Thousandaires
Million Dollar Move, Two Dollar Shot. [7-inch] (2010)
Brian Shultz
Thousandaires was a great little project that disappointingly finished their short tenure last month. The band pulled members from Bridge and Tunnel, Get Bent, Halo Fauna and Potboiler, and released their tunes in short spurts that provided a great take on their encompassing scene–riffy, well-read and dynamic melodic punk.
Granted, the band sound less heartbroken on this 7", Million Dollar Move, Two Dollar Shot., than they did on the wildly promising Land Seal Demo, and while it's missing that certain catharcism, this brighter, sprightly feel is one that works for them. You still get some tension for sure, though. The playful licks of opener "Contaminations" gives way to a repeatedly spit closing hook ("It just perpetuates the problem!"), while Jeff Cunningham anchors "Memos" with deliberation and restraint, as well an excellent metaphor involving bullying and defense industry contracts. There are some jangly, stomping stop-starts to "Born an Asshole, Die an Asshole" that provide a definite musical highlight.
While Land Seal Demo did often seem a little more immediate and gripping, this is a solid and earnest enough conclusion to Thousandaires' too-brief run.