through, but the stillness is working against them, ending with a soft beat that leads to a relatively more upbeat song, “Sticks and Stones.” The back and forth and mingling of different tones throughout adds to them all.

The album is broken up into three large sections, bookended by three pieces: “Dream at Tempo 050,” “Dream at Tempo 310,” and “Dream at Tempo 150.” The similar names are not just coincidences, as all of them utilize the same short motif, either through instrumental, lyricism, or humming along casually. All of the tracks are short quick bites at just over a minute, but they provide a breath of air in between denser songs such as “Quicksand.” “Quicksand,” with its longing tone, and the return of the arpeggiating synths, is a more spiritual ending for the album. 

Overall Physical Thrills is a feel-good album with sentimentality to add color. Some personal favorites include “Hereafter (Way After)” and “Hidden Moon.” The former has a solid poppy beat behind it, and it feels like a song about the future and possibility. Adding to themes of time throughout the album, the chorus says, “Where is everyone going to be hereafter? /…/ Do you wanna be alone with me hereafter?” The latter song has a fun rough guitar riff acting as the main theme and backbone of the song, with energy pouring out until Aubert belts out the chorus. The album is a brisk hour long, and yet more is always welcome.