Diorama marks Silverchair's fourth full-length effort to date, since their breakthrough debut Frogstomp.
I have never been a diehard Silverchair fan, but I have heard enough of their past material to see how much they have changed on Diorama. Their songs coloured black with pessimism and angst, and delivered in a post-grunge fashion, has been replaced with colourful songs with a more optimistic outlook, minus the grunge factor. It is true that their last album Neon Ballroom was a departure from their first two albums, but it still kept many elements that were evident throughout those first two albums. Neon Ballroom did however, foreshadow what their next album would be like. In comparison to Silverchair's past efforts, Diorama is quite mellow and laid back. The band spent more time it seems drawing up arrangements to their songs, to give it a thicker and fuller feel. Many of their songs contain orchestra pieces and string arrangements, and even the opening song, Across The Night, contains hints of some brass instruments in the background. The piano is much more prevalent throughout this entire disc, and it does give that added striking point to the other arrangements that have been incorporated. The guitars aren't as noticeable on many of the songs, because the dropped-d highly distorted effect has been abandoned. Intricate patterns, or simple chord progressions are displayed; the rock isn't completely gone however, as such songs as One Way Mule, marry the older Silverchair sound, with the new breed of material.
If you have always been a fan of Silverchair, this may be a stretch for you, but a stretch that could open doors to your musical taste, as Silverchair tries to extend the boundaries they have been in for a few years.
C+/B-
Similar sounding releases
2002Poor Old LuThe Waiting Room
2000The Mustard SeedsRed
1997Fold ZanduraReturn
2004Jerry GaskillCome Somewhere
2004Kevin MaxBetween the Fence and the Universe
1999Blinker the StarAugust Everywhere
