Millions Now Living Will Never Die (1996)

Millions Now Living Will Never Die is the second studio album by American post-rock band Tortoise. The album was released on January 30, 1996, by Thrill Jockey.

The album's title is a reference to a phrase used by the Jehovah's Witnesses in the 1920s, which was utilized, for instance, as the title of an essay by Joseph Franklin Rutherford, the second president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.

Reception

Millions Now Living Will Never Die was released to positive critical reviews, and it has since been renowned as a groundbreaking album for the post-rock genre. Outersound wrote that not long after the album's release, the group was "hailed as godfathers of the American 'post-rock' movement". The Wire named it the record of the year in its annual critics' poll and NME named it the 35th best album of 1996.

By March 1998, the album had sold over 50,000 copies, 80% of these being on CD.

In 2006 and 2008, Millions Now Living Will Never Die was performed live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back concert series. The album also appears in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Personnel

Credits for Millions Now Living Will Never Die adapted from album liner notes.

• Tortoise
• Dan Bitney
• John Herndon
• Douglas McCombs
• John McEntire
• David Pajo
• Production
• John McEntire – mixing, recording
• Roger Seibel – mastering
• Artwork and design

Dan Osborn – layout assistance, "computer magic"

Tortoise – sleeve design

Samples

The song "Dear Grandma and Grandpa" contains a sample of German band Dom's song "Silence", from their 1972 album Edge of Time.