Detroit-area rockers the Atomic Numbers formed in 1997 around vocalist and songwriter Tim McHugh, whose singing and careful songwriting was described by Billboard Magazine as "almost unbearably clever." The other three members of the power pop act emerged from several popular Michigan rock acts (the Hannibals, the Lollipop Guild, India Green) and include drummer Matt Aljian, guitarist Zach Shipps, and bassist Jeff Hupp. Their early history found them performing the Midwest club circuit and opening for acts like Juliana Hatfield, Super Furry Animals, the B-52s, and Stereophonics. The band's 1998 EP Flying Machine bent the ear of Verve Pipe frontman Brian Vander Ark; he approached them about doing a release on his own Sid Flips label. The Vander Ark-produced full-length Electromotive followed in 2000. ~ Zac Johnson, Rovi