Silversun Pickups, which includes lead vocalist & guitarist Brian Aubert, bassist Nikki Monninger, drummer Christopher Guanlao & keyboardist Joe Lester, have always considered their sonic density a source of pride: The LA band’s five studio albums reveal additional sonic gifts with each subsequent spin, and their sixth, Physical Thrills, is not different.

Physical Thrills came together as a serendipitous accident during a dark time. The band began 2020 by touring in support of the previous year’s record, Widow’s Weeds. But the pandemic halted those plans, with the band finding themselves stuck at home. In that resting period, Aubert wasn’t focused on Silversun Pickups; instead, he channeled his energy into taking care of his son, while his wife worked. But as much as his focus initially shifted from the band, he couldn’t escape the new melodies germinating in his head. The songs were so different from what he’d previously written for SSPU that he initially thought he was writing a musical. There were “dream shanties,” gentler vocals, horror-inspired sounds, & other exciting new elements coming to mind.

Physical Thrills, which was produced by Butch Vig, was release in August 2022 via their label, New Machine Recordings. Pitchfork says of the new album: “Now, more than 15 years later, Silversun Pickups may have found their next best evolution: a little bit of everything and no f*cks to give… Physical Thrills presents Silversun Pickups as a band with a rejuvenated approach.”