C'mon Abuse Me More, I Like It (Freak Show - Silverchair)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Freak Show - Silverchair
Date:	26/05/08 (60 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent vocal work, powerful guitar sounds are always here created.

Disadvantages: Album is not always completely original, at times there is quite a heavy Nirvana influence.

'Freak Show' is the 1997 album from the Australian rock band that is Silverchair. The album consists of thirteen tracks; it is the bands second full length release and features such excellent tracks as 'Abuse Me' and 'Freak'. In total four singles were released from this album and it must be said that 'Freak Show' really is a very good release. The album comprises of fifty two minutes of music; most of the thirteen tracks here are powerful grunge anthems and always the sound provided by the band has plenty to offer here.

'Slave' begins this release and certainly doesn't disappoint, the music is well put across by the band and the track provides for four minutes of strong listening enjoyment. The drumbeats are powerful here, the guitar lines also are excellent and vocally the voice of Daniel Johns is absolutely brilliant. Every element of the music comes across well here; it's a strong construction of music and an exceptional way of starting the album I feel. 'Slave' certainly sets the mood for the rest of the album, the post-grunge sound of Silverchair sure is strong here and the guitars in particular are always incredibly well put across in the bands music.

'Freak' has always been my favourite track from this album, 'Abuse Me' is another that I love from this release but for me 'Freak' has always been the main highlight of the album. There's just something about 'Freak' that really appeals to me, the chorus is absolutely excellent and the driving guitar sound that can be heard throughout the track truly is brilliant. Vocally the track is impressive as always, singing along to the chorus of the track is a definite must and never do I tire of hearing this one. 'Abuse Me' has a similarly strong chorus; it's another powerful musical creation and one that also stands out strongly as one of the key highlights from this 'Freak Show' album.

'No Association' is another excellent track from this album; the guitar work is brilliant here and vocally also the music created is highly impressive. The drumbeats power heavily through this track and provide 'No Association' with a brilliant basic beat. The bass lines and guitar riffs work strongly with the drumbeats here, every element of the instrumental sound created here is excellent and without doubt this is an exceptionally fine musical creation. 'Cemetery' follows straight on from this one, it's another instrumentally excellent piece of music and the vocals of Daniel Johns here possess a greatly beauteous quality. 'Cemetery' is well put across by the band, a powerful violin sound is here contained within the instrumental composition of the track and this I feel is something that has worked out brilliantly for the band.

'Pop Song For Us Rejects' carries on the whole 'Freak' theme of the album, it's another excellent piece of music and as ever the guitar sound put across in the music here is absolutely fantastic. The track progresses powerfully, it possesses quite an uplifting instrumental piece and lyrically the music also has plenty to offer here. There's never a dull moment with the music of Silverchair, this track certainly doesn't disappoint and as a pop song for us rejects it is I feel absolutely excellent.

Fittingly the 'Freak Show' albums comes to a close with a track titled 'The Closing'. This may not be the most originally titled closing track in the world, it is however another brilliant piece of music and one that does in fact bring the album to its finish exceptionally well. The guitar sound created here is as strong as ever, throughout the entirety of this album the guitar work impresses greatly and 'The Closing' is most certainly no exception to this rule. The grunge vibe that runs throughout this album is well put across by the band, Silverchair is a band with an obvious grunge influence and often the sound produced by the band here is incredibly reminiscent of the music of Nirvana. It's difficult to listen to this album without thinking of Nirvana's classic 'Nevermind' release, it's not the most original album in the world but still the music created here is absolutely brilliant.

For many years now the 'Freak Show' album from Silverchair has appealed to me hugely. There are so many excellent tracks here, much of the album is greatly impressive and more often than not the choruses here are absolutely exceptional. The voice of Daniel Johns truly is phenomenal, the man is perhaps better known for having been married to former Neighbours star Natalie Imbruglia than for his musical talent; he's an excellent vocalist however and as a guitarist he is also hugely talented. I definitely recommend giving this 'Freak Show' album a listen, for those that were/are into the grunge sound of the late 80s/early 90s then this album should certainly appeal. There's an obvious Nirvana influence on the sound here, 'Freak Show' is original enough that the band make the music their own but certainly with this album Silverchair was a band wearing its influences on its sleeve.

Summary: 'Freak Show' is an album that I would most certainly recommend investing in.