Silverchair
Freak Show

THE REVIEW

Silverchair... doesn't ring a bell? Well, well, then let me tell you, relax in my arms and listen.

Many years ago on the bus ride back from school, I sat next to this guy named Michael (you know those people you always see but only find out their name after 2 years because you think it's about as important as the watch pocket in your jeans?). So, this Michael pulls out his nice CD binder with things written like “michael tvttttttttb 4ever your cutie” and starts flipping through it back and forth. Now, surely, some of you haven’t gone through that period when you had to lug around 10 kilos of CDs just to have half the songs on a 516-megabyte mp3 player, but let me assure you of this: when someone kept spinning those CDs in front of your eyes, it could only mean two things: either he had a brain fried from 2 hours of derivatives worked out during math class or he wanted to show you his records. I opted for the latter.

“Can I see your CDs?”

“Sure, go ahead (I was just waiting for that, hehe)”

So now the CDs are in my hands... Silverchair? “What do they do?” I think for a second to myself.

“They’re a super cool grunge band.”

Obviously, no one asked him, but a bit of uncertainty might lead to all that... So be careful, guys! I put on the CD still hopeful, then it begins: the attack is as grunge as one could have heard... that's not just grunge; it’s beyond, it’s an imitation of grunge, it's grunge to the nth degree, it’s grunge like a record executive would want grunge to be: verse chorus chorus chorus chorus. But being a man of good faith, I continue and think that’s just the big hit to capture the audience, and yet no! The second one starts, and history repeats itself... calm-verse power-chorus and on it goes! Now I won’t bore you with all the songs from this album, just know that the sound is derivative of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, but for heaven's sake, do not compare them!

The best comes with “Lie To Me,” track number four, that day I thought it was a joke... a cover at least... but no, it was simply a poorly done rip-off of “Territorial Pissings” from Nirvana's 'Nevermind'. And I’ll stop here otherwise I would ruin everything with a series of un-gentlemanly insults toward Silverchair.

Stay away men, this 1996 record is just another attempt by record companies to exploit once more (and already back then we were fed up) the so-called grunge gold mine. And don't tell me that the Silverchair are Australians and were about 18 years old, so what? They could have easily not played; no one forced them!

I’ll conclude by telling you that this man also had in his CDs the first one by Nickelback and Staind... well, I hope you’ve learned the lesson: before asking a stranger to show you his collection of CDs or mp3s, make sure there isn’t something more important in your watch pocket.