A full-length album release from Echo Pilot brings forth a massive energy that takes elements of pop rock, indie, alternative, and even undertones of punk at times, and brings them all together in a nine-track record that has surprises around the corners, and, a lot of the time, a pop overtone that brings together color and edginess.
The Notion album wastes little time showcasing that pop coating with the first track on the record, "It's Over Now".
This is quite a bright single and showcases the band's presence right from the get-go as it displays massive energy and sonic drive but still has that vivacious sort of approach that lets you know you are about to embark on a musical journey that is going to be spirited to see the least.
This track is followed by "Out of The Ordinary", a song that slowly begins to introduce the influence of classic rock in their staple sound. This element shows up a lot more throughout the record, and you start to grasp how they can take all of these different rock genres and blend them seamlessly.
This track also starts displaying some punk rock rawness and a more righteous energy that feels edgier and slightly thrashier at times. You get a hint of aggression, which is a good element to bring into the mix this early on in the record.
The next track is called "Above the Skies", which for me is classic rock all the way. The verse and chorus melodies, along with the guitar tone and riffs, are all super vintage feeling but with a bit of a heavier tonality.
This is a brilliant combination that showcases the band's ability to create something fresh with vintage influences.
As the record unfolds, you get hints of 90s underground alt-rock, radio rock, and so much more, but again, there is a confluence and staple soundscape that these guys bring on, especially between the vocals and the guitar work.
It all comes together like pieces of a puzzle, and one of the things that I adore the most about this record is its vocal approach as a whole.
The vocals are harmonious, anthemic when they want to be, a little aggressive when they need to be, and have a particular tone and approach to them that creates the glue that holds everything together.
This is a record that you should listen to from beginning to end.
Listening to a few songs may give you a gist or an idea of what you might expect, but it will not give you anywhere near the spectrum that the album has to offer as a whole.
This album is a great experience if listened to in full. I feel like that's the way it was meant to be heard.
I come from a time when I heard songs on the radio or read about them in a magazine and then went to the store to buy the album the single was from.
When you brought that record home, you did nothing but sit and listen to the entire thing through.
That album was an experience. I feel like Echo Pilot has brought that back with this release.
One of the most vibrantly thrashy tracks on the record is called "Wise Guy" and this is one of the hardest-hitting songs on the entire album.
This is where that punk rock element comes in, and they certainly don't hold much back in the way of letting loose.
The song is still radio-friendly to me. I can still hear this song on any major rock station in the country. It would make perfect sense if it came on after any other song.
I love that these guys have captured an energy that lets you know they're going to bring it in a live performance.
Listening to a record and knowing that that band is going to be awesome to see live is a rarity but when you listen to this record, you can just tell.
The energy captured on the record makes you feel like everyone is feeding off of each other, so in a live setting, you are going to get that energy times 10.
Still, they did an amazing job of capturing that aesthetic. The drive is intense and thriving.
This is a record you listen to at a good volume level. Don't bother doing it if you're going to listen to it quietly. It's not a quiet record. It's a rock record.
Notion is a massive release that hits with first, a little depth, character, and a knack for, again, blending that color and pop approach with a heavier edginess whenever they want.
Definitely check this out when you get a chance and remember where you heard it first.
Comments