Idiot Pilot released their first album, Strange We Should Meet Here, on the independent Bellingham label Clickpop Records in 2004 before they were picked up by Reprise, which reissued it in 2005.
Idiot Pilot released their second album Wolves digitally on October 2, 2007, before it received a proper retail CD release on February 12, 2008. The album was co-produced by Ross Robinson (At the Drive-In, Glassjaw, Slipknot) and Mark Hoppus of blink-182. It features drummer Chris Pennie on all tracks except "Elephant," which features Travis Barker. "Retina and the Sky" was also featured on Transformers: The Album alongside songs by such major bands as The Smashing Pumpkins, HIM, Disturbed, and Linkin Park.
In March 2009, Idiot Pilot parted ways with Reprise following its merger with Warner Bros. due to the poor promotion Wolves received, and other "artistic differences." Harris toured and recorded with Cold vocalist Scooter Ward's side project The Killer and the Star, playing bass, and toured with Cold as a second guitarist.
In March 2010, Idiot Pilot self-released a single titled "The Tail of a Jet Black Swan" through their official website as a pay-what-you-want download. This would be their last release before announcing an indefinite hiatus in January 2011.
Since the hiatus, Daniel Anderson has remained very busy artistically. He had already began a solo project called Glowbug that October, releasing an EP titled Awful Scary, Yes, Very on the 14th. This was followed by Silian Rail and Displacer Beast released in November and December, respectively. The debut Glowbug album, Mr. Plastic, was released on May 25, 2011. He has gone on to release three more original albums, a Weezer cover album, an EP of several covers, a Christmas-themed EP, a collaborative EP with Russian Red, as well as other standalone singles and music videos as of 2018, including a video with pornographic actress Dani Daniels. All the while, he has been touring with Hyro da Hero, working as a session musician, and lending his songwriting abilities to other bands and artists. He has also left his hometown of Bellingham and moved to Los Angeles, California.
In February 2019, Idiot Pilot officially ended their hiatus by announcing a new album, Blue Blood, to be self-released on March 12, 2019. They have an official homepage at https://www.idiotpilotmusic.com/, and Blue Blood is available for download on their Bandcamp page at https://idiotpilot.bandcamp.com.
Spark Plug
Idiot Pilot Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Through the spectrum, a spectrum
You wanna tumble with me?
We'll take you out, with election election
Don't bother to retreat
We'll hold you down, with connections, connections
We will not settle til we
Down
Follow you down
I
[okay something just a razor pill something just save your last razor for a razor with a slide]
Sill the sound
Welcome back it's erection suspension
The comma we've received
Has want you down to pretension, retention
Please don't argue with me for any count of complexion complexion
We will not settle til we
Have {almost died/all gone free}
See
Have all gone free
I
[Well okay, ??? just a razor pill something just save your last razor for a razor with sluts]
Well something in the scripture
Open a mace to make the face turn round
Does it make it look like anyone can fly
[stop it] Yea [kill it] Yea
I'm pissed ?? around a slide
Turn your ass round and (just keep it going)
Everyone walk to a single file/space
[stop it] Yea [kill it] Yea [stop it] Yea [kill it] Yea {etc}
That's probably why I can't stand up now.
{Chorus}
The lyrics to Idiot Pilot's "Spark Plug" are a bit difficult to decipher, as they seem to jump around in meaning and theme. However, there are a few key ideas that come through in the song. It seems as though the band is railing against those who have had good fortune or success, perhaps in the music industry, and are now using their power and connections to hold others down. The repeated refrain of "follow you down" suggests a desire to see these individuals brought low, with the hope that they will suffer the same fate as those they have kept underfoot. The second verse seems to touch on themes of hypocrisy and false appearances, as the band points out the shallow pretensions of those who have gained power and influence.
Overall, "Spark Plug" seems to be a bit of a rebellious anthem, calling out those who have risen to the top and using anger and frustration as a way to take them down. The references to "election election" and "connections, connections" suggest a political or social commentary as well, perhaps pointing to the corrupt or unfair systems that allow certain people to gain power and hold onto it.
Line by Line Meaning
Fortunes are running out
Money and good luck are coming to an end
Through the spectrum, a spectrum
This represents the different aspects of life, both positive and negative
You wanna tumble with me?
Do you want to fight me?
We'll take you out, with election election
We will defeat you with cunning and strategy
Don't bother to retreat
Don't bother trying to escape
We'll hold you down, with connections, connections
We will use our power and influence to keep you under control
We will not settle til we
We will not stop until we achieve our goal
Follow you down
We will track you down and pursue you relentlessly
I [okay something just a razor pill something just save your last razor for a razor with a slide]
This line is unclear and doesn't seem to have a clear meaning
Sill the sound
The noise has stopped
Welcome back it's erection suspension
We're back in the game, ready to fight
The comma we've received
The setback we've experienced
Has want you down to pretension, retention
This has made you pretentious and unwilling to compromise
Please don't argue with me for any count of complexion complexion
Please don't try to dispute my authority or power
We will not settle til we
We will not stop until we achieve our goal
Have {almost died/all gone free}
Either we will have come close to destruction, or we will have achieved total freedom
See
Listen closely and pay attention
Have all gone free
We have achieved total freedom
I [Well okay, ??? just a razor pill something just save your last razor for a razor with sluts]
This line is unclear and doesn't seem to have a clear meaning
Well something in the scripture
There's something in the text
Open a mace to make the face turn round
Something is going to happen that will surprise and shake things up
Does it make it look like anyone can fly
Does it give a false sense of empowerment and invincibility?
[stop it] Yea [kill it] Yea
This may be an expression of frustration or aggression
I'm pissed ??? around a slide
I'm angry and trying to find a way out of a difficult situation
Turn your ass round and (just keep it going)
Turn around and don't look back, just keep moving forward
Everyone walk to a single file/space
We need to move in a specific, organized way
[stop it] Yea [kill it] Yea [stop it] Yea [kill it] Yea {etc}
This may be an expression of frustration or aggression
That's probably why I can't stand up now.
The frustration and difficulty has made it hard to keep going
Contributed by Juliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.