Silver Sweepstakes is the first full-length album by the indie rock/emo band Knapsack.[3] It was released in 1995 by Alias Records.[4]

Silver Sweepstakes
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 1995
GenreEmo, indie rock
Length39:55
LabelAlias Records
Knapsack chronology
Silver Sweepstakes
(1995)
Day Three of My New Life
(1997)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[2]

Critical reception edit

Trouser Press gave the album a poor review, writing that "habitual hastiness, the guitars’ unwavering sizzle-roar and singer Blair Shehan's unfortunate ability to bellow in eerie imitation of Perry Farrell leaves Knapsack pissing on the wrong tree."[5] In a more positive review, SF Weekly wrote that "emotionally charged, infallible punk constructs coalesce with hard-edged melodies to create a sound that's as compelling as it is approachable."[4]

In an article on "emo classics," Alternative Press wrote: "Knapsack’s debut is a spot-on example of the bridge between punk and emo. Most noteworthy for jamming the power chords while showing an oft desire to decelerate their pace, the underground grittiness shouldn’t mesh with their heart-throbbing vocals in theory, yet they do with no signs of conflict."[6]

Track listing edit

  1. Cellophane - 3:31
  2. Trainwrecker - 3:54
  3. Effortless - 3:13
  4. Fortunate and Holding - 3:50
  5. Casanova - 2:43
  6. Makeshift - 1:28
  7. Centennial - 3:47
  8. Symmetry - 3:16
  9. True to Form - 2:24
  10. Addressee - 5:54
  11. Silver Sweepstakes - 5:55

References edit

  1. ^ "Silver Sweepstakes". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  2. ^ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 977.
  3. ^ "2013: The Year of the Emo Reunion | The Village Voice". www.villagevoice.com. 15 November 2013.
  4. ^ a b Staff, SF Weekly (May 17, 1995). "Brown Bag Lunch". SF Weekly.
  5. ^ "Knapsack". Trouser Press. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  6. ^ Magazine, Alternative Press (March 10, 2020). "20 emo classics that helped define today's scene, from 1985 to 1997". Alternative Press.