18 Candles: The Early Years

by Silverstein

Overview

For latecoming fans of screamo kingpins Silverstein, this disc will be a welcome surprise: it brings together the complete contents of the band's first two EPs, Summer's Stellar Gaze and When the Shadows Beam, along with a handful of bonus tracks including acoustic versions of "My Heroine" and "Call It Karma," three live recordings (among them a blistering rendition of "Bleeds No More" featuring guest vocals from Aiden's WiL), and -- bizarrely -- a dance (more or less) remix of "Smile in Your Sleep." The EPs are both full of charmingly off-kilter touches, such as the violin that takes center stage on several tracks (notably the fine "Waiting Four Years") and what is at times an almost Robert Fripp-ish approach to crosspicked guitar arpeggios. The earliest tracks are tightly played but recorded with a charmingly scruffy sound, and it isn't until the second EP that the screaming really starts in earnest. There are moments on that part of the program -- especially on the nicely crafted "Dawn of the Fall" -- when the band sounds something like a cross between the Cure and Huesker Due. The bonus tracks, too, are more than just filler: "My Heroine" suffers a bit from an out of tune guitar, and the band's vocal limitations are more exposed on the live version of "Discovering the Waterfront" than they tend to be in the studio, but there's an amazing energy to the live recordings and the remix is an enjoyable curiosity. ~ Rick Anderson

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2020
Label:	Victory Records
UPC:	0746105029118
Rank:	54464

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Silverstein   Primary Artist
Wil-Matic   Primary Artist
Richard Walter   Guitar
Paul Koehler   Drums,Guitar
Shane Told   Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic)
Billy Hamilton   Guitar (Bass)
Josh Bradford   Guitar
Neil Boshart   Guitar
Sean McNabb   Vocals (Background)
Richard McWalter   Guitar
Emily Owens   Violin
Noah Bates   Guitar (Bass)
Adrienne Chan   Violin

Technical Credits

Scott Komer   Audio Engineer,Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Mixing Engineer
Ian Larrabee   Composer
Justin Koop   Engineer,Producer,Recording,Recording Producer
Paul Koehler   Composer,Liner Notes
Shane Told   Composer,Producer,Liner Notes,Recording Producer
Chris Chasse   Composer
Billy Hamilton   Composer
Josh Bradford   Composer,Liner Notes,Photography
Neil Boshart   Composer,Liner Notes
Cameron Webb   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Mixing Engineer,Recording Producer
Frank Garcia   Cover Photo
William Hamilton   Composer
Brendan Maguire   Composer
Kevin Kennaley   Photography
Andy Owens   Photography
Alan Szymkowiak   Producer,Remixing,Remix Engineer
Richard McWalter   Composer
Christopher Chasse   Composer
Robert Mahoney   Composer
Sean Palmer   Recording