Music
Press
A beautiful standout track for Million Dollar Mouth comes from "Don’t Disappear". The song shows off their lyrical and musical depth and is reason enough alone to grab this album for your collection.
- Krystal Laeger
MDM releases a solid 11-song disc here, mostly in the rock/alt vein. They sound somewhere caught between Stone Temple Pilots and My Chemical Romance… Mike Biscotti's vocals throw an interesting curve, as he is reminiscent of Iggy with a Morrison vibe… I think they can really turn heads…
- Sean Helton
"This is the kind of CD you wait for as a reviewer; a secret, top-shelf bottle you might get the chance to crack first before it spreads around the party. There's something instantly but not specifically familiar about Million Dollar Mouth which grabs your ear and keeps it through the course of the disc. Cool drips off these warm-toned, lazy tunes like a whiskey waterfall into a bong basin. These guys sound like they're stylistically kicking the crap out of The Strokes while smoking Stone Temple Pilots' cigarettes and listening to the Marvelous 3. Whether or not Million Dollar Mouth is trendy (fast-rising L.A band...), there's an earnest cohesion to the music that defies attempted-hipster posturing. In his upper register, singer Mike Biscotti draws a little from crooner Jeff Buckley without defiling either Buckley's legacy or corrupting his own individuality. The lyrics are lightly self-effacing, Biscotti paints familiar emotions and situations without abusing cliché or waxing too clever. His cask-aged vocal depth and ease is instantly contagious over the Butch Walker-inspired poppy rock arrangements. The musicians don't push too hard or play too much, everyone seems to fit his role in a sort of equality which steadily promotes the songs over any one player. These guys have real potential." - Dan Bernal
“This CD is full of rather smart alt-rock. Music-wise, it falls somewhere between Weezer and Cracker, and just like both of those bands, the songs have very clever lyrics. The standout track is "Lush," which has a remarkably hooky chorus that makes you wonder why you haven't heard it before.” - Scott Witt
"Say My Name...Now Say It Again" is guitar-driven alternative rock/grunge with many tracks providing a good amount of high-powered, highly energized music. The CD is full of strong production, songwriting, and musicianship. A number of tracks on this CD are particularly memorable, with melodic vocal lines that are well-performed and backed by a tight band. Our favorite songs include "Big Kiss," "Lush," and "Give It Up." The choruses are memorable and there is nice differentiation between verses and choruses. If you enjoy bands such as Stone Temple Pilots, you will enjoy "Say My Name...Now Say it Again." Pick up a copy today!” - Radio Indy
"There is a good chance that these guys will go far...they're unique enough to sound out of place and catch ears on radio, but not strange enough to alienate less adventuresome listeners." - Mark Hensch
"It's just one good song and performance after another. Each song is a little different than the last, but still recognizable as Million Dollar Mouth and no one else. A great accomplishment. Get out there guys, you've got fans to make, as I'm sure you will."
- Steve Allat
"This is grungy alternative, dare I say, garage rock, at its finest; no, perhaps finest is too nice of a word to use - let’s just say it is music to bang your head to, get all psyched up about, music to crank up those speakers and roll down the windows to. Yeah, this is killer punky-sounding, teeth-gritting rock music and I loved it." - Keith Hannaleck
Discography
"The PanicKING" - CD, 2009
"Villains!!!" - CD, 2008
"Say My Name...Now Say It Again" - CD, 2005
Tracks with airplay:
"Lush"
"Big Kiss"
"Last Day"
"Don't Disappear"
Photos
Bio
With their second album, Villains, Million Dollar Mouth (MDM) refutes the myth that art and the three-and-a-half-minute pop song can’t get along. While the new record shares the same indie-rock spirit as its predecessor, Say My Name...Now Say It Again, it also marks a leap forward for the Los Angeles-based quartet. The tasteful melodies and no-nonsense arrangements that characterized their first album infuse all 11 tracks of their sophomore release, only this time with an expanded sound—no doubt a result of the group’s artistic growth and constant gigging. Since Say My Name debuted in early 2005, the band has been playing frequently throughout LA and across the United States.
Once word of MDM’s brawny, grungy take on Brit-Pop and Mike Biscotti’s signature warm baritone and dizzying falsettos began to spread among club-goers, Say My Name slowly found its way to radio DJs and rock critics. KROQ DJ Kat Corbet called MDM “a band with impeccable taste and style,” while Lollypop magazine called the album “stylistically kicking the crap out of The Strokes while smoking Stone Temple Pilots' cigarettes and listening to the Marvelous 3.” Ultimately, most of the album’s 11 cuts made the spin list at a number of college stations across the country, which led to CMJ’s Top 200 Chart and film placements in the indie psych thriller “Dimples” and the cult favorite “Poker Bustouts,” and put the group on their younger fans’ radar. MDM also found time to write and record an original track for an Urban Outfitters commercial. Amid all the fanfare, MDM quietly earned themselves a nod as one of Music Connection’s Hottest Unsigned Bands.
Villains opens up with “Sadie,” which flashes the same natural hook-writing chops that made Say My Name’s “Stupid Like Me” and “Big Kiss” so addictive. Equally catchy are the sardonic anthem “Little Dog,” with its propulsive bass drumming and punishing chorus, and the track “Snakes,” which blends a heavy groove with pop-perfect hooks. But nowhere is MDM’s ensemble spirit more evident than on “Genuine Hoax,” which deftly weaves together Mike Wendland’s angular guitar licks, Kris Keane’s pummeling, yet sophisticated drumming, and 80’s frenetic basslines to provide the perfect support for Biscotti’s tremendous range and inimitable delivery.
For all its up-tempo gusto, Villains has its quietly affecting moments as well. On the yearning “Return,” the band scales back its usually textured arrangements to let Biscotti’s robust vocals stand alone, while “Psychobitch” combines trip-hop-y verses with Prince-like choruses, punctuated by an explosive bridge and stormy outro. But it’s arguably “Last Day On Earth” that has grabbed the most buzz among long-time MDM fans, many of whom have clamored for an album version of this concert showstopper. After playing the song live for a while, the band finally laid down the definitive recording with the help of producer Bryan Marye, who managed to retain the live feel and capture the song’s unbridled energy.
While Million Dollar Mouth have earned a reputation as first-rate musicians, they’re also renowned for their tireless gigging, including performances all along the West Coast, the Southwest, and various festivals as far from home as Cincinnati, OH. More importantly, they’ve won props for their easygoing nature and grassroots marketing, which starts with their official site, www.milliondollarmouth.com. The group’s MySpace Page (www.myspace.com/milliondollarmouth) provides an opportunity for fans to chat with the band members, meet other MDM devotees, post messages, and check concert dates. MDM are already in preproduction of their yet-unnamed third studio album, and plan to continue touring while posting new and unreleased work as well as live and alternate outtakes on MySpace, so that loyal followers and newcomers alike may see the band live and listen to the new material over and over.
Million Dollar Mouth are:
Mike Biscotti – Lead Vocals
Mike Wendland – Guitars
80 – Bass
Kris Keane – Drums
Contact: Alex Tocheff
310.430.2654
manager@milliondollarmouth.com
Links
