Bethany Tomkins: Ready. Fire. Aim.
CD Review - Million Billion
L.A.-based band Million Billion was kind enough to send 520 an advance release copy of their debut CD, "Ready. Fire. Aim." Coming up on their 2-year anniversary, the band has clearly worked toward a goal of producing listenable, tenable pop rock (with a little soul and folk thrown in), and they've succeeded. Lead vocalist Gavin Bellour has a sound reminiscent of the early '90s, and the support of musicians Brian Ulrich and Yonatan Elkayam build each song into a richly detailed sonic experience. Aesthetically, the band has a hip style to their appearance, but after listening to this disc on repeat, trust me.. they are so much more than just their image.
"The Moped Song" opens the disc, and it's an attention-getter. This first taste of what Million Billion has to offer gives the listener understandable lyrics, punchy melody, and if you enjoy pop, exactly what you want to hear. The band describes their sound as "one with a progressive nature, but also a timeless and classic quality," according to their MySpace page ( myspace.com/millionbillion). No argument hear, since it's definitely a familiar sound, but not a copycat of any specific bands or artists per se. Deeper into the playlist is "Milk & Honey," a touching song that may well be Million Billion's CD single release (or at least, it would be if I were choosing it). The songs combine melodic hooks with ample acoustic guitar and percussion, and "Milk & Honey" is a particularly expert example of the trio's refined sound. Another favorite is the final track, "Psalm For Lovers Without Lovers" - touching, effective, and catchy.
The band has collaborated with, and/or shared bills with, several major artists, including Ray LaMontagne and Beck. This year they're set to perform at the South-By-Southwest SXSW festival in March. Who knows, they might be intuitive enough to make their way to Knoxville.. in the meantime, "Ready. Fire. Aim." is definitely recommended to anyone looking for a pop fix with a little edge on top. The band's official website is www.millionbillionmusic.com, and the CD's national release date was February 1. Consider yourself armed and dangerous with knowledge of... Million Billion.
(Editor's note: there's a rumor that their appearance at SXSW has been cancelled. Please consult their website to confirm at a later date.)