Millenium Resorts’ album title, In the Key of David, may make you think of Stevie Wonder’s famous Songs in the Key of Life. The biggest difference being that Wonder was/is overwhelmingly positive, whereas Millenium Resorts (despite its vacation-y moniker) leans more towards a glass half empty vibe. Wonder was also just one man (and a one-man band, at that), whereas Millenium Resorts is a duo.
Perhaps no song expresses Millenium’s down perspective more than “Happiness,” which includes the following chorus: “Happiness is overrated.” Really? Isn’t ‘the pursuit of happiness,’ the American way, after all? This act creates a keyboard-y musical track, which lasts nearly eight minutes, which is none to keen on happiness.
Scott Raullie and Jonathan Richerson are the Austin, Texas pair that make up the Millenium Resorts duo. The music they’ve created for In the Key of David can best be described as Goth-y, dance-y soundscapes. For instance, sound effects are incorporated into one titled “Obscene,” which is another lengthy track. It’s not even the longest one here, though, as “Identity Theft” is a full 12:40. “Obscene” utilizes spoken-ish verse singing, where the song’s chorus is sung as just a one-word chorus. It’s not obvious what point the pair is making with this title and lyrics. Things obscene are found in school and even in church, we’re told in the song. Does this suggest that sex is everywhere and that some sex is considered to be obscene by some people? With that said, though, the goal posts for obscenity keep moving. What may have been considered obscene, say, ten years ago, is perfectly natural and acceptable now. It’s still a highly triggering term, though.
One of the prettiest melodies on the album is the one for “Eternal Rest.” It grooves to a chiming sound. Then again, it’s also about death. Eternal rest is a term some use to describe someone who has passed on. It has a bit of an ‘80s sound to it, which – with its more melodic vocals – might remind you of some of Tears For Fears’ darker creations from that era. Although it comes along over half the way through the project, there is a track called “Intermission.” It is not so much a song, as it is a series of spooky sounds. No vocals on it, though.
The ten-track album concludes with “Omega.” This one also is a distinctly sung song, as opposed to many of the more spoken-y pieces on the album. It’s a slow, synthy piece with sounds like it could have been played at the funeral that accompanied “Eternal Rest.” It’s a bit of a heartbroken benediction. That only makes sense, as everything that comes before it is equally depressed. It’s another long one, 9:30 in length, and includes both quiet and loud parts. It even includes sections from The Velvet Underground’s song “Jesus,” toward the track’s end.
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A millennium is a period of 1,000 years, and this album by Millennium Resorts makes the future – if the earth even gets a thousand more years of life, seem like a dark time. One is left wondering if the ‘David’ referred to in the album title is the David that wrote Biblical Psalms. If so, this is an album inspired by some of that writer/musician’s most desperate thoughts. Be prepared for a whole lot of hurt put to music when taking this album in.
-Dan MacIntosh
