The Milk Men – The Milky Way
Sharp dressed R&B practitioners The Milk Men have been going from strength to strength since ear-catching debut album Full Phat was released back in 2016.
They have also, across what is now six studio albums (seven in total when including their festival celebratory Live At Milkfest set) continued to deliver different shaded tones of their R&B, which helps keep every album, Milk Men fresh with long (playing) life.
For example last studio album, the chart topping Holy Cow! (#1 on the Amazon and iTunes Blues charts) was an intentionally leaner sounding album that trimmed out the Phat of the aforementioned debut album.
This time around, with The Milky Way (featuring a cool spacefaring milkfloat cover by noted illustrator Mark Wilkinson), the band – husky voiced front man Jamie Smy, Adam Norsworthy (guitars, backing vocals, keys), Lloyd Green (bass) and the always dapper Mike Roberts (drums) – have delivered their most rock and roll album yet.
There’s also a discernibly looser vibe, or as loose as is possible with one of the tightest and simpatico rhythm sections in the blues-rock business.
The album opens with the hooky insistence of groovin’ R&B number 'Waiting For Some Rock’n’Roll,' which comes complete with accompanying animated video that brings The Milk Men's brand of R&B goodness to the music loving extra-terrestrials of The Milky Way.
'Son Of a Gun,' with a bubbly underlying bass line from Lloyd Green, is looser mid-tempo that plays off of the opener but brings its own shade of Stonesy rock ‘n’ roll; nor does it hurt that it sports a ridiculously infectious chorus (a Milk Men trait).
'Down In The Hole' is the heavier side of the band.
While any echoes of Humble Pie are probably increased due to title similarity (the Pie’s '30 Days in the Hole'), there is discernible lineage back to that great British band (no bad thing).
Contrast then comes calling via, first, the folksy Americana and acoustic led charm of 'Loving You Baby' (with punctuated pop-vocal backings) followed by 'Give It Up,' which throws some punky rock 'n' roll shades into the mix.
The radio friendly rhythm & pop blues of 'Little Devil' has the subtlest touch of swing to it (indeed there’s a lot more Mike Roberts swing and rhythmic groove to this album than first meets the ear), while the misty reminisce of 'Another You' nods to Rod & The Faces at their downtempo, reflective best (that Jamie Smy has a touch of early era Rod Stewart in his voice is also no bad thing).
The foot tapping 'Jimmy The Weasel' is a slice of fun R&B that no Milk Men album should be without (and never is) while the cleverly arranged 'Nothing On You' mixes stompy rhythm and blues with melodic passages (it’s also a fine example of how Adam Norsworthy's lead guitar play always serves the song).
The hook-laden 'I’ve Been Losing,' featuring Nigel Feist on blues harp, is the most R&B focussed song on the album.
Another guest player, Greg Coulson, then brings his Hammond and piano skills to bear on closing slow blues number 'Evergreen.' The song also features one of Jamie Smy’s best, and understated, vocal performances to date and some beautifully effective melody lines from Adam Norsworthy.
The Milk Men’s stock has soared these last couple of years through a UK Blues Challenge Final spot, festival headline appearances (including recent shows at the Lindos Festival in Greece) and Adam Norsworthy and the band’s respective parts in organising and opening Milkfest, the annual one-day charity festival held in London (raising to date over £10,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity and Dementia UK).
The Milky Way, which was recorded by James Horwood and produced by Adam Norsworthy & Wayne Proctor (who also mixed & mastered the album) should see them soar even higher, although whether that’s as high as the album cover predicts (galactic powered R&B? What’s not to like?) remains to be seen.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
They have also, across what is now six studio albums (seven in total when including their festival celebratory Live At Milkfest set) continued to deliver different shaded tones of their R&B, which helps keep every album, Milk Men fresh with long (playing) life.
For example last studio album, the chart topping Holy Cow! (#1 on the Amazon and iTunes Blues charts) was an intentionally leaner sounding album that trimmed out the Phat of the aforementioned debut album.
This time around, with The Milky Way (featuring a cool spacefaring milkfloat cover by noted illustrator Mark Wilkinson), the band – husky voiced front man Jamie Smy, Adam Norsworthy (guitars, backing vocals, keys), Lloyd Green (bass) and the always dapper Mike Roberts (drums) – have delivered their most rock and roll album yet.
There’s also a discernibly looser vibe, or as loose as is possible with one of the tightest and simpatico rhythm sections in the blues-rock business.
The album opens with the hooky insistence of groovin’ R&B number 'Waiting For Some Rock’n’Roll,' which comes complete with accompanying animated video that brings The Milk Men's brand of R&B goodness to the music loving extra-terrestrials of The Milky Way.
'Son Of a Gun,' with a bubbly underlying bass line from Lloyd Green, is looser mid-tempo that plays off of the opener but brings its own shade of Stonesy rock ‘n’ roll; nor does it hurt that it sports a ridiculously infectious chorus (a Milk Men trait).
'Down In The Hole' is the heavier side of the band.
While any echoes of Humble Pie are probably increased due to title similarity (the Pie’s '30 Days in the Hole'), there is discernible lineage back to that great British band (no bad thing).
Contrast then comes calling via, first, the folksy Americana and acoustic led charm of 'Loving You Baby' (with punctuated pop-vocal backings) followed by 'Give It Up,' which throws some punky rock 'n' roll shades into the mix.
The radio friendly rhythm & pop blues of 'Little Devil' has the subtlest touch of swing to it (indeed there’s a lot more Mike Roberts swing and rhythmic groove to this album than first meets the ear), while the misty reminisce of 'Another You' nods to Rod & The Faces at their downtempo, reflective best (that Jamie Smy has a touch of early era Rod Stewart in his voice is also no bad thing).
The foot tapping 'Jimmy The Weasel' is a slice of fun R&B that no Milk Men album should be without (and never is) while the cleverly arranged 'Nothing On You' mixes stompy rhythm and blues with melodic passages (it’s also a fine example of how Adam Norsworthy's lead guitar play always serves the song).
The hook-laden 'I’ve Been Losing,' featuring Nigel Feist on blues harp, is the most R&B focussed song on the album.
Another guest player, Greg Coulson, then brings his Hammond and piano skills to bear on closing slow blues number 'Evergreen.' The song also features one of Jamie Smy’s best, and understated, vocal performances to date and some beautifully effective melody lines from Adam Norsworthy.
The Milk Men’s stock has soared these last couple of years through a UK Blues Challenge Final spot, festival headline appearances (including recent shows at the Lindos Festival in Greece) and Adam Norsworthy and the band’s respective parts in organising and opening Milkfest, the annual one-day charity festival held in London (raising to date over £10,000 for The Brain Tumour Charity and Dementia UK).
The Milky Way, which was recorded by James Horwood and produced by Adam Norsworthy & Wayne Proctor (who also mixed & mastered the album) should see them soar even higher, although whether that’s as high as the album cover predicts (galactic powered R&B? What’s not to like?) remains to be seen.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ