Hello audiophiles! Unashamedly pulling from raw life experiences, 1 Billion Seconds by Drew McDowell delightfully takes us through masterful guitar play and deep, well-selected lyrics. With every track a relatable tale, he intertwines a present hopefulness with a respectful nostalgia of past love, loss, regret, and the countless what-ifs that could possibly reverberate around an emerging self-awareness. Many of the acoustic tracks on this album draw the same respect I have for a well-worn vinyl with layered sounds and a surprising assortment of accompaniment. Lyrics brewed from pure introspection, Drew delivers on an extrovert level by teaming up with former bandmates, friends, and like-minded minstrels. 1 Billion Seconds pulls from many stylistic influences, while remaining true to the artist’s own voice and style.

The first track, “Dissatisfied,” sets the rest of the album up nicely as we dive right into the motif of rebuilding and forward motion. Scratchy chords and skilled picking are brought to life with excellent production, as the fretboard accompanies Drew’s words to the ears right on target. A strong opening song, “Dissatisfied,” immediately shows the dedication, mastery, and honesty that Drew brings to this album.

“Rose Gold Sky” is beautifully composed and tells the tale of immortal love that has been built over a lifetime, through seeing struggles and victories met with coping and pride. Performed with Drew’s sincere and gentle voice and crisp guitar picking and chords, “Rose Gold Sky” shows the dedication poured into his music and the inspiration for it.

“Spoke My Heart,” on the other hand, could not speak of a shorter love, as Drew stretches his fingers and plays the sting of rejection through six strings. Both relatable and wonderfully produced songs that showcase a mastery of the guitar and Drew’s authentic lyrics and voice.

Hammering hard on the past while bringing tales of lament and excess to the microphone, Drew unashamedly serenades with such a genuine and friendly voice that, despite the subject matter, positivity, and forward motion seep through the notes and beats. Unapologetic, Drew brings the subjects of addiction and recovery with a blend of musical styles that mix together better than most cocktails in Bozeman. In “The Bottom” Drew and his minstrels pour a full glass of auditory pleasure, with a shot of swing and horns, a twist of Sublime, and served in style with Drew’s authentic vocals. The stylistic changes flow together perfectly, making this a fun and rhythmic song.

“Call Your Mother” is not only a genuinely good reminder but a genuinely wholesome song that makes one hold back a tear or two. Again, Drew commands mood with a change of melody and voice, bringing a wonderful musical balance that allows the weight of disappointment against the eternal love of family. Filled with quick anecdotes and humor, Drew continues to define his own style of embracing the heavy with a deep breath and a heart full of song. 

The title track “1 Billion Seconds” again harnesses the power of positive messages, with a bouncing and catchy rhythm. Delicately blending the vocals and instrumentals, Drew brings together his original style in true form, with no shortage of humor and a light-hearted feeling, especially considering how much math he must have done while writing it.

“1 Billion Seconds” had several songs that stood out over the others; however in my opinion, the one track that not only ties the whole album together, but stands out amongst the others, is “Head Full of Stories A Heart Less Cold”. From the first few chords, I could tell this song was different from others on the album, but I did not know at the time that it would go on repeat for the next 20 minutes on my headphones. Tapping into a darker sound, Drew still honors nostalgia and holds precious the present peace, but he comes across in a much more profound and mature way. The slightly darker backdrop of the music really hits home on this track, with studio production toeing the line for a primarily acoustic artist but not crossing it. This is a song that could be listened to anywhere, adding pensive respect and appreciation for whatever nostalgia might bring to the moment.

The final track, “When Ya Dose,” is packed with the style built in the preceding songs, drawing you in but daring you not to take anything too seriously. Flowing like a Dr Suess style poem over ebbing and flowing guitar, Drew shows us how a meaningful conversation every millennial wants to have with their boomer parents could go. Seemingly without effort, Drew ends this album by helping us come down from an acoustic high he brought us on, every song filled with well-selected lyrics, and masterful technique.

1 Billion Seconds showcased Drew McDowell’s original style of genuine hand-selected vocals sung with passion, a warm friendly voice, and a wonderful composition of instrumental talent to bring his first solo album to life. Exploring the boundaries of his unique style, Drew struck gold with “Head Full of Stories,” and made lasting impressions on me as a songwriter. Littered with quips and humor, Drew lets his music remind us to not hold things too seriously, but at the same time to value the journey and the companions we have along the way.   

Mick Derzay is a Bozeman native and a lifelong passionate music listener. This is his first album review. “KGLT is the best radio station in the whole world.”