The first thing I noticed when I saw the album insert for “Million Dollar Man” was that Aneuretical are youngsters. The guy on the cover of the album looks like he might be more concerned with who he’s asking to the senior prom than whether or not he will be able to make next month’s rent.
But the music on the album is surprisingly mature. The album’s third track, “Fantasia”, is a prog-rock masterpiece worthy of critical success.
On “Diads”, the band continues to impress me lyrically. On the song, lead singer Matthew Sandstedt sings, “I came here to die – the monotone motto goes. I came here alive with a mission in mind. The mission’s been scrapped in order that we survive. Decipher the purpose or just killing time or just killing purpose as long as killing’s alright.”
While I was expecting a soft album full of predictable chord changes from these inexperienced gents, I was surprised to find that the songs are sonically sophisticated with chord changes that make sense on a cerebral level.
My favorite song on the album is definitely “Borrowed”, which features catchy lyrics and a guitar line that gives me goose bumps.
Sandstedt sings with all his heart throughout the album. Although many critics will probably say Sandstedt’s voice is nasally and annoying, I think it communicates bravery and individualism in a way that compliments the instrumental aspects of the album.
Probably the biggest compliment I can give any album is to say that I am going to pass it along to some of my more discerning music-listening friends. And this album will definitely be getting a lot of mileage through the hands of my snotty music friends.