The third album from Los Angeles fuzz-rockers Silversun Pick ups\, Neck of the Woods (due May 8) started with a chance meeting when the band stumbled across Grammy-winning producer Jacknife Lee (R.E.M.\, U2\, We ezer) while recording guest vocals for a Snow Patrol track. But Pickups fro ntman Brian Aubert is quick to point out that pretty much everything about the album -- from producer to studio location right down to its found-photo album art -- has been serendipitous. "\;It's bizarre\,"\; the affa ble singer/guitarist tells SPIN\, a day after hearing the record in full fo r the first time. "\;We can't take credit for any of it. It just accide ntally happened."\;
\nFor one example of a happy accident\, Aube
rt was surprised to discover Lee's home studio was smack in the middle of t
he Topanga Canyon woods\, minutes from where the singer grew up. "\;I h
adn't been back in years\,"\; he recalls. "\;I thought it would be
fun to walk down my old street. It was like playing with fire a little bit.
So much came back that I had forgotten about and it was a really emotional
experience. I just realized this place and the feelings I had are still in
grained in me."\;
\n
\nAubert says the songs sound "\;l
ike a horror movie\,"\; all of them beginning to percolate while he was
country-hopping and people-watching during a European vacation. "\;[20
09's] Swoon was more about what I was feeling at that particular time\,&quo
t\; he says\, "\;whereas with this one\, I wanted to see what built me.
It was learning why I am the way I am."\;