Poughkeepsie is a funny name for a town. Sure, there might be a perfectly good reason to name a town Poughkeepsie, but who would ever care enough to find out what it was? There are actually tons of towns with fun names that no one cares about: Walla Walla, WA; Pardeeville, WI (get it? Party-ville!); Woonsocket, RI; Shinglehouse, PA; the list goes on and on. But the fun stops when you actually live in one of these towns. No one wants to stay put in Delight, AR, so they inevitably scrap together some wild plan (like only Delightians can) to get the heck out of Dodge (KS). In the case of I Am the Pilot, five young Poughkeepsites formed a band with a name that rivals their town's in hilarity in order to escape its borders.

But they've put together a polished record in the process. If nothing else, Crashing into Consciousness is a superbly crafted imitation of so many pop-rock acts that've graced the radio in the last five years. Unfortunately it's all been heard before. Lead singer Chad Gannon's heartfelt laments remind us that the influence of Something Corporate has yet to be purged from popular music some five years after Leaving Through the Window. The guitar sound could've been taken straight off a Brand New album. But for all their unoriginality, I Am the Pilot has laid down an enjoyable album. Crashing into Consciousness is powerful, energetic, and a little bit catchy. Highlights include the forceful "Gone Too Far" and the softer "Waiting Takes a Lifetime." For such a young band (publicity photos reveal that Gannon has yet to begin shaving), their debut on Broken English Records seems promising. Perhaps in a few years these Poughkeepsites will be crashing into major airplay.