Album Review
How redundant it must be for some artists to write and rewrite the pop song, drawing from the same well of themes. Ever since the Beatles asked that special someone to "love, love me do," countless musicians have found inspiration in relationship issues. Weezer looks for "a girl who acts like no one else," Phil Collins warns of the "easy lover," and Nirvana gave us a longing little tune "about a girl." Yet it still seems mandatory to introduce a band's work by discussing its lyrics when those lyrics turn toward religion. "The Billions? Oh yeah, they're Christian, aren't they?"
Perhaps so-called "Christian bands" once occupied a lesser stage, dismissed as generic versions of their MTV counterparts. With the crossover success of bands like Sixpence None the Richer and Jars of Clay, and more recently P.O.D. and Joseph Arthur, the legitimacy of rock and roll's quest to find God has been secured. Acts like Sunny Day Real Estate, Pedro the Lion and Duvall have found audiences alongside their less overtly spiritual contemporaries.
Enter The Billions. On their newest release, the band makes no attempt to disguise its spiritual purpose: to show that songs written to and about God can be every bit as compelling as songs about relationships. The title track draws on biblical language, while "Reason We Sing" states its message directly. Rather than detract from the music, that openness gives The Billions a sincerity rarely found among their peers. The band isn't just preaching; it is creating. A proper examination of Never Felt This Way Before has to go deeper than its Christian affiliation.
Never Felt This Way Before combines dense instrumentation with catchy, mid-tempo pop hooks. Many of its songs feel familiar without sounding like copies of anything in particular, a considerable credit to the songwriting talents of Sam and Dan Billen. With the addition of permanent percussionist Ken Komiya, The Billions have moved farther from the electronic roots heard on their previously self-released Quiet as It's Kept. They create rich, plush soundscapes without giving up their signature sing-along moments. The Billions seem equally invested in creation and execution, with an emphasis on variety.
The album does have weak moments. "My Life" trudges slowly along, while "Another Lonely Day" works against the record's momentum. These are exceptions rather than the rule. "I Won't Turn Away" and "Never Felt This Way Before" have enough appeal to carry a full-length album, while the six-and-a-half-minute "Cure the Sea" evokes its biblical subject, Jonah, with vibrant force.
Comparisons to veteran bands like The Cure and relative newcomers like Pinback seem natural. The Billions aren't covering entirely new ground; they are bringing a particular spiritual perspective into independent music. As monotony and sameness become increasingly common, bands like The Billions are ready to challenge listeners' preconceptions. Never Felt This Way Before adds to the case for Christian bands and shows that fine songwriting is the hallmark of any credible band.
Review by Mark Newton
