The name Silversun Pickups refers to a liquor store across the road L.A. rock-scene hang Silverlake Lounge. One of the band’s friends would often arrive at the store late at night to buy liquor, and would be as such making the "Silversun Pickup".
The band is signed to Dangerbird Records. They released their debut EP "Pikul" in July of 2005. The band has released four albums, 2006's "Carnavas", 2009's "Swoon", 2012's "Neck of the Woods" and 2015's "Better Nature". The band managed two Top 10 singles on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart in 2007: "Lazy Eye" (#5) and "Well Thought Out Twinkles" (#9). In 2009, they managed their third top 10 on the chart, "Panic Switch" (#1) and a fourth song "Substitution" was also on that chart (#23).
Silversun Pickups have been compared to The Smashing Pumpkins (possibly due in part to Brian Aubert's vocal style) and 90's shoegazing bands like My Bloody Valentine, Lush, Ride, and Slowdive. Silversun Pickups claim they have been heavily influenced by Modest Mouse and The Velvet Underground as well as other lesser-known acts.
Their first break came when a friend mailed a boombox demo to CMJ and they were accepted. They got their start in many of the most important L.A. clubs and began to draw a strong following upon the release of the Pikul EP. This culminated in frequent touring, including a co-headlining stint with Viva Voce.
The band finished a three-week tour opening for Australian rockers Wolfmother on December 9, 2006, and have toured with OK Go and Snow Patrol on their U.S. spring tour, which ended on April 10, 2007. The Pickups played at the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, California on April 27, 2007.
The band supported Foo Fighters, along with Nine Inch Nails on August 21st 2007 as part of the 'T on the Fringe' music festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and then on the 22nd in Marley Park, Dublin, Ireland. They also performed at the Carling Reading and Leeds festivals on the 25th/26th August 2007 and supported Kaiser Chiefs on their Autumn European tour and Snow Patrol on their tour of Australia (with Paolo from Snow Patrol joining them regularly to play guitar on Lazy Eye and Nikki guesting on vocals for Snow Patrol's Set The Fire To The Third Bar onstage). On some of these dates the band have been covering Joy Division's Shadowplay and Bjork's Big Time Sensuality, both of which have been recorded for web or radio sessions.
The second full studio album, entitled "Swoon", was released 14th April 2009 in both the US and UK.
The band was also part of Lollapalooza 2009 in Chicago, IL, Voodoo Fest 2009 and 2012 in New Orleans, and the 2009 Sasquatch! Festival.
In early 2010, they supported the UK anthem-rock superstars Muse for several of their North American dates for The Resistance tour.
Melatonin
Silversun Pickups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So sweet and unknown
A worn comatose
After six milograms
We're talking again
Who would know?
So sweet and so low
My brain doesn't produce any
I'm soaring without anything
She said I'm taking my time
And now we'll move on with everyone
I'll see my friend soon again
My brain doesn't produce any
I'm soaring without anything
We said aloud
We said aloud
That we can't pull out
That we can't pull out
That we can't pull out
We said aloud
We said aloud
That we can't pull out
That we can't pull out
The lyrics to Silversun Pickups' song Melatonin seem to depict someone who is experimenting with or using the sleep aid medication melatonin. The first few lines paint a picture of someone who is in a sort of dazed or confused state as they "ran into the wall" and are described as "worn comatose" suggesting they might have taken more of the medication than they should have.
After taking "six milligrams," the individual seems to be able to communicate again and the lyrics pose the question, "Who would know?" Perhaps this is the character in the song wondering if anyone would be able to tell that they were under the influence of something, despite their ability to interact. The line "So sweet and so low" could also refer to the dreamy and peaceful feelings that melatonin can induce.
The song continues to follow this idea, suggesting that the character's brain is not naturally producing the same effects as the medication is providing. The repeated refrain of "We said aloud, that we can't pull out" almost feels like a mantra, where the character or characters in the song are convincing themselves that they can't stop their use of the sleep aid. Overall, the lyrics to Melatonin explore themes of self-medication, addiction, and the search for calm and peace amidst the chaos of daily life.
Line by Line Meaning
She ran into the wall
She made an impulsive, reckless action that hurt her physically or emotionally
So sweet and unknown
Her motives were pure and sincere, yet nobody understood why she did it
A worn comatose
She was emotionally exhausted and possibly traumatized from previous events
After six milograms
After taking a specific amount of medication, likely melatonin, which can aid sleep
We're talking again
Communication between individuals has resumed
Who would know?
The outcome of certain situations is unpredictable, despite our best attempts to stabilize them
So sweet and so low
Despite the low chances of certain situations being resolved, the sweetness of hope still persists
My brain doesn't produce any
Lack of natural production of certain hormones and chemicals in the body
I'm soaring without anything
The feeling of being elated and alive, without the assistance of anything external
She said I'm taking my time
She's being cautious and taking her time with important decisions and problems
And now we'll move on with everyone
We'll continue our collective journey, with the understanding that certain things may not be resolved
I'll see my friend soon again
Maintaining connections and relationships with loved ones, even if the outcome is not guaranteed
We said aloud
Making a proclamation and announcing something publicly
That we can't pull out
We're fully committed to something, and cannot back out despite any potential obstacles
Lyrics © Word Collections Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: THOMAS EDWARD YORKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind