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.
not dark yet
Silversun Pickups Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's too hot to sleep time is running away
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
I've still got the scars that the sun didn't heal
There's not even room enough to be anywhere
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Well my sense of humanity has gone down the drain
She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind
She put down in writing what was in her mind
I just don't see why I should even care
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Well, I've been to London and I've been to gay Paree
I've followed the river and I got to the sea
I've been down on the bottom of a world full of lies
I ain't looking for nothing in anyone's eyes
Sometimes my burden seems more than I can bear
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
I was born here and I'll die here against my will
I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still
Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb
I can't even remember what it was I came here to get away from
Don't even hear a murmur of a prayer
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
The Silversun Pickups cover Bob Dylan's Not Dark Yet in their own haunting, reverberating style, lending their signature indie-rock edge to the familiar, mournful lyrics. The song speaks to a sense of impending darkness, of feeling lost, numb, and disconnected from the world around oneself. As the sun sets and shadows lengthen, the singer surveys his surroundings and reflects on the scars left by past experiences that continue to weigh him down. He sings of a growing sense of disillusionment with humanity, having seen the pain and darkness that lurks behind even the most beautiful things. He describes feeling adrift and aimless, having traveled to various places in search of something that continues to elude him.
The lyrics convey a palpable sense of despair, but the Silversun Pickups' interpretation of the song infuses it with an enigmatic, melancholy beauty. The music builds and swells with layers of guitar, bass, and drums, creating a mesmerizing soundscape that echoes the emotional intensity of the lyrics. The soaring, ethereal vocals add to the sense of otherworldliness, conveying a sense of yearning and longing that is both haunting and cathartic.
Overall, Not Dark Yet is a powerful song that speaks to the human condition of grappling with the darker aspects of life. It is a testament to the enduring power of Bob Dylan's songwriting, as well as the Silversun Pickups' ability to imbue a classic track with their own unique perspective and vitality.
Line by Line Meaning
Shadows are falling and I've been here all day
I've been stuck in this place for too long, watching the day progress into darkness.
It's too hot to sleep time is running away
The relentless heat and the fast passage of time keep me awake and restless.
Feel like my soul has turned into steel
My spirit has been hardened by the challenges and scars of life.
I've still got the scars that the sun didn't heal
The emotional wounds I've experienced have not been able to heal due to the constant pain inflicted upon me.
There's not even room enough to be anywhere
I feel trapped with no escape or sanctuary.
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Although it's not yet completely hopeless, I can sense the growing despair around me.
Well my sense of humanity has gone down the drain
I've lost my faith in humanity and its ability to do good.
Behind every beautiful thing there's been some kind of pain
Even the most beautiful things in life have been associated with significant hardship and suffering.
She wrote me a letter and she wrote it so kind
Someone reached out to me with kindness.
She put down in writing what was in her mind
She expressed her thoughts and emotions in a sincere manner.
I just don't see why I should even care
I struggle to find the motivation to care about anything anymore.
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Although it's not yet completely hopeless, I can sense the growing despair around me.
Well, I've been to London and I've been to gay Paree
I've traveled extensively, yet the world feels the same everywhere.
I've followed the river and I got to the sea
I've explored and discovered what's out there.
I've been down on the bottom of a world full of lies
I've experienced the depths of a world full of deceit and falsehoods.
I ain't looking for nothing in anyone's eyes
I'm not searching for anything in the people I meet.
Sometimes my burden seems more than I can bear
My struggles feel overwhelming and insurmountable.
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Although it's not yet completely hopeless, I can sense the growing despair around me.
I was born here and I'll die here against my will
I'm stuck in this place, unable to escape or change my circumstances.
I know it looks like I'm moving, but I'm standing still
Even though I may appear to be progressing, I feel stagnant and stuck.
Every nerve in my body is so vacant and numb
I feel emotionally exhausted and disconnected from the world.
I can't even remember what it was I came here to get away from
I've lost sight of my original purpose and can't recall what drove me to this point.
Don't even hear a murmur of a prayer
I'm so disconnected from myself and others that I can't even sense any spiritual or emotional connection.
It's not dark yet, but it's getting there
Although it's not yet completely hopeless, I can sense the growing despair around me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind