Silver Sweepstakes Explained

Silver Sweepstakes
Type:studio
Artist:Knapsack
Cover:Silver Sweepstakes.jpg
Released:April 1995
Genre:Emo, indie rock
Length:39:55
Label:Alias Records
Next Title:Day Three of My New Life
Next Year:1997

Silver Sweepstakes is the first full-length album by the indie rock/emo band Knapsack.[1] It was released in 1995 by Alias Records.[2]

Critical reception

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."[3] 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."[2]

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."[4]

Track listing

  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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2013: The Year of the Emo Reunion | The Village Voice. www.villagevoice.com. 15 November 2013 .
  2. Web site: Brown Bag Lunch. SF Weekly. Staff. May 17, 1995. SF Weekly.
  3. Web site: Knapsack . Trouser Press . 14 July 2020.
  4. Web site: 20 emo classics that helped define today's scene, from 1985 to 1997. Alternative Press. Magazine. . March 10, 2020.