WAR AND PEACE
The Walls Have Eyes
Z Records 2004
www.jeffpilson.com

Read the Jeff Pilson interview

What's the 4-1-1?
Former Dokken bassist releases his third album under the War & Peace moniker. While past War & Peace albums were a way for Pilson to release demos and unreleased material to his fans, The Walls Have Eyes is a full-length album performed almost completely by Pilson himself.

Genre
Hard rock / melodic rock

The Good
Nice, clean guitar picking and light riffing command the intro track "Calling", which leads to a rhythmic build-up into "Reflections". Pilson has a low register voice that comes off smooth and melodic. The song itself is about looking back on life and seeing that nothing has changed. Not only does "City In Flames" have some heavy guitar, but it has some heavy lyrical content as well. The title track "The Walls Have Eyes" is pretty deep in it's depiction of violated trust. Guitar virtuoso Alex Masi really shines on "Stranger in My Own Land". From the simple, melodic opening lick to his frantic neo-classical guitar solo. By this track you really start to appreciate to vocalist that Pilson is. Not too over the top, but right on the money. One has to wonder if "Rock and Roll Breakdown" is about Jeff's former band mate Don Dokken. Sample lyric: Down 'n' with the ship/Ego on a trip/Out of body place/Mind in outer space. It's also strange that the guitar work is very George Lynch-ish. The heaviest track by far is "The Shell". Pilson throws in some STP style megaphone vocals that really work for the song. The power ballad "Desperate Hearts" would make a great first single for War and Peace. It has just the right balance of sap and crunch.

The Bad
There are a couple of tracks that are duds.

The Verdict
If you're expecting Dokken, you're not gonna get it. Pilson's War & Peace project is a little more laid back. It has some punch here and there, but it's an otherwise mellow affair. There's plenty of thought, feeling, and emotion behind Jeff lyrics and his vocal ability is sure to surprise you. The Walls Have Eyes didn't really have the kick I expected, but it did show me that Pilson has a knack for good melodic rock songwriting.

Did you know?
Jeff Pilson’s favorite television show is The West Wing.

Rating: out of 5

--George Dionne