Pilot Scott Tracy – Any City
(Alternative Tentacles)

Although The Causey Way wasn’t around very long, they did leave a pretty good impression, creating a devoted following of fans who would jump at the chance to be a member of their “cult”. Just as the buzz of The Causey Way was at its height, the band seemed to implode, apparently due to some stressful touring. All hope seemed lost. Just as fans of The Causey Way were about to drink the poisoned Kool Aid, the phoenix rose from the ashes! Well, sort of. The Causey Way was no more, but Pilot Scott Tracy had been born.

Only a year after the release of The Causey Way’s final full length 2001 album “Causey vs. Everything”, Pilot Scott Tracy’s first album, “Flight 0713”, received minimal distribution through What Else? Records and even less press. Featuring two original Causey Way members, including Causey himself (otherwise known as Scott Stanton), PST pretty much picked up where the Causey Way left off. The same quirky vocals, crunchy guitars and fuzzy synths gave fans a hopeful sign that Causey was not dead but re-incarnated. Although the album was good, it didn’t really progress the sound that made The Causey Way so great.

Now, two years later, Pilot Scott Tracy returns with “Any City”, their second full length album. The good news is this record finds itself supported by Alternative Tentacles, the Jello Biafra-owned label that released The Causey Way’s last two full lengths. The even better news is this album is very good. Leaning back towards the quirky indie rock/new wave sounds of their first two Causey releases, “Any City” is more pop than fuzz.

The album opens with “Human Earthquake”, one minute and forty-four seconds of aggressive stop-start guitars, fuzzy new-wave synths and Scott Stanton’s high pitched squealing voice. A few songs in we begin to hear a more subdued twist with the Casio friendly “The Time Has Come”, and on to a Ladytron-esque “Daisies” featuring Miss Tracy on vocals. One of the best songs on the album, “Angel of Death”, happens to sound the least like the Causey we used to know. Big rock drums and a Cars-esque keyboard line creates a simple, catchy pop song. It’s nice to hear clean guitars on this album, rather then the possibly over-used fuzzed out guitars. Die-hard Causey fans may even be reminded of the Scott Stanton’s early years in This Bike Is Not A Pipe Bomb. It’s also interesting to note that the cover artwork is credited to Causey himself.

The only problem, albeit a minor one, with Pilot Scott Tracy is the theme. The band pose as airline workers and claim to have began playing in-flight performances on board the “momentous flight 0713 from Pensacola, FL to Kalamazoo, MI.” I think the only reason this airline theme is hard to get used to is because The Causey Way’s cult schtick worked so well. Fans of Scott Stanton will always remember him as Causey rather than Pilot Scott Tracy. But in the big picture, this is a very small complaint. I guess in the end I’m just biased seeing as I’m afraid of flying and I’ve always wanted to join a cult. — Jay C.

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