Silversun Pickups – Panic Switch (Youtube)

At first listen, California’s Silversun Pickups sound like a Smashing Pumpkins rip-off band. Listen closely though, and you’ll find something different – they’ve also ripped off My Bloody Valentine.

Make no mistake though, this is a good thing.  Panic Switch is one of any number of tracks from Swoon that could be released as singles, even if it is over five minutes long.

There’s something soothing about the track, even given the angular notes that make up the intro to this song. Terms like “lush soundscape” have been bandied about to describe this band, and I’m not about to stop that.

Original? No. Excellent? Yes. Hell, if Billy Corgan isn’t going to release songs that sound like Siamese Dream any more, someone may as well.