My Top Ten Silver Sun Songs

 

I was sad to hear of the death of the lead singer and songwriter of one of my favourite 90s bands late last week. 

Silver Sun mixed chunky power pop guitars with Beach Boys harmonies and fun lyrics - they also had some excellent 50s B-movie inspired record sleeves. And, as I've previously written about here, they were responsible for the loudest gig I ever saw.

James Broad died last week of cancer. Rest in peace, fella. Thanks for the tunes... ten of which, I dug out to play today.

10. Trickle Down

A b-side!

Small town life just gets me down...

9. Would've If I Could've

Well, I would've if I could've but I couldn't so I didn't
So I should have if I could have...

8. Julia

Lilo, Milo's got the change

He's the Geezer who's slightly deranged

Everyone knows what to do when a little accident's due

Chop it up and you'll be fine

Get back to the cheap red wine

Marry me in the Med, cut to the bed

7. Bubblegum

You got a problem with multi-tasking

Are you dancing, coz I'm asking

No error in syntax

You're definitely intact

6. Dumb

Angrier than Elvis Costello at his most gnarly!

5. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late

Their biggest hit, a cover of the Johnny Mathis & Denice Williams song from the 70s... made #20 on the singles chart in 1998. We played it to death (and all their other singles) on the Sunday night indie show I produced back then.

4. Lava

The opening line is a gulped "I fucking give up", yet they still played this on the radio.

3. Sharks

Now we are out of the sea

And we're keeping away from the sharks

Now it's just you, it's just me

And we'll never be together apart

Keepin' away from the sharks

2. Last Day

I like the snow and better still

I like it when you're not around

Give me my loan back

All of my ex-girlfriends they were shit

1. Golden Skin

Perfect riffs, glorious harmonies... should have been a smash.