Brightside is an album by the American band Viva Saturn, released in 1995.[2][3] It was the band's final album, as Restless Records chose not to release 1998's Ships of Heaven.[4]
| Brightside | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1995 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock | |||
| Label | Restless[1] | |||
| Producer | Matt Piucci, Steven Roback | |||
| Viva Saturn chronology | ||||
| ||||
Production
editThe album was produced by Matt Piucci and Steven Roback, former bandmates in the Rain Parade.[5] It closes with a cover of "One for My Baby", a song made popular by Frank Sinatra; the cover first appeared on the Sinatra tribute album, Chairman of the Board: Interpretations of Songs Made Famous by Frank Sinatra.[6][7] Roback wrote or cowrote nine of the 11 songs.[8]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| The Province | [5] |
Trouser Press thought that "the somber 'String Me Out a Line' conveys aching loneliness with haunting clarity, its gentle acoustic instrumentation and quiet vocal harmonies making it Brightside's most memorable track."[10] Stereo Review called the album "a well-crafted slice of retro-psychedelic pop-rock."[11] The Stafford Post noted the "road-friendly rockers" and "drowsy psychedelia."[12]
The Province opined that, "as Piucci and Roback were members of Rain Parade, a major player in L.A.'s Paisley Underground scene of the mid-'80s, Viva Saturn could also be seen by both as a chance to resolve some unfinished aspects of their past... Unfortunately, Brightside, while attractive, is less substantial than any of their other projects."[5] Billboard concluded that Piucci "is especially impressive; his stint backing Neil Young in Crazy Horse is noticeable in his taut, laconic lead work."[6]
AllMusic wrote that "Roback's detached, nasal twang blends nicely into an atmospheric backdrop of textured guitars, piano accents and feedback."[9] The Rough Guide to Rock determined that the album "continued [the Rain Parade's] journey, rediscovering the plaintive melodicism mislaid in their 1988 comeback."[13]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Send a Message" | |
| 2. | "Black Cloud" | |
| 3. | "Brightside" | |
| 4. | "Here Comes April" | |
| 5. | "Abandoned Car" | |
| 6. | "String Me Out a Line" | |
| 7. | "Mourn the Light" | |
| 8. | "Distracted" | |
| 9. | "Nothing Helps" | |
| 10. | "Heart of You" | |
| 11. | "One for My Baby" |
References
edit- ^ Thompson, Dave (November 2, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation.
- ^ Snyder, Michael (April 23, 1995). "Ringing Saturn". Sunday Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. p. 42.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (July 10, 1995). "Dog days don't apply here". Florida/Metro. The Tampa Tribune. Knight Ridder. p. 3.
- ^ "Artist Biography by Tracy Frey". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Harrison, Tom (19 Oct 1995). "Some disturbing conclusions". The Province. p. B6.
- ^ a b Mirkin, Steven (Jun 3, 1995). "Restless' Viva Saturn more than a spinoff". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 22. p. 11.
- ^ DeRogatis, Jim (January 30, 1994). "Various artists, 'Chairman of the Board: Interpretations of Songs Made Famous by Frank Sinatra'". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 8.
- ^ Lipton, Michael (Sep 28, 1995). "Viva Saturn Brightside". LA Weekly. p. 81.
- ^ a b "Brightside - Viva Saturn". AllMusic – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ "Viva Saturn". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ Simels, Steve (Nov 1995). "Viva Saturn - Brightside". Stereo Review. Vol. 60, no. 11. p. 126.
- ^ Evans, Chris (Aug 3, 1995). "Viva Saturn: Brightside". Stafford Post. p. 25.
- ^ Tighe, Chris (1999). The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. p. 798.