The Millennium
's
Begin
is a bona fide lost classic. The brainchild of producers
Curt Boettcher
and
Gary Usher
, the group was formed out of the remnants of their previous studio project,
Sagittarius
-- which had been preceded by yet another aggregation,
the Ballroom
. On
, hard rock, breezy ballads, and psychedelia all merge into an absolutely air-tight concept album, easily on the level of other, more widely popular albums from the era such as
The Notorious Byrd Brothers
, which share not only
Usher
's production skills, but similarities in concept and construction. The songwriting -- mostly by
,
Michael Fennelly
, and
Joey Stec
-- is sterling and innovative, never straying into the type of psychedelic overindulgence which marred so many records from this era. For example,
"It's You,"
by
Fennelly
Stec
, is as powerful and fully realized as the era ever produced, easily on par with songs by
the Beach Boys
the Byrds
-- and, yes, even
the Beatles
. At the time the most expensive album
Columbia
ever produced (and it sounds like it),
is an absolute necessity for any fan of late-'60s psychedelia and a wonderful rediscovery; it sounds as vital today as it did the day it was released. ~ Matthew Greenwald