Album Reviews

So, where does Pillar go from here? Most likely to heaven. This is probably because they thank God so many times in their liner notes. However, religion aside, I’m not going to focus on the Christian rock aspect of this record, but boy is there plenty of Christian rock to go around.

The plan was to listen to the album with headphones on. This served the dual purpose of both allowing my lady friend to study in peace, and sparing her from what I thought would be a disappointing listen.

Where Do We Go From Here? is Pillar’s fourth album, and it rocks in the way that Linkin Park, or more specifically, Creed, P.O.D., or maybe like Default rocks.

“Stop tapping your foot, or take off your shoes.” the lady friend grumbles.

I was tapping my foot. Wow, I guess track six, "Rewind", is catchier than I thought. It’s where Pillar 'lessens the wattage', which is an explanation taken from the band’s website. In "Rewind", lead singer, Rob Beckley can be found lamenting “if I could rewind I’d take back the lies and all of those times I hurt you”. And you know, I really think he would.

Pillar gives you that simple, radio-friendly, power chord rock that the average indie, punk, metal or emo kid probably won’t like. However, I can honestly see Pillar becoming alternative rock radio darlings. This whole album could probably hit the radio if that’s how Pillar wanted to roll. But I know how Pillar rolls, and I know that when they roll, Jesus rides shotgun, and when you have your “Lord and savior Jesus Christ” (taken from the liner notes) riding shotgun, you can’t be stopped.

I can’t lie and say that I didn’t read the liner notes before listening to the album, and I won’t lie and say that I thought the album was going to be any good at all, simply judging from the insert. But hot damn, I think...I liked it? Okay, well maybe not liked, but I can definitely say that I enjoyed what will probably be my only listen.

If you’re still interested in giving Pillar a taste test, visit www.pillarmusic.com where you can stream the album and check out the overall coolness of the site.

~Benjamin Park

Any good band is going to transform as time goes on, and Pillar is no different. However comfortable I may be with the simplicity of Dove Award winning material like "Above", I have to be willing to give "change" a chance, and with the huge success of "Fireproof" much has changed for Pillar. Most noticeably, the band has dropped the rock/rap of "Above" and moved to a more melodic rock. That brings me to the down-side of "Where Do We Go From Here," and that is that it sounds like many other rock albums out there; like P.O.D. or Chevelle. Lyrically, the band wishes to be more "universal" as is the case with "Bring Me Down," a song that is a reaction to criticisms and unwarranted (maybe unwanted) advice from outsiders. In the middle of the album though, I found my greatest pleasure in two songs that were more lyrically pointed - "Simply" and "Rewind."

"Where Do We Go From Here" is not as ground breaking as "Fireproof," but it shows a determination and drive that could equate to longevity. In today's music scene longevity is hard to come by.

~Ken W.