IN
REVIEW The Sunpilots: Living Receiver Posted
on July 24 2008 by the Music News Desk
The first time I stumbled across The Sunpilots was on a Saturday morning about six months ago. I was reading the morning paper with Video Hits on TV in the background when amongst the familiar murmur of Timbaland, Madonna and Chris Brown my attention was immediately drawn to an unfamiliar clip ‘Spotlight in the Sun’ by an unknown Australian band The Sunpilots.
At the heart of it, I was intrigued, in part by the semi-professional nature of the video (a gem in comparison to the indulgent bravado of regular MTV mainstays and fly-by-nighters), but also by the evident quality and instant appeal of the track itself, why hadn’t I heard of these guys before?
Formed in 2005, The Sunpilots, regarded by many as one of Australia’s best-kept rock secrets, have been building a strong reputation for their live performances in and around the Sydney circuit. A year in the making, 2008 sees the long awaited independent release of their full-length debut album.
Produced by Phil McKellar (Silverchair, Grinspoon) and mastered in New York by Ted Jensen (My Chemical Romance), Living Receiver is the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation sees the band lay it all on the line as they present to the world their labour of love.
Kicking off with the engaging Animals in My Mind, and latest single You’re Gonna Be a Star, its easy to draw parallels with the early work of US band Live, with frontman Raj Siva-Rajah bearing a striking vocal resemblance to Ed Kowalcyk.
What impresses me most about this release is how well constructed each of the tracks are which helps the band convey a heightened level of confidence which transcends what their limited recording experience would otherwise suggest.
Other standout tracks include the brooding Metric System, and the accompanying string arrangements on Ne Risque Rien and 2 Into 3, in what is on the whole a consistently strong album.
The challenge ahead for the band will be in achieving commercial airplay in reaching their target audience, however with a comprehensive national album tour throughout July, August and September, I doubt that the Sunpilots will remain a secret for much longer.
Get notified
about all music festival related news and updates including dates & lineup announcements,
sideshows, and your chance to win some of the hottest tickets and prizes on the
planet!
The first time I stumbled across The Sunpilots was on a Saturday morning about six months ago. I was reading the morning paper with Video Hits on TV in the background when amongst the familiar murmur of Timbaland, Madonna and Chris Brown my attention was immediately drawn to an unfamiliar clip ‘Spotlight in the Sun’ by an unknown Australian band The Sunpilots. 
