Artist: Silverchair
Album: Frogstomp
Released: June 20, 1995
About five years ago, I was driving home from work one day when I heard a new song on the radio. It was kind of a catchy song, really upbeat and positive... then the DJ came on and said the song was "Straight Lines" by Silverchair. I just about slid off the road at that point! (OK, that was an exaggeration.) But I couldn't believe it; Silverchair might literally have been the last band I would have guessed. Was this really the same band that released the grunge-sounding, angst-filled, at times angry-sounding rock from Frogstomp back in the '90s?
Silverchair is an Australian band that released their breakthrough album, Frogstomp, when the band members were just 15 years old. They are an interesting case, because although they arrived on the scene after the grunge era of the early 1990s, their style resembles the grunge sound perhaps as much as any of the most well-known rock bands of this time. Frogstomp overall might be a little bit darker in mood than, say, Ten or Nevermind, yet the resemblance is at times striking. However, at times they also add their own Metallica-like heavy metal edge, particularly on "Leave Me Out" and "Madman". If you're familiar with the more recent 3 Doors Down, you might find some similarities with them on "Faultline" and "Suicidal Dream".
The band shows a lot of talent on this album, but at many times their age shows. Several of the songs have catchy riffs, yet in many instances are frustratingly repetitive. There also is little experimentation or variety from track to track. The lyrics are sometimes weak, particularly on tracks such as "Shade" and "Findaway". And then there's "Suicidal Dream"... there are good songs that are about depression, and then there are songs that are depressing. "Suicidal Dream" is a depressing song. Despite this, overall the vocal and instrumental talent is there, and this definitely saves the album.
Obviously, "Tomorrow" was the big hit from this album; I first heard it on the radio back in 1995, and to me it's still a great song today. Beyond that, there are several solid tracks but few that really stand out. "Leave Me Out" is probably my second favorite. While it doesn't deviate much from the tracks that came before, it's catchier and a little easier to listen to. "Tomorrow" is the second track; it is bookended by the angst-filled "Israel's Son" and the more solemn "Faultline". They aren't bad songs, but the group's weak songwriting skills again are evident.
The rest of the album is filled with both strong and weak points as well. I like "Pure Massacre" in some ways, though I don't feel like it's as strong as it could be; by the end it gets too repetitive and overly dramatic. The first four tracks are overall negative in tone, and it's nice to hear a more upbeat tone with "Shade" and "Leave Me Out" (even if, as I mentioned earlier, the lyrics aren't the greatest). The negativity hits rock bottom with "Suicidal Dream"; though the sound isn't bad, the lyrics make it really difficult to listen.
The tone picks up a little with the instrumental "Madman", which is surprisingly catchy. "Undecided" is similar to some of the album's earlier tracks, yet calmer in tone and thus in some ways is easier to listen to. "Cicada" is more upbeat and also shows some of the stronger lyrics the band featured earlier in "Tomorrow". Unfortunately, the sound isn't very distinct from the earlier tracks. "Findaway" is a good way to end. It actually bears a slight resemblance to Green Day and sounds like it should play at the end of an MTV movie, yet it has appeal on this album because it's so much more optimistic than most of the rest of the album.
So, this album does have several glaring weaknesses, and like many other young bands early in their careers, in some places they are a little over dramatic and trying just a little too hard to create powerful, meaningful tracks. Yet despite these shortcomings, I still find this at times to be an enjoyable album, particularly if I am in the right mood. And it has to be considered a really great first effort considering how young these musicians were at the time. It certainly would be interesting to see how they progressed and matured in the years to come.
Track #, Name of Song, Duration, My Rating
1. Israel's Son (5:17) - 8/10
2. Tomorrow (4:25) - 10/10
3. Faultline (4:18) - 9/10
4. Pure Massacre (4:58) - 8/10
5. Shade (4:01) - 7/10
6. Leave Me Out (3:02) - 9/10
7. Suicidal Dream (3:11) - 6/10
8. Madman (2:41) - 9/10
9. Undecided (4:34) - 8/10
10. Cicada (5:10) - 8/10
11. Findaway (2:56) - 8/10
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