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I like the Silversun Pickups. I like them plenty. So much so that when the band became popular with fans far younger than me, I still talked up the band via posts and friendly conversations. That puts me in a an interesting position regarding this new release. What I like and espouse about this band is the open style of song craft and play — its willingness to leave plenty of air in the mix, make good use of dynamic range and build drama organically. There is plenty that makes the band unique, but I’d put these qualities at the top of this list, especially when selling the band to people who can’t tell the difference between SSPU tour mates Snow Patrol and OK Go.

About two months ago (just in time for the holidays) the band put out remixes as an EP. Uh oh. That’s three bad signs in one release: holiday, remix, EP. In and of themselves, there’s nothing wrong with any of those terms, but you put any two together and you should should see the warning flares shooting from miles away. A triple threat, well, that’s why we get paid the big bucks.

I have sampled the six songs (four versions of the mild surprise hit “Lazy Eye” with two versions of “Little Lover’s So Polite”) and the results are not bad. Indie heroes like Jimmy Tamborello (of Postal Service), The One AM Radio, Jason Bentley, Brian LeBarton and Grayarea were at the knobs ensuring some sort of legitimacy. They are only really unlistenable if you hate remixes, and they titled the offering such that you should not have read this far if you object to the form. Most fans of the band will find them a pleasure and curiosity seekers will be satisfied, which is about what you can expect for the cost of an EP.

So why review a holiday remix EP two months later? For one, they asked and I still support the band (though they were more timely with previous efforts). For two, I want to air my concern that the band is openly targeting the fans of disposable culture with disposable product. I hope this was just a cash generating move, and if so, more power to the band and its Dangerbird business. There’s no reason to dodge a market if it helps you keep the amps loud while working on the new album. However, if this is a signal that the band is forgoing those attributes that give it separation from the mass of sort of raw, sort of catchy bands out there, I’ll have to find a next cool thing.

Rating: 2/5

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