Artist: Silverchair

Album: “Young Modern”

Release date: July 24

Label: Eleven

Availability: CD, iTunes

It’s been 12 years since we first heard from Australian rockers Silverchair, when the band members were a ripe 15 years old. Since then, the band has fought to prove its relevance, evolving from out of the grunge era to an expanded alternative rock sound.

On the band’s fifth release, “Young Modern,” practically every song is instantly likeable from the get-go. Singer Daniel Johns pulls out some truly unforgettable melodies and innovative chord changes.

“Young Modern Station” kicks off with “How Soon Is Now?”-esque guitar drones, as Johns’ voice effortlessly shifts octaves throughout the song. That segues seamlessly into the excellent lead single, “Straight Line.” Here, the song builds its fist-pumping conclusion in which Johns belts, “Lately, I’m a desperate believer / But I’m walking in a straight line.” The third track, “If You Keep Losing Sleep,” is a pastiche of several musical ideas that best displays Johns’ growth as a songwriter. In the space of three-and-a-half minutes, the listener is treated to military snare cadences, poppy and discordant piano hits, and creepy movie soundtrack strings.

Great melodies and sounds continue until the final track, making what could be Silverchair’s best-sounding album yet. However, some of the songs fall flat upon stricter inspection, and few lyrics break any real ground. “Waiting All Day” could just as well be a Coldplay filler track, and its wistful lyrics do little to shake the band’s stigma as being a young, teen band. “All Across The World” is a fine conclusion to the album, but it’s overly idealistic “come together” lyrics are as likely to roll as many eyes as it waters.

Silverchair appeals to the teenager in all of us. It’s hard not to recommend “Young Modern” as an all-around fun record, but if you want something that offers more depth with repeated listens, it’s best to look elsewhere.