Better Nature
Better Nature is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles alternative rock band Silversun Pickups. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee,[7] 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.[8] 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.[9] The album's second single, "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)," was premiered via The Daily Beast on September 10, 2015.[10] An accompanying video, directed by Scott Weintrob, was released to YouTube and Vevo the following day.[11]
| Better Nature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]()  | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 25, 2015 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 51:06 | |||
| Label | New Machine | |||
| Producer | Jacknife Lee | |||
| Silversun Pickups chronology | ||||
  | ||||
| Singles from Better Nature | ||||
  | ||||
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| Metacritic | 65/100[1] | 
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating | 
| AllMusic | |
| Absolute Punk | 8.5/10[3] | 
| Consequence of Sound | C−[4] | 
| Sputnikmusic | |
| Under The Radar | 6.5/10[6] | 
Track listing
    
All tracks are written by Silversun Pickups
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 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
    
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cradle (Better Nature)" | 5:20 | 
| 2. | "Connection" | 4:34 | 
| 3. | "Pins & Needles" | 4:42 | 
| 4. | "Friendly Fires" | 5:28 | 
| Total length: | 20:04 | |
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nightlight" | 4:52 | 
| 2. | "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)" | 3:50 | 
| 3. | "Tapedeck" | 6:02 | 
| Total length: | 14:44 | |
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Latchkey Kids" | 3:42 | 
| 2. | "Ragamuffin" | 6:00 | 
| 3. | "The Wild Kind" | 6:36 | 
| Total length: | 16:18 | |
Reception
    
Better Nature received mostly positive reviews.
Charts
    
| Chart (2015) | Peak position  | 
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[13] | 22 | 
| US Billboard 200[14] | 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
    
| Concert by Silversun Pickups | |
| Associated album | Better Nature | 
|---|---|
| Start date | 10 September 2015 | 
| End date | 23 July 2017 | 
| Legs | [N/A] | 
| No. of shows | 152 shows | 
The tour for Better Nature actually started 15 days before the release of the album.
Setlist
    
[15] [16] Setlist won't count omissions due to the Sliversun Pickups' weird touring settings.
- Cradle (Better Nature) (dropped after 22 April 2017)
 - Connection (played on 28 September 2015)
 - Well Thought Out Twinkles
 - 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)
 - Nightlight
 - The Royal We
 - Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
 - The Pit
 - Pins and Needles (played on 29, 30 September 2015, 25 April 2017)
 - Friendly Fires
 - Latchkey Kids
 - Panic Switch
 - Ragamuffin (dropped after 13 June 2017)
 - Vasoline (played on 5 December 2015)
 - Growing Old Is Getting Old (played on 6 May 2016)
 - Rusted Wheel (played on 26 April 2017)
 - Lazy Eye
 - Little Lover's so Polite [ENCORE]
 - Catch and Release (played on 10, 28 September 2015, added on 23 April 2017, dropped after 4 May 2017) [ENCORE]
 - Cannibal (played on 10, 27 September 2015, rarely played from December 2015 to April 2017) [ENCORE]
 - Substitution (played on 29 September 2015, occasionally played after April 2016) [ENCORE]
 - Three Seed (played on 14 April 2016, added on 25 October 2016, dropped after 5 May 2017) [ENCORE]
 - Kissing Families (occasionally played) [ENCORE]
 - Dots and Dashes (Enough Already) [ENCORE]
 - The Wild Kind (added on 27 September 2015, dropped after 5 May 2017) [ENCORE]
 
References
    
- "Better Nature by Silversun Pickups". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
 - "Better Nature - Silversun Pickups - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
 - "chorus.fm". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
 - "Album Review: Silversun Pickups – Better Nature". 25 September 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
 - "Review: Silversun Pickups - Better Nature - Sputnikmusic". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
 - "Better Nature". Retrieved 1 October 2016.
 - Brendan Hornbostel (15 July 2015). "Silversun Pickups announce new album, 'Better Nature,' will be released in September". LA Times. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
 - Caitlin White (15 July 2015). "Silversun Pickups Announce New Album Better Nature". Stereogum. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
 - Brian Leak (6 August 2015). "Silversun Pickups release cinematic video for new single, "Nightlight"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
 - James Joiner (10 September 2015). "Hear a New Silversun Pickups Track". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
 - Beth Kellmurray (11 September 2015). "Listen to Silversun Pickups' Dreamy New Song, 'Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)'". Diffuser.FM. Retrieved 25 September 2015.
 - "Silversun Pickups - Better Nature". Discogs. 2021.
 - "Australiancharts.com – Silversun Pickups – Better Nature". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 2, 2015.
 - "Silversun Pickups Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
 - "Silversun Pickups Average Setlists of tour: Better Nature | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
 - "Silversun Pickups Tour Statistics: Better Nature | setlist.fm". setlist.fm.
 
