Stereotypes are meant to be shattered and destroyed to the point that you don’t even know why you had them.
And every once in awhile a band ,comes along and accomplishes that goal. Million/Billion, Los Angeles based Indie band does just that.
They are a true type of Indie (which I usually don’t enjoy) that I have never heard before. And they are incredible.
With their first studio album, Ready.Fire.Aim, they hit the bulls-eye.
They have produced a CD that manages to boast tracks that are varied and interesting but ultimately hang together in on cohesive album.
The sound is just a little bit country, with some funky beats, rock riffs and a whole lot of off-beat personality.
They are definitely not “mainstream” or typical.
“Milk & Honey,” the 10th track on the album, is fun and sincere.
The melody is plucky and encourages the listener to tap their toes along.
The song is driven by the soft drums and an interesting undertone of the bass.
The lyrics are playful and sincere about giving the person you love what you think they deserve.
Gavin Bellour, vocals, sings, “a stronger man would set you free/but I know I make you happy/at least for now/so let me give you my word…/one of these days/ we’ll get some money/and we can ride around the world like three/or four times one of these days.”
Track 7, “Apocalypse Now,” is an upbeat poppy tongue in cheek look at the state of the world.
The guitar drives the song with an intricate melody that seems to run up and down.
But what really drives this song are the lyrics which are both humorous but have a pointed message about the state of news as it reflects society.
“Bombs dropping/and wife swapping/and a cold front coming in from the north.”
This demonstrates how the serious is often overlooked by the vulgar or obscene and then all is capped off by the mundane.
The last song, “A Psalm for Lovers Without Lovers,” is a quiet and sincere plea to “heaven” to send someone.
The Bellour’s voice takes center stage in this song in a beautiful duet with the acoustic guitar.
This song is sad without being hopeless; instead, the singer just wants some assurance.
The lyrics are simple but poignant.
“So I guess that/after the rain/I’ll be back on that road again/still looking for that/sweet special friend that I can’t seem to find.”
In addition to singing, Bellour plays guitar “etc.”
The band is also made up of Brian Ulrich, drums, bg vox, “etc.” and Yonatan, drums, keys, bg vox “etc.”
The album also features a moog, piano, wurlitzer, viola, violin and a full horn section.
Million/Billion will be in Denver on June 7 at Benders Tavern at 9:30 p.m.