Silversun Pickups - Swoon

Swoon sounds like it could be the best record of 1995.

And that's a really cool thing to say about a record released in 2009.

Forget these gnarred-out alternarock acts of the nineties struggling to resurrect themselves from their peed on ashes (see reunions of: Jane's Addiction, Creed, Blink182, Limp Bizkit, Smashing Pumpkins, No Doubt). The Silversun Pickups got the right idea--beat those old fogies at their own game.

Like their debut Carnavas, this album is the sonic result of what happens when you rub silk and rust together. The crunch of My Bloody Valentine and the neo-psychadelia of The Verve has never been so neatly and sweetly entangled. But the Pickups sound tighter, more refined, this time--resulting in something as 1995 as it is a brave new world.

I also learned, the hard way, that this album is PERFECT to jam to while walking drenched through Manhatten's East Side without an umbrella.

For a taste, here's the video to lead single, "Panic Switch."

Swine flu ain't the worst of it; Creed is reforming for a tour and a new album this summer.

And if that wasn't enough to make you cough up your lunch, singer Scott Stapp calls this special occasion a "renewing and a rebirth."

However, while this is a most unfortunate announcement and a giant setback for humanity ... I, for one, am quite excited.

Yes--excited. Why? Let me tell you why. There was so much DREADFUL music dominating the charts in the late nineties (e.g. Creed), that all that swill (see also: Limp Bizkit, boy bands, Masta P, etc) spurred on some of the best music as a reaction to the big load of crap on the airwaves. So a return from the schmoes of Creed could spur some kids to get together and write some incredible new reactionairy stuff. And if you ask me, that's what the music world needs right now--someone to hate, some awful bands to loathe. Who better than the grand-daddy of 'em all.

Creed, welcome back.

Of course, it's possible the rest of the world has picked up on the fact that Creed and it's fantasticly self-righteous music is a joke, and will treat this "rebirth" as such. Could be duller than when Guns N Roses put out Chinese Democracy. But my hope is that America eats it up so young America can chew it up, swallow it, and spit something new, exciting, and wild back in their faces.

Reunion? Well, maybe not. But who cares, lets assume the worst!

You know what's become the biggest money maker of the 21st century? Well, besides Steve Jobs. Nostalgia! It's hotter than a Britney Spears meltdown. Well, maybe not QUITE that hot, but it's way up there in Fahrenheit.

Legendary bands that were once at each other's throats get back together for multi-million dollar offers, and sell out stadiums around the world to generations past itching to nab a big stinking whif of the old days.

We've already heard the hype about Led Zeppelin and The Jackson 5 returning to the fold. But now it's just getting weird. New Kids On The Block want to hang tough, again? Even though they're all teetering around the age of 40. Donny, Joey, Jordan, and oh, forget it. They aren't NEW. Nor are they KIDS. And I could care less if they're on any BLOCK. Even if they did sell 50 millions records in about 5 years. They're totally the reason us whipper snappers wanted to hear all that heavy and angry music later in the 90s. So you can blame heinous crap like Limp Bizkit on "Hangin' Tough" and "Please Don't Go Girl." They were like 5 young Ben Afflecks singing lame ballads that were rejected by 80's hair bands.

But yeah, sure, I saw them in concert. I'll admit it. I was like 6 years old and bored of Legos, what do you expect? It was the thing to do then! We all did it. Even The Mercury's top shelf photographer, John Strickler!

It was quite an event actually. My family, Strickler's family, and some other friends all spent a luxurious evening together, venturing to see the New Kids together in a limo. Of course, I slept through about 1/3 of the show, while John stood on his feet singing the words to every song, all night long. At least, that's how I remember it, memory might have skewed me a bit.

But both John and I have moved on to bigger and better things. New Kids? Bah, we don't wanna see that. Unless of course, you're willing to give us a limo ride. We'd probably accept under such dire circumstances.