Better Nature

Better Nature
Studio album by
Silversun Pickups
ReleasedSeptember 25, 2015 (2015-09-25)
Genre
Length51:06
LabelNew Machine
ProducerJacknife Lee
Silversun Pickups chronology
Neck of the Woods
(2012) 		Better Nature
(2015) 		Better Nature Revisited
(2017)
Singles from Better Nature
  1. "Nightlight"
    Released: August 6, 2015
  2. "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)"
    Released: September 11, 2015
  3. "Latchkey Kids"
    Released: September 30, 2016
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic65/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Absolute Punk8.5/10[3]
Classic Rock[4]
Consequence of SoundC−[5]
Magnet[6]
The Music[7]
Q[8]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[9]
The Sydney Morning Herald[10]
Under the Radar6.5/10[11]

Better Nature is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles alternative rock band Silversun Pickups. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee,[12] and was released on September 25, 2015. It is the first of the band's albums to be released on their own label, New Machine Records; as well as their first to be supported by a Pledgemusic campaign. The album was announced on July 15, 2015.[13] The lead single for the album, "Nightlight," was released to radio on August 6, 2015. It was accompanied by a music video, directed by Mark Pellington and starring Boardwalk Empire actor Meg Steedle.[14] The album's second single, "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)," was premiered via The Daily Beast on September 10, 2015.[15] An accompanying video, directed by Scott Weintrob, was released to YouTube and Vevo the following day.[16]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Silversun Pickups.

No.TitleLength
1."Cradle (Better Nature)"5:20
2."Connection"4:34
3."Pins & Needles"4:42
4."Friendly Fires"5:28
5."Nightlight"4:52
6."Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)"3:50
7."Tapedeck"6:02
8."Latchkey Kids"3:42
9."Ragamuffin"6:00
10."The Wild Kind"6:36
Total length:51:06
  • The end of "Tapedeck" leads into "Latchkey Kids" (aka the end of "Tapedeck" is a studio session of "Latchkey Kids" that then transitions into "Latchkey Kids")

Vinyl track listing

[17]

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Cradle (Better Nature)"5:20
2."Connection"4:34
3."Pins & Needles"4:42
4."Friendly Fires"5:28
Total length:20:04
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Nightlight"4:52
2."Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)"3:50
3."Tapedeck"6:02
Total length:14:44
Side C
No.TitleLength
1."Latchkey Kids"3:42
2."Ragamuffin"6:00
3."The Wild Kind"6:36
Total length:16:18

Charts

Chart (2015) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] 22
US Billboard 200[19] 16

Personnel

Silversun Pickups
  • Brian Aubert – lead vocals, backing vocals, guitars
  • Nikki Monninger – bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (6), vibraphone (7)
  • Joe Lester – keyboards, synthesizer, sound manipulation, drum machine, sequencer, backing vocals (5)
  • Christopher Guanlao – drums, backing vocals (5)
Additional personnel
  • Jacknife Lee – additional keyboards, mixing, production, programming
  • Alan Moulder – mixing

Tour

Better Nature Tour
Concert by Silversun Pickups
Associated albumBetter Nature
Start date10 September 2015
End date23 July 2017
Legs[N/A]
No. of shows152 shows

The tour for Better Nature started 15 days before the release of the album.

Setlist

[20] [21] Setlist won't count omissions due to the Sliversun Pickups' weird touring settings.

  1. Cradle (Better Nature) (dropped after 22 April 2017)
  2. Connection (played on 28 September 2015)
  3. Well Thought Out Twinkles
  4. Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings) (played on 10, 27, 28, 29 September 2015, 8 December 2015, 6, 9 May 2016, 23 August 2016, added on 23 April 2017, dropped after 4 May 2017)
  5. Nightlight
  6. The Royal We
  7. Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
  8. The Pit
  9. Pins and Needles (played on 29, 30 September 2015, 25 April 2017)
  10. Friendly Fires
  11. Latchkey Kids
  12. Panic Switch
  13. Ragamuffin (dropped after 13 June 2017)
  14. Vasoline (played on 5 December 2015)
  15. Growing Old Is Getting Old (played on 6 May 2016)
  16. Rusted Wheel (played on 26 April 2017)
  17. Lazy Eye
  18. Little Lover's so Polite [ENCORE]
  19. Catch and Release (played on 10, 28 September 2015, added on 23 April 2017, dropped after 4 May 2017) [ENCORE]
  20. Cannibal (played on 10, 27 September 2015, rarely played from December 2015 to April 2017) [ENCORE]
  21. Substitution (played on 29 September 2015, occasionally played after April 2016) [ENCORE]
  22. Three Seed (played on 14 April 2016, added on 25 October 2016, dropped after 5 May 2017) [ENCORE]
  23. Kissing Families (occasionally played) [ENCORE]
  24. Dots and Dashes (Enough Already) [ENCORE]
  25. The Wild Kind (added on 27 September 2015, dropped after 5 May 2017) [ENCORE]

References

  1. ^ "Better Nature by Silversun Pickups". Metacritic. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  2. ^ "Better Nature - Silversun Pickups - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  3. ^ "chorus.fm". Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  4. ^ Beaumont, Mark (February 19, 2016). "Silversun Pickups: Better Nature". Classic Rock. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Album Review: Silversun Pickups – Better Nature". September 25, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  6. ^ Engaging and alluring as this fresh coat of cool on an easily recognizable sonic vehicle maybe, Better Nature nonetheless remains an album destined to placate--not trip out--fans. [No. 125, p.61]
  7. ^ Laurie, Pete (September 18, 2015). "Album Review: Silversun Pickups - Better Nature". The Music. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  8. ^ Sadly, Better Nature is the sound of a band barricading themselves into their own comfort zones. [Apr 2016, p.115]
  9. ^ "Review: Silversun Pickups - Better Nature - Sputnikmusic". Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  10. ^ Mathieson, Craig (November 6, 2015). "Shortlist album reviews: Son Little, Metric, Linsey Pollak, Heath Cullen, Silversun Pickups". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  11. ^ "Better Nature". Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  12. ^ Brendan Hornbostel (July 15, 2015). "Silversun Pickups announce new album, 'Better Nature,' will be released in September". LA Times. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  13. ^ Caitlin White (July 15, 2015). "Silversun Pickups Announce New Album Better Nature". Stereogum. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  14. ^ Brian Leak (August 6, 2015). "Silversun Pickups release cinematic video for new single, "Nightlight"". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  15. ^ James Joiner (September 10, 2015). "Hear a New Silversun Pickups Track". The Daily Beast. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  16. ^ Beth Kellmurray (September 11, 2015). "Listen to Silversun Pickups' Dreamy New Song, 'Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)'". Diffuser.FM. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  17. ^ "Silversun Pickups - Better Nature". Discogs. 2021.
  18. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Silversun Pickups – Better Nature". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
  19. ^ "Silversun Pickups Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  20. ^ "Silversun Pickups Average Setlists of tour: Better Nature | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
  21. ^ "Silversun Pickups Tour Statistics: Better Nature | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
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