MILLIONTOWN

Similar the the late show Seinfeld--the show about nothing--Milliontown is the album about nothing. If you need a plot, or at least lyrics about something tangible or relatable, then this won't be up your alley. Conversely, if you like creative, "balls-out" instrumentals, then then this will be for you.

Milliontown gets-r-done for me.

I'm going to be honest: I really only listen to this album for the first and final songs (like Spock's Beard's V, which wouldn't surprise me if it was hatched from the same prog-egg as Milliontown), although Black Light Machine is also a good listen with some catchy verses and interesting solos.

Hyperventilate kicks things off nicely. Let's see, we've got 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, and 7/4, which all can go by without really noticing because the melodies and playing are just flat out fun. Again, there's really nothing holding it together, but they pull it off.

I will appreciate Milliontown for what it is, because I don't think we're likely to get another epic from Jem. That's OK--they've left their mark nicely in my opinion. I find it pleasant and interesting throughout, but special mention must be made for the final 10 minutes or so: they are just rocking out and I love it. High energy, fun and well-played--what's not to like?

One oddity is with the individual contributions to this supergroup. Without seeing the line-up, I would not have guessed that Jowitt, Edwards and Mitchell are playing on this album. Edwards fills things up much more than I can remember in his IQ work (and to nice effect, to be sure), while I can barely hear Jowitt at all (though I suppose this is intentionally a blatant guitar-synth-drum mix). Finally, I am stunned that I often mistake Mitchell's playing for a synth. Very restrained and very robotic. It sounds very good, but it's hard to be happy with a t-bone when someone's having filet mignon right next to you.

All in all, I usually enjoy my visits to Milliontown, and I'm glad it happened. If you like the over-the-top instrumentals that neo prog can sometimes deliver, you can't get much better or more consistent than Milliontown.