A Review of The Phantom Tollbooth

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Caught by the Window
Artist: Pilate
Label: Maple Music Recordings
Length: 13 Tracks/54:22

Pilate has burst out to the Canadian music scene with Caught by the Window, a moody bit of genre-mixing eclectic pop-rock that will interest music fans who enjoy strong, emotional vocals and bands like U2, Coldplay and Starflyer 59. Caught by the Window lyrically speaks of love lost and longed for in dreamy, poetic passages that could be just as well be read aloud in a coffee house as well as set to music. The song “Alright” seems to point to a rocky relationship between lovers who may have left faith behind for love(?):

When I can’t feel you,
I’m not alright, I’m not alright,
When I can’t heal you,
I’m not alright, I’m not alright
Jesus as you throw me on the rocks,
For love I left your side
For I believed in love and beauty’s whiles,
Where heaven shone from her eyes
Tell me that it wasn’t all for naught,
It’s such a waste now, it’s such a waste now c’mon
I know your scared but baby don’t you hide,
It’s such a waste,
We’ll stand alone now, we’ll make it somehow

Sonically the production on Caught by the Window is understated and unobtrusive, allowing the powerful vocals by Todd Clark to be showcased. The album features sparse and sometimes gentle, ethereal, and distant instrumentation with passages that alternately rise and fall in strength and volume—musically the CD reminds me of a gentle spring rainy day. Caught by the Window is a moody collection of strong modern pop-rock tunes that will provide a soundtrack for folks who enjoy listening and singing along to songs musing about love and relationships.

Check out Pilate on the web here: http://www.pilate.com/

Pick up the CD here: http://www.maplemusic.com/product.asp?dept_id=821&pf_id=820-02&lang=EN

Barry Nothstine 4/18/2004

Barry Nothstine hosts Soul Frequency (http://www.soulfrequency.com), a weekly FM and Internet radio show showcasing progressive rock, instrumental rock, Christian rock, power-pop, Psychedelic rock, rock classics and more—great rock for the ages!