The Millennium's
Begin is a bona fide lost classic. The brainchild of producers
Curt Boettcher and
Gary Usher, the group was formed out of the remnants of their previous studio project, Sagittarius -- which had been preceded by yet another aggregation, the Ballroom. On
Begin, hard rock, breezy ballads, and psychedelia all merge into an absolutely air-tight concept album, easily on the level of other, more widely popular albums from the era such as The Notorious Byrd Brothers, which share not only Usher's production skills, but similarities in concept and construction. The songwriting -- mostly by
Curt Boettcher, Michael Fennelly, and
Joey Stec -- is sterling and innovative, never straying into the type of psychedelic overindulgence which marred so many records from this era. For example, "It's You," by Fennelly and Stec, is as powerful and fully realized as the era ever produced, easily on par with songs by
the Beach Boys and
the Byrds -- and, yes, even
the Beatles. At the time the most expensive album Columbia ever produced (and it sounds like it),
Begin is an absolute necessity for any fan of late-'60s psychedelia and a wonderful rediscovery; it sounds as vital today as it did the day it was released.