I have had 'Frogstomp' since it was released in Australia (where I lived for most of the 90's), and I was VERY skeptical of these lads at first (and all the Nirvana in Pajamas jokes that were going around). However, I must say that these kids put out one hell of a good album that brings me back to some of my rock roots of the 70's as well as the 'flannel/grunge' sound of the time. They had a lot of competitition, but in spite of that put out a rather impressive debut CD that still gets regular rotation amidst my collection. They pull off the heavy as well as the mellow, and the funny thing about this CD is that I really can't put a GRUNGE stamp on it like most of the public did...it is just a great collection of rockers (a few duds, but I almost expect that of the best of the best these days).

Even if you haven't heard this album before, hearing it takes you straight back to 1993 where flannel shirts and cons were all the rage... where long stringy hair was as much of a `must-have' as an iPod is in 2005.

I absolutely adored this album when it was released. Sure, I was a little sceptical, but its smooth familiar riffs and melodic vocals eventually won me over. Bu then I got completely and utterly over it and dismissed it for perhaps a good ten years. BUT! I guess the beauty of age is the ability the look back with a rush of warm reminiscence and relive the moments you've learnt something from and relive them once again... and here I am listening to Frogstomp, remembering every word... and REALLY enjoying it!

Whether you've heard it before or not, this album has a pivotal role in any `grunge' collection - Daniel Johns' vocals soar over perfect riffs that provoke you to marvel with envy over the talent that these guys had at such an early age. Anyone who has followed their work would know that hey eventually evolved to a sort of `epic' band, complete with accompanying orchestra - but this album showcases the `roots' of a band that will surely go down in history as one of the best of its kind.

I have heard far too many people compare this band to Nirvana. I personally cannot believe Nirvana fans would stoop so low as to compare this band to (possibly) their own personal favourite artists. Silverchair is like Nirvana...probably in content alone...at times...other than that...NADA!

There is this other little known band, you might have heard of them, called Stone Temple Pilots which Silverchair sounds a lot like in my mind. Think about it (the vocals especially) and I think you will agree. The depressing metal-ish songs are also somewhat reminicent of another little known (sarcasm) grunge band known as Alice in Chains.

To put it bluntly, it seems like some Nirvana fans thought Silver sounded remotely like Nirvana and jumped on them for "biting" their style. My opinion is that Silverchair was comprised of young kids who loved the grunge sound and, as many artists have had occasion to do so in the past, emulated bands they may have been influenced by. Most bands dont develop their own sound for at least a few albums. Take the vines for instance (please!), they sound like everything from the Beatles to (ironically...or maybe not) Nirvana. Yet I have faith in the Vines, as I did with Silverchair, that they would develop their own sound and ween themselves from the days of playing air guitar to their favourite group. To assume a band could (especially at such a young age)completely sever themselves from their influences is a ridiculous expectation and rarely ever happens.

Yep...thats basically what I was thinking...

I think it is absolutely REDICULOUS that any time a long, blonde haired male being opens his mouth and sings, he is compared to Kurt Cobain and considered a rip off. Nirvana is the main reason I even started playing music and I'm a musician myself and I know that, yes, you can hear grunge in Silverchair, but if anything, it's more Pearl Jam-ish, not NIRVANA! It's rediculous. For 15/16 year olds, there is some AWESOME stuff on this album. Some of the lyrics, I find cheesy and could have been better written but if you say this band doesn't have talent, I think there very well could be a slight hint of, oh, I don't know, JEALOUSY? I rate this album 4 stars because some of the lyrics weren't very great and I don't particularly care for 1 or 2 songs, but this album is still just awesome. It shouldn't just be Daniel Johns who always gets all the credit, though. Theres a drummer and bassist in this band, you know...Chris and Ben...yeah, those guys, they deserve some credit for their talent, too. Nirvana rip-offs...what a joke. Anybody who knows a good bit about music knows this band isn't a Nirvana rip-off. Yes they sounded a lot like other bands at that time, yet they still somehow pulled off a halfway original sound, but every bands first CD at least sounds a little bit like someone else, because everyone has their influences...one of Silverchair's members admitted that HIMSELF...I'm not sure which one it was but I saw where one of them had said it. Bottom line, pretty good album, they're better than a lot of bands out there. They could kick Simple Plan and Good Charlotte and all that pop-punk mess ANYDAY.

-Matt

The first album I ever bought, I'm surprised not many people have this in their collection. Frogstomp holds up well on its own, but it's particularly brillant because the three members that make up Silverchair weren't even old enough to drive when this album was released. Tomorrow, Shade, and Suicidal Dream are some of the greatest pieces of rock ever constructed, and realistically, this is one of those few albums you can listen to from start to finish. If anyone else is sick of all the emo, nu-metal, rap-rock, or pop-rock that has ruled radio the past 2 years, buy this album and rejoice in its glory.