Customer Reviews

Into the West

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am not sure how I first came across Pilate (now Pilot Speed) due to legal issues Canadian versus American. Anyhow, this is just a reissue of their Canadian release of Self Control... I don't care which you buy, but buy one of these guys' records. The voice shines with brilliance and a little angst. These guys should be HUGE. 10 years ago, they probably would have fit in right with Dishwalla in the upsurge of Alternative. Now a "post-grunge" band, they blend beautiful angst with beautiful ballads. I love them. I just now saw them in Columbus, Ohio WWCD (CD101) "Big Room." A small acoustic setting, seating about 15. Totally acoustic. I was in awe by the beauty. Please take note, and support this band.

Contrary to a previous review, this American import of "Sell Control for Life's Speed" by the former Pilate is identical to its source except for the deletion of "Lover Come In" and the addition of "Into Your Hideout" and "Alright" from 2003's "Caught by the Window."

I only heard the album's first single "Barely Listening" on my city's alt-rock station, but that was all it took. Listening to this album shows strong influence by early U2 and the Cure, but singer/lyricist Todd Clark's wordplay and the grinding/melodic instruments give this band a life all its own. The songs range from romantic to dirge-like, but they never bore and they never tire. Not a single song disappoints. If you're looking for haunting lyrics and stirring melodies, "Into the West" is your one-stop shop.

This is one of the best albums I've purchased in a long time. I particularly like Over Ground. It's one of those songs were you just get lost in your thoughts when it plays. Give this album a shot...you won't be disappointed. No matter what kind of day you're having, it's sure to take you on a journey that will put a smile on your face.

Heard a song in a movie Death Sentence with Kevin Bacon. Went to the usual iTunes Store and couldn't find the song after the Google search. Couldn't buy it at JB's as it wasn't on their list so tried Amazon. Got the CD in pretty quick time at a great price. Thanks.
PS - Cant understand why this group are not better known. With the exception of a couple of ordinary tracks they are top drawer with a top album.

It's probable that you've never heard of this band, although I think they're better than most music on the radio today. Pilot Speed has a great sound with meaningful lyrics, not such a common combination in today's music world. It would be great if these guys were more well known; I definitely think they deserve it. It would also be great if their two original albums were available in the US.

My favorite tracks are: I won't blame you, Alright, Ambulance, and Into the West

Hope you give it a try!

I purchased this CD for my Dad who is a fan of Pilot Speed. My Dad had already heard many of the songs beforehand and so needless to say he thought the music to be excellent. We listened to a few songs together and figured how to play one of them on the guitar. That's what I liked about the album;and that's what I call quality musicianship, the production of music that is reproducable with musical instruments so other musicians can play it.

This album and these guys are good! You like Pink Floyd, great, so do I. You like Vertical Horizon, me too. I downloaded a couple of their songs and was hooked, then I bought the album and downloaded everyone of the tracks onto my IPOD. This is some great melodic rock stuff, do not hold it against them because they are from Canada, these guys rock. I cannot wait for their next album, if you want to try something different, try this. This is what REM should have been. My new favorite band is Pilot Speed.

While listening to Into the West from Canadian rockers Pilot Speed, and reading over their press kit, I was consumed by one burning question: Why did they change their name? They used to go by Pilate, which for my money is a more intriguing name; Pilot Speed just sounds like it came up as a non sequitur in a free-association session, but Pilate has specific cultural weight.

I don't bring this up because I'm looking for an answer (after a brief Google search, I found the answer anyway), but to illustrate the mindset that listening to this album induces, which is to say a definite wandering of attention. These gents can play, but they sound like a number of different bands without managing to rise above those musical predecessors, and if you're not in the mood to play Guess the Influence, it all blends into a sonic mélange, a.k.a. noise. I heard echoes of U2, Coldplay, the Goo Goo Dolls and Springsteen before I reached the fourth song, at which point I got bored and stopped counting.

Still, there are good points to this disc. It opens strong with "Knife-Grey Sea," a lovely mid-tempo rocker which, despite being in the key of The Joshua Tree, serves as a good introduction to the band. "Barely Listening" and "Turn the Lights On" are strong showings of the band's rock skills and sensibilities, and the whole shebang closes very nicely on the sad piano balladry and haunting background choral work of the disc's title track. It's far from being a complete wash, but the band sounds like it has a ways to go in firming up its identity, and by extension its sound. Hopefully, they'll have it nailed the next time around.

I only heard of Pilot Speed through watching a Kevin Bacon Film recently and their track 'Alright' was on the soundtrack. I bought the album on the back of this great song and was not disappointed. Great melodies, moving and moody songs. Sort of reminds me of U2 in places (normally this would be a bad thing, but it works here). Love it.

The fact that this is material pooled together from mulitple sources is evident. As an album it is so, so. "Knife Grey Sea" is a very special highlight on this ok album. It's subtley powerful lyrically and musically. I find myself more and more being drawn to these young Canadian bands; they're good.