THE MILLIONAIRE$

THE MILLIONAIRES
Sentimental Horses
Inertia

More evidence of the country at the heart of rock and/or roll.

For those of you unaware, The Millionaires – I believe the name may be ironic – is made of Messrs Gallagher and Galeazzi of Karma County, The Cruel Sea’s Jim Elliott on drums and horse-effect coconut shells, and David McCormack of Custard et.al.

They deliver a distinctly idiosyncratic take on the country thing, with some unexpected covers among their repertoire, along with a smattering of originals that fit the form.

And while the likes of a run at George Michael’s Faith or Tom Waits’ Big In Japan can’t help but be delivered with a tongue delivered at least a little in cheek, the genuine abilities and experience of those involved mean there’s always some musical worth to it above the joke, although the outbreak of widespread giggling and guffawing as Sylvia’s Mother hangs up the phone in suitably melodramatic manner on McCormack is understandable and genuine.

Gallagher retains his quiet sly charm on the likes of Your Own Sweet Way which is delivered fairly straight over some nicely whispered harmonies, while Marianne Faithfull’s Ballad Of Lucy Jordan becomes a well-observed western lament. While Dylan’s Be My Baby Tonight swings over shuffling brushes. McCormack’s own Chicken Dance is eminently silly, without being silly about it.

Much like their live performances, Sentimental Horses provides you music to stand around with beverage of choice in hand, with a tacit invitation to tap foot absently or sing along to without (much) embarrassment. A more than pleasant distraction.

- Drum Media - Ross Clelland

The Millionaires

I'LL go out on a limb and say Dave McCormack is the coolest frontman in Australia. With his pseudo-cabaret delivery, dapper suits and witty stage banter, he could be the new Dave Graney. McCormack's new country outfit (featuring members of The Cruel Sea and Karma County) was the most entertaining band of the festival. A few cheeky original tunes were scattered through a great set of covers that ran the gamut from Bob Dylan to George Michael, all of which were resplendent in sweet harmonies and a fun-lovin' attitude.



- Matt Neal – The Standard

On the one hand, this is a slight little side project by a bunch of musos who write their own material and therefore don't really need to do a country covers album. On the other hand, there's no denying the joy these folks take in this music.
Consisting of Brendan Gallagher and Michael Galeazzi of Karma County, Cruel Sea drummer Jim Elliot and former Custard/Titanics/Polaroids frontman Dave McCormack, The Millionaires strum and sing their way through a set of country favourites (‘Honky Tonkin'', Merle Haggard's ‘Mama Tried'), inspired new arrangements (Tom Waits' ‘Big In Japan', Marianne Faithfull's ‘The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan') and a few jokey selections (George Michael's ‘Faith', The Steve Miller Band's ‘Abracadabra'), plus a handful of original songs.
McCormack contributes ‘Chicken Dance' and ‘Save My Soul', while Gallagher submits ‘Summer's Gone' and ‘Time & Money'. To my ears, however, the highlight is their spirited version of Jonathan Richman's ‘Since She Started To Ride' (which Custard memorably covered as a b-side back in the day). It sounds like they're having fun.

- Andrew P Street - Time Out

When I was a lad I would go on hunting trips with my father. After we’d been out hunting all day and we’d skinned and dressed the wild pig, wasted off the blood, eaten the evening meal, we’d turn on the radio, sit on the hill and count sattelites.

The Millionaires play raw and warm country music without the red necks and the rebel flag. Good music to sit on a hill and count sattelites by. You wouldn’t want to swap your grandmother for this CD. But you’d lend to your neighbour if they downloaded it for you.



- Greg Perano & Jules vol 16 pub lic magazine