2008 Woodie Awards
'Wolves' has bark, not as much bite
By: Mike Fuksman
Issue date: 1/9/08 Section: Lifeline
Not many rock bands have the gall to replace real live bass guitar and drums with electronic substitutes.
And of those that do, not many can pull it off with the gusto that Idiot Pilot does on "Wolves," its sophomore release.
While the band does feature a real drummer when they play live, their studio recordings employ instrumentation more suited to experimental electronic music.
And yet somehow, they manage to make their songs as hard-hitting as any "normal" rock band.
"Elephant," the second track of the record, opens with barely audible electronic micro-beats before exploding into a guitar-heavy chorus. Other similarly heavy tracks include "Retina In The Sky" and fan favorite "Red Museum."
However, the band isn't afraid to slow things down a bit on occasion, often using soft, airy synthesizers to lighten the atmosphere.
Lead vocalist Michael Harris' Thom Yorke-esque crooning is perfectly suited to this style. The gentle piano and strings on "Theme From The Pit" and "Recurring Dream" are a marked departure from the band's previous post-hardcore sound.
If you're familiar with the band's past releases, you might wonder if they've gotten a little too soft. Gone are the hardcore-style screaming and distortion-laden guitars that the band used to rely on. Coincidentally, "Wolves" is the band's first major label release.
However, one might chalk that up to experimentation instead of commercialization. The songs on "Wolves" are far more varied than on their past releases.
"Wolves" also is the first record that the band didn't produce itself; famed producer Ross Robinson (At The Drive-In, Glassjaw) was brought in to help on the record, as well as +44 vocalist/bassist Mark Hoppus.
Idiot Pilot even branches out a bit into the realm of real (gasp!) instrumentation. The guitars on "Wolves" were recorded through real amps, as opposed to the digital amp simulations that the band used to prefer.
Whether you think Idiot Pilot has softened up or not, its degree of experimentation and innovation is undeniable. In an alternative scene full of copycats and clones, their willingness to try new things is more than welcome.
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
And of those that do, not many can pull it off with the gusto that Idiot Pilot does on "Wolves," its sophomore release.
While the band does feature a real drummer when they play live, their studio recordings employ instrumentation more suited to experimental electronic music.
And yet somehow, they manage to make their songs as hard-hitting as any "normal" rock band.
"Elephant," the second track of the record, opens with barely audible electronic micro-beats before exploding into a guitar-heavy chorus. Other similarly heavy tracks include "Retina In The Sky" and fan favorite "Red Museum."
However, the band isn't afraid to slow things down a bit on occasion, often using soft, airy synthesizers to lighten the atmosphere.
Lead vocalist Michael Harris' Thom Yorke-esque crooning is perfectly suited to this style. The gentle piano and strings on "Theme From The Pit" and "Recurring Dream" are a marked departure from the band's previous post-hardcore sound.
If you're familiar with the band's past releases, you might wonder if they've gotten a little too soft. Gone are the hardcore-style screaming and distortion-laden guitars that the band used to rely on. Coincidentally, "Wolves" is the band's first major label release.
However, one might chalk that up to experimentation instead of commercialization. The songs on "Wolves" are far more varied than on their past releases.
"Wolves" also is the first record that the band didn't produce itself; famed producer Ross Robinson (At The Drive-In, Glassjaw) was brought in to help on the record, as well as +44 vocalist/bassist Mark Hoppus.
Idiot Pilot even branches out a bit into the realm of real (gasp!) instrumentation. The guitars on "Wolves" were recorded through real amps, as opposed to the digital amp simulations that the band used to prefer.
Whether you think Idiot Pilot has softened up or not, its degree of experimentation and innovation is undeniable. In an alternative scene full of copycats and clones, their willingness to try new things is more than welcome.
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
