Better Nature
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Better Nature
| type = studio
| artist = Silversun Pickups
| cover = Better Nature.png
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2015|9|25}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = {{flatlist|
}}
| length = 51:06
| label = New Machine
| producer = Jacknife Lee
| prev_title = Neck of the Woods
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Better Nature Revisited
| next_year = 2017
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Better Nature
| type = studio
| single1 = Nightlight
| single1date = August 6, 2015
| single2 = Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
| single2date = September 11, 2015
| single3 = Latchkey Kids
| single3date = September 30, 2016
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| noprose = yes
| MC = 65/100{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/better-nature/silversun-pickups|title=Better Nature by Silversun Pickups|website=Metacritic |publisher=|accessdate=1 October 2016}}
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/better-nature-mw0002861535|title=Better Nature - Silversun Pickups - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic |publisher=|accessdate=1 October 2016}}
| rev2 = Absolute Punk
| rev2Score = 8.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=3733838|title=chorus.fm|publisher=|accessdate=1 October 2016}}
| rev3 = Classic Rock
| rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/silversun-pickups-better-nature|title=Silversun Pickups: Better Nature|website=Classic Rock|last=Beaumont|first=Mark|date=19 February 2016|access-date=14 April 2025}}
| rev4 = Consequence of Sound
| rev5 = Magnet
| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}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]
| rev6 = The Music
| rev6score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/reviews/silversun-pickups-better-nature-pete-laurie/SdNaXVxfXkE/18-09-15|title=Album Review: Silversun Pickups - Better Nature|website=The Music|last=Laurie|first=Pete|date=18 September 2015|access-date=14 April 2025}}
| rev7 = Q
| rev7score = {{rating|2|5}}Sadly, Better Nature is the sound of a band barricading themselves into their own comfort zones. [Apr 2016, p.115]
| rev8 = Sputnikmusic
| rev9 = The Sydney Morning Herald
| rev9score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226171134/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/shortlist-album-reviews-son-little-metric-linsey-pollak-heath-cullen-silversun-pickups-20151027-gkjyuw.html|title=Shortlist album reviews: Son Little, Metric, Linsey Pollak, Heath Cullen, Silversun Pickups|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|last=Mathieson|first=Craig|date=6 November 2015|access-date=14 April 2025}}
| rev10 = Under the Radar
| rev10Score = 6.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/silversun_pickups_better_nature/|title=Better Nature|publisher=|accessdate=1 October 2016}}
}}
Better Nature is the fourth studio album by Los Angeles alternative rock band Silversun Pickups. The album was produced by Jacknife Lee,{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-silversun-pickups-better-nature-announcement-20150715-story.html |title=Silversun Pickups announce new album, 'Better Nature,' will be released in September|newspaper=LA Times|author=Brendan Hornbostel|date=15 July 2015|accessdate=25 September 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1816252/silversun-pickups-announce-new-album-better-nature/news/ |title=Silversun Pickups Announce New Album Better Nature|publisher=Stereogum|author=Caitlin White|date=15 July 2015|accessdate=25 September 2015}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/silversun_pickups_release_cinematic_video_for_new_single_nightlight |title=Silversun Pickups release cinematic video for new single, "Nightlight"|author=Brian Leak|publisher=Alternative Press|date=6 August 2015|accessdate=25 September 2015}} The album's second single, "Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)," was premiered via The Daily Beast on September 10, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/10/hear-a-new-silversun-pickups-track.html |title=Hear a New Silversun Pickups Track|publisher=The Daily Beast|author=James Joiner|date=10 September 2015|accessdate=25 September 2015}} An accompanying video, directed by Scott Weintrob, was released to YouTube and Vevo the following day.{{cite web|url=http://diffuser.fm/listen-to-silversun-pickups-dreamy-new-song-circadian-rhythm-last-dance/ |title=Listen to Silversun Pickups' Dreamy New Song, 'Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)'|publisher=Diffuser.FM|author=Beth Kellmurray|date=11 September 2015|accessdate=25 September 2015}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| all_writing = Silversun Pickups
| total_length = 51:06
| title1 = Cradle (Better Nature)
| length1 = 5:20
| title2 = Connection
| length2 = 4:34
| title3 = Pins & Needles
| length3 = 4:42
| title4 = Friendly Fires
| length4 = 5:28
| title5 = Nightlight
| length5 = 4:52
| title6 = Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
| length6 = 3:50
| title7 = Tapedeck
| length7 = 6:02
| title8 = Latchkey Kids
| length8 = 3:42
| title9 = Ragamuffin
| length9 = 6:00
| title10 = The Wild Kind
| length10 = 6:36
}}
- 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 =
{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/20405062-Silversun-Pickups-Better-Nature | title=Silversun Pickups - Better Nature | website=Discogs | date=2021 }}
{{track listing
| headline = Side A
| total_length = 20:04
| title1 = Cradle (Better Nature)
| length1 = 5:20
| title2 = Connection
| length2 = 4:34
| title3 = Pins & Needles
| length3 = 4:42
| title4 = Friendly Fires
| length4 = 5:28
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side B
| total_length = 14:44
| title1 = Nightlight
| length1 = 4:52
| title2 = Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
| length2 = 3:50
| title3 = Tapedeck
| length3 = 6:02
}}
{{track listing
| headline = Side C
| total_length = 16:18
| title1 = Latchkey Kids
| length1 = 3:42
| title2 = Ragamuffin
| length2 = 6:00
| title3 = The Wild Kind
| length3 = 6:36
}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2015)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|Australia|22|artist=Silversun Pickups|album=Better Nature|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 2, 2015}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|16|artist=Silversun Pickups|rowheader=true|accessdate=October 6, 2015}} |
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
{{Infobox concert
| concert_tour_name = Better Nature Tour
| image =
| album = Better Nature
| artist = Silversun Pickups
| type = Concert
| locations =
| start_date = 10 September 2015
| end_date = 23 July 2017
| number_of_legs = [N/A]
| number_of_shows = 152 shows
}}
The tour for Better Nature started 15 days before the release of the album.
= Setlist =
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]