Silversun Pickups

The steadily climbing career trajectory of the Silversun Pickups is almost unheard of in the music business these days. After releasing its first full-length, Carnavas, in the summer of 2006, the band hit the road in a van, playing small clubs and the college campus cafeteria circuit — even as its single "Lazy Eye" was picked up by modern-rock radio stations across the country. The quartet quickly graduated to the cozy confines of a tour bus (and an opening gig for Snow Patrol), and stayed on the road for most of this summer, playing choice slots at Lollapalooza and Coachella. But Carnavas is the kind of album that makes this type of gradual success possible, a collection of songs whose mysterious infectiousness reveals itself slowly. More important, Carnavas makes statements that are relevant and fresh while capturing the spirit of something familiar — i.e. the crunchy rawness of the Pixies' indie-pop and the swirly, psych-rock and noise constructs of Smashing Pumpkins and My Bloody Valentine. No doubt it'll take these four Silverlakesters a while to sleep off this much touring — but hopefully they'll wake up in time to make one of the most anticipated albums of 2008.