Again

Shortly after releasing Begin -- in retrospect arguably the finest soft kaleidoscopic pop album to surface during the entire 1960s -- the Millennium split up while attempting to translate the group's studio expertise into an actual touring combo. However, during its mid- to late-'60s stint, the loose group of itinerant friends made a veritable wealth of unreleased tapes both as the Millennium and under various other guises (Ballroom, Sagittarius, solo efforts). Thirty-odd years after the release of Begin, British label Poptones was given unlimited access to that treasure trove of recordings, and Again is the first album culled from the vaults. Again collects pre-production demos for Begin as well as other material that has never been released previously; in fact, some of the songs were intended for the band's never-recorded second album and are thankfully issued for the first time here. When compared with the landmark Begin, the album is rough-cut and, understandably, does not sparkle with the same brilliance. It is, however, a valuable artifact that offers a fascinating glimpse into the recording methods of Curt Boettcher and company. Even more than Begin, the album displays Boettcher's production genius and the band's consistently sensational songwriting and playing. Evidence lies not only in the presence of the pre-production tracks for "Claudia on Thursday," "It Won't Always Be the Same," and "It's You," but also in the previously unreleased "Love at Last," a jazz-meets-Rolling Stones gem. Lost is some of the translucent dreaminess that pervades the band's official release, but that does not render Again any less magical. This album should be a godsend to fans of the band. ~ Stanton Swihart|