500 Million Society / “500 Million Society” / Spinout Records

Singer has a nerdy tenor voice with an ever so slight nasalness. Makes it sound like dork music meets psychedelic rock. Sometimes evokes dramatic goofiness in the style of Electric Six/Tenacious D/AWOLNATION, though the vocal sound is totally different. Could be the soundtrack to an off-Broadway play. Many of the songs have very strong, over-the-top melodies which may be better suited for a stronger singer. The melodies get a bit lost with the standard/thin singing voice. Almost all songs involve uptempo beats, quivering synthesized keyboards, and electric guitars.

No FCCs detected.

Favorite tracks: 2, 5, 9.

Individual track reviews continued inside.


1. 2:03 Fast paced, vocal distortions occasionally, synth keyboards over standard rock.

2. *2:31 Clean guitar layered over distorted guitar and vocals, very catchy melodies.

3. 4:06 Yelled lyrics, like a synth anthem, evokes the image of a group of skinny men trying to enthusiastically recruit an army together.

4. 3:22 Has a They Might Be Giants esque feel, with vocals and instrumentals alternating, synthy keyboards, fast drumming.

5. *3:22 Big, rich synth keyboard opener, very dramatic feel throughout. Sounds like epic theme music to a Bond movie spoof.

6. 2:35 Bonus points for naming the song Gwen Ifill. Otherwise, pretty standard fast psych-rock song.

7. 4:52 Eerie, synthy, mad-scientisty. Sounds like a song from a Halloween special.

8. 3:46 One of the more basic tracks on the album. Repetitive, simple chorus, saved a bit by the anachronistic guitar solo about 2/3 way through.

9. *5:35 Buzzing synth beginning, heavy bass, spoken vocals in background. Vocals made more powerful with harmonies. Sounds like the last song in a morose epic rock musical, with the hero returning to outer space.

Deniz Cebenoyan