Released in January, Nashville rock supergroup Million Dollar Emperors’ eponymous debut is a journey into the sounds and rhythms of classic rock. Three centers of early ’70s rock — L.A.’s Laurel Canyon, Macon, Ga., and London — are the record’s musical touchstones. The group synthesizes those influences into something majestic and beautiful. Not surprising when you consider who’s in the band.
The five members of Million Dollar Emperors — Joe Blanton (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica), Tim Carroll (lead guitar, vocals), Seth Timbs (keyboards, vocals), Robert Logue (bass, mandolin) and Jonathan Bright (drums, vocals) — are all veterans of the Nashville rock community. To varying degrees, they’ve already secured their places in the city’s rock history. Their talents are on full display here, which is what makes this record so compelling.
Million Dollar Emperors came together after Blanton and Logue attended a couple of Carroll’s weekly Rock ’n’ Roll Happy Hour shows at The 5 Spot. That led to a writing session that yielded two of the songs included here, “Sidetracked” and “Gravity.” Everyone contributed to the songwriting on the album, but Blanton and Carroll did the heavy lifting. Blanton either wrote or co-wrote seven of the album’s 10 songs, while Carroll co-wrote five. One of the Blanton-Carroll co-writes, “Can’t Save You From Yourself,” reaches rock anthem altitude, stretching to nearly seven-and-a-half minutes. In places, the song echoes “Down By the River” by Neil Young, who is one of Carroll’s influences on guitar. The record also includes a stirring rendition of De Piratas’ “Real,” which was written by Bright, Warner Hodges and Jeff Johnson.
Blanton has long been one of the best rock vocalists in the city, and his performances here are stellar. So is Carroll’s lead guitar work. Freed from having to play both rhythm and lead as he does in his own band, Carroll is able to fully demonstrate what a monster rock guitarist he is. Logue and Bright give the material a tight, bouncy bottom end, while Timbs’ organ work churns and burns, underscoring the record’s inherent soulfulness. His moving intro to the finale, “Turn Off, Tune Out, Drop In,” is one of the album’s highlights.
Find Million Dollar Emperors on your favorite streaming service. Keep an eye on the group’s website or follow them on Instagram for updates on shows and more.
