Great Music: (die) Pilot - Sideshow
(die) Pilot official site
Myspace
CD Baby
I’ve been listening to (die) Pilot somewhere between 6 months and a year now, and they are still prominent on my daily playlists or shuffles. That says a lot for me. Bands come and go, and come back, but only the best have longevity to my ears, especially if I hear the tracks often.
This track is ambitious, and excites me about the new album. Upon the first couple listens I’m struck with a sense of weight. Something in my aural sense sits up and takes notice. It says to me “this is important.” It makes me think of U2 in their heyday, tracks like with or without you, where the streets have no name, pride. The styles aren’t terribly similar, but the gravity of the songs are. Here I’m colouring the review with comparisons that don’t quite fit. Hopefully you’re listening to it yourself already.
Like all great songs, there are layers to it. What begins as a smooth sonorous ambience quickly ramps up the rythm with a simple, but completely apropriate guitar chord progression as the ambience intensifies. Before you have a chance to fully register the change the vocals grab your attention and don’t let go. By the time the bass drum comes in you’re hooked and will have to replay the song at least once before it’s done with you.
The only criticism I have for the song may be due to the mixing, or simply because this mp3 is a myspace version and not necessarily the final cut. During the chorus the vocals are almost lost in the background. I like the background, it’s unique and has a great sound, but I don’t want to sacrifice anything. After the second chorus there’s a bit where the vocals are whispered/chanted which I think is great, but I also can’t make them out. I love what the accompanyment is doing here though!
This song will be in my rotation for quite a while.
I’m posting to review Sideshow, one of their most recent releases to be featured on their forthcoming album. But I can’t just skip over the first Album: Radiation, Weather, Art. It’s fantastic. It’s mellow, easily re-listenable, I could leave it on repeat. These guys know how to do a proper song intro (think some of The Cure and REM’s epics.) My favourite tracks are Lottery, The Crash, Porcelain, ok I guess I pretty much like the whole album.
If you go sign up for their mailing list, you can download the album. I suggest buying it as well, because be honest with yourself, if you like it, you want to hear more of it!
2 Comments
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Comment by Andy — September 30, 2006 @ 3:42 am
Great track! I have never come across this band, but if the rest of their sound is as good as this, I’ll check them out. I just responded (very belatedly - sorry) to your enquiry re putting music up on my Warhols post - see you went for it anyway - good call! Look forward to hearing more good stuff in the coming weeks and months.
Comment by Alex — October 3, 2006 @ 12:23 pm
Thanks Andy!
I’m going to try and do one a week, so keep your ears open.