Silverchair: Daniel Johns (vocals, guitar); Chris Joannou (bass); Ben Gillies (drums).
Additional personnel: Sweep (vocals); John Harding, Fiona Ziegler, Carl Pini, Alexandra D'Elia, Leni Ziegler, Emma Hayes, George Lentz (violin); Jane Scarpantoni, Leah Jennings (cello); Jane Rosenson (harp); David Helfgott, Robert Woolf, Chris Abrahams (piano); Jim Moginie (keyboards); The New South Wales Public School Singers.
When the youthful Silverchair first appeared in the landscape-changing wake of NEVERMIND, they were solidly in the Cobain-inspired grunge mold, coming off as young disciples worshipping at the Nirvana altar with little of their own to bring to the Seattle Sound party. In '99, with Cobain long gone and grunge a distant memory, NEON BALLROOM appeared to be a bridge between Silverchair's copycat beginnings and a more adventurous future. While the heavy riffs, raspy vocals and Cobainish melodies of yesteryear are still in evidence here, the sound is greatly expanded. From a string section to delicate acoustic passages and even an appearance by classical pianist David Helfgott (of Shine fame), Silverchair works overtime to broaden their sonic horizons.
What the critics say...
Rolling Stone (3/18/99, p.62) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...NEON BALLROOM wants to prove that this grungeling power trio has continued to mature since it first began to experiment..."
Entertainment Weekly (3/19/99, p.107) - "...AC/DCish chords vie with plush strings on these adult arrangements, while frontman Daniel Johns pounds his pulpit in new politically inspired outbursts....Johns snarls, sounding furious, motivated, and all grown up." - Rating: B
Q (4/99, p.106) - 4 Stars (out of 5) - "...Silverchair are still a riff-heavy band, but the attention to detail, to light and shade, is a welcome addition to their sound..."
