Silverchair, “Diorama” (Atlantic)
BySep 10, 2002 10:00 PM
The members of this Australian group were in their mid teens when they became well known for doing a mean Pearl Jam impression on the hit single “Tomorrow.” It’s seven years hence, and the group surprisingly hasn’t faded away.
The members of this Australian group were in their mid teens when they became well known for doing a mean Pearl Jam impression on the hit single “Tomorrow.” It’s seven years hence, and the group surprisingly hasn’t faded away.
More surprisingly, it’s developed into one of popular rock’s most adventurous acts. Daniel Johns, the group’s vocalist and primary creative force, has taken a shining to unapologetically melodic, orchestral pop--a sound that resides somewhere between “Pet Sounds” and XTC. On three tracks, Johns turned to the master of such sounds, Van Dyke Parks, to provide orchestral arrangements.
Johns’ voice--once an Eddie Vedder-esque monotone--is up to the task of cleanly delivering the sweeping melodies here; he’s clearly become comfortable with the idea of singing.
The lyric sheet is sometimes painful to behold--to wit: “Violent, big and violent/Like a thing that’s big, big/And violent"--but “Diorama” is certainly a worthwhile endeavor; one that suggests that Johns is only beginning to discover what he’s capable of doing with his talent.