Under a Billion Suns

Under a Billion Suns
Studio album by Mudhoney
Released	7 March 2006
Genre	Garage rock
Length	43:50
Label	Sub Pop
Producer	Phil Ek Johnny Sangster Tucker Martine
Mudhoney chronology
Since We've Become Translucent (2002) Under a Billion Suns (2006) The Lucky Ones (2008)
Singles from Under a Billion Suns
"It Is Us" Released: May 7, 2006

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Alternative Press
Drowned in Sound	(8/10)[2]
Entertainment Weekly	(B)[3]
Pitchfork Media	(6.1/10)[4]
PopMatters	[5]
Punknews.org	[6]
Slant	[7]

Under a Billion Suns is the seventh album by Mudhoney, released in the United States in March 2006. It was recorded with three different producers: Phil Ek, Johnny Sangster and Tucker Martine.^[8]

The album was a further departure from Mudhoney's original grunge sound, and a continuation of the more commercial sound that began with their previous album. Of note is the unusual amount of saxophones and trumpets featured on the album. A few of the songs also feature female backing vocals.

The first few hundred copies pre-ordered from Sub Pop were autographed by the band, and came with a bonus CD featuring demos and remixes.

The song "Empty Shells" was featured on the "NHL 2K7" video game.

Writing & Recording

The album includes backing vocals from Christy McWilson and Amy Allison on "Let's Drop In" and "I Saw the Light". Before the album was released co-founder of Sub Pop records Jonathan Poneman said that the album is more political than typical Mudhoney albums, while vocalist Mark Arm said "That may be a little exaggerated. There are four songs where those things are touched on. It's more kind of mocking than the stark, black or white approach." The song "Hard on for War" was written around the time of the U.S.'s 2003 invasion of Iraq. "On the Move," and "I Saw the Light" have been appearing in Mudhoney's recent live shows, Arm says the band wasn't particularly looking to fine-tune the material before it hit the studio. ^[9]

Mark said that after the release of the album they were going to make a music video for "Touch Me I'm Sick", but there hasn't been any talk about it since the release of the album.

Track listing

All songs composed by Mudhoney:

1. "Where Is the Future?" - 5:38
2. "It Is Us" - 3:28
3. "I Saw the Light" - 2:23
4. "Endless Yesterday" - 4:02
5. "Empty Shells" - 2:38
6. "Hard-On for War" - 3:57
7. "A Brief Celebration of Indifference" - 2:06
8. "Let's Drop In" - 4:40
9. "On the Move" - 4:46
10. "In Search Of..." - 5:02
11. "Blindspots" - 5:37

Bonus Disc

1. "Where Is the Future? (Remix)" - 8:01
2. "Hard-On for War (Rough Mix)" - 4:03
3. "Dig Those Trenches (Unreleased)" - 3:27
4. "On the Move (Johnny Sangster Version)" - 4:50
5. "It Is Us (Rough Mix)" - 3:31
6. "Blindspots (Rough Mix)" - 4:53

References

1. "Under a Billion Suns - Mudhoney". Allmusic.
2. Drowned in Sound Review: Under a Billion Suns
3. "Under a Billion Suns Review". Entertainment Weekly. 6 March 2006.
4. Pitchfork Media Review: Under a Billion Suns
5. "Mudhoney: Under a Billion Suns". PopMatters.
6. "Mudhoney - Under a Billion Suns". Punknews.org.
7. "Mudhoney: Under A Billion Suns". Slant.
8. Sub Pop Records: Under a Billion Suns
9. Billboard Mudhoney's 'Sun' Rising In March