After all these years (Diorama - Silverchair)

Name: ojdude

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Product:	Diorama - Silverchair
Date:	13/05/03 (995 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A refreshing album, competely different, Epic and ambitious, Silverchair fans can see how Daniel Johns has grown up and moved on from his depression

Disadvantages: Heavier songs don't fit and aren't that good, Lyrics are sometimes a little strange

Silverchair are undoubtably an ever changing band, shot to fame and huge commercial success on their frist album; 'Frogstop', went straight to number 1 in their homeland of Austrailia. And all of this at the age of 15. Three more albums later and fans feel as though they've grown up with the band, and especially with the front man 'Daniel Johns'. Each album has been a leap forward and not always received comfortably by their fans. On their previous record, 'Neon Ballroom' (released 1998), Daniel Johns wrote about his depression and battle with anorexia, very much as a tortured artist. This album was a far cry from their original heavy grunge record, a mix of powerfull, orchestral led rock ballards and emotional rock songs. After their exhausting Neon Ballroom tour, silverchair decided to take a rest and dissapeared for about 3 years, even unsure if they'd ever make another record. In this time Daniel Johns had spent time with girlfriend Natalie Imbruglia, rested from the hectic world of superstardom and concertrated on defeating the demons that had suffered from.

And here is where Diorama comes in. Recorded in the months before Christmas in 2001, silverchair were no longer teenagers, free from their 3 album contract with Sony and Daniel Johns no longer depressed or anorexic. To record their new album silverchair started on a competely clean slate; new record deal with Atlantic/Eleven and a new producer; David Botrill (Tool, Muse). And by now Daniel Johns was obviously silverchairs pulling force, writing all the songs and pulling all the strings. Diorama is Daniel Johns' account of being free from depression, an album with a positive vibe, going very much against the grain of silverchair's "gloomy" image. And this time the musical spectrum of the band is streched further, more use is made of a full orchestra with truely epic intentions. The concept is simple; a musical journey, away from the pressures of lif
e.

Most of the tracks in Diorama are orchestral and powerfull, positive ballards. Silverchair pulled in an entire orchestra into the studio and also Van Dyke Parks (very famous austrailian conducter/composer) to pull toegther the orchestral arrangements. There is a very epic feel right from the outset in the opening song 'Across The Night', a soft acoustic guitar riff and chorus vocals break into a full orchestral peice. You can right away feel the mood and how different it is from previous albums, it's bright, colourfull and somewhat magical. The type of music that makes the hair raise on the back of your head during a good movie.

Some of the high points of the album are definately these full orchestral songs. 'Tuna In The Brine' is a long musical story, begging meloncholy and dark but then becoming brighter, fuller and almost lavish with positive feeling. 'Luv Your Life' is a very catchy and almost 'poppy' song about letting go of your troubles, with a steady build up to a dramatic finish.

On other tracks, the orchestral aspect is turned down, but only slightly in the way of more distorted and heavy guitar sounds. 'The Greatest View' is anthemic rock melody, changing from a heavy guitar riff to a so quiet verse and into a catchy sub-acoustic chorus. 'World Upon Your Shoulders' is a turn towards fluid song writing, almost sounding like the beatles, this song is probably the most diverse of all on this record. 'My Favourate Thing' is down tempo, and less postive song, harking back to Neon Ballroom's softer songs.

Some tracks take less use of the orchestra, but never disuse it. 'Without You' is a powerfull rock song, with a deep and moving bass line. The chorus seems somewhat empty, but the song is still solid and retains its emotional value. 'Too Much Of Not Enough' is sleek indie-rock song, it breaks down to acoustic guitar and piano for the bridge
with a truely relaxing and pleasent effect. And 'After All These Years' is a piano led ballard with soft violins fading in and out. A truely fitting end to the album, with a reflective and positive tone. This can be shown clearly in the lyrics to the chorus; "after all these years, forget about the troubled times".

Silverchair's attempts to still record heavy rock songs are this albums let down. This album is somewhat a statement that silverchairs heavy grunge days are over, yet these songs still appear on the album. 'One Way Mule' and 'The Lever' are perfectly solid songs and there doesnt appear to be anything wrong with them, but there's nothing special either. They completely loose the Diorama's edge and fall out of place.

The lyrics in Diorama are a lot more poetic than earlier material, streching out the imagination when you really listen to them, which im sure is Daniel Johns intentions. However, at times they seem a little senseless or over-elaborate, leaving you wandering what on earth they could mean.

Over all, Diorama is silverchair's true comming of age, a refreshingly epic journey through music and sound. Not for the narrow minded listener, this record appeals to your sensitive side and stretches out across your mind. If you are a fan of silverchair then you will probably be dissapointed at frist, but it takes some listening and imagination, and then it becomes perfectly clear. Very much an aquired taste in music.

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