What the heck is in the water at Northern Records? Eric Campuzano and company have a knack for finding some of the best bands out there and laying down some serious music. This time around it's a group of four lads from Topeka called The Billions.
Now I admit, that my first listen to the disc left me wanting. But I gave it time and now I can't get enough. This is one of the sweetest things I've had in the CD player in a long time. A beautiful album of nicely understated indie-pop. Not too hard, not too soft. There just aren't enough glowing adjectives in the English language to do these guys justice. And the scary thing is that I've heard they are even better live.
The band consists of brothers Dan and Sam Billen along with childhood friend John Jared Bowes, and more recent addition, percussionist and long-time friend Ken Komiya. And all of them are serious musicians with serious talent.
The disc starts off nicely with "I Won't Turn Away" and doesn't miss a beat. Unlike much of today's indie music, The Billions don't spend their time moping and navel-gazing. This is bright, upbeat, happy music...without giving way to the saccharine tendencies of mainstream pop. The songs are filled with a positive outlook, as it's obvious the band is very happy and content with who they are, with a nice dose of hope for the future. And every track is good. As for the reason they sing? Gee, guess what? They address that in a song called, aptly enough, "The Reason We Sing":
I want you to know that the reason we sing
Is to let you know about the love God brings
And the craziest people in the whole, wide world
He loves the same way whether boy or girl
But there is none of the treacle and pabulum that passes for music in the CCM realm these days. This is intelligent stuff. The Billions have done themselves a big favor by signing with Northern rather than taking the easy way out on a Christian label where their talents would have been wasted, their ideals suppressed, and their music ignored by the masses. (Some time I'll let loose and tell you how I really feel!)
Musically, you'll hear a touch of the seventies, along with some Beach Boys, with a sound much akin to contemporary bands like Modest Mouse, Rainer Maria, 764-Hero, and Matt Pond PA. But their sound is uniquely their own.
While two of their three earlier independent releases were produced by Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame, this disc is produced by Chris Colbert at the late, great Fabulous Green Room, with technical help from Andrew Prickett. And when you put the entire package together, you get a disc with some serious staying power and lots of potential for the college radio scene.
4.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #98Reviewed by Chris RoseQuiet, whispery and sweet, like Belle and Sebastian. Spacey like Honey. The best driving music, only behind Nick Drake's Pink Moon. Superb for nights of coffee, distant lights and reflection. The Billions' Never Felt This Way Before should be in any collection. It peaks early, though, with track two's "Hey Girl" stealing the entire record in electronic hums and simple, unobtrusive acoustic…Opus 2002Reviewed by Jason MoreheadSarcasm just isn't what it used to be. If there's one trend that has really played itself out, it's that blasted "hipper than thou" chic that seems to sprout up where two or more indie kids are gathered. This is the sort of "Am I Indie or Not" gig that usually plays out in faded t-shirts that are too tight (bonus points if it's an iron-on), bored expressions, and patented anti-authoritarian…Similar sounding releases
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