Milo Greene - Milo Greene (15/06/2013)
When I first heard Milo Greene’s enchanting debut single 1957 and viewed it’s equally charming video I was excited to explore the LA five piece’s debut record.
After recording the self titled album, the band turned their attention to writing and producing a short film entitled Moddison, to compliment the audio. The name is taken from an instrumental track on the album and these complimentary videos render a complete cinematic narrative, a nice touch.
Unfortunately for the music itself, aside from the indelible single 1957, the album does struggle to capture the attention of the listener for the duration. The themes explored through Milo Greene are ageless: a quest for permanence, a longing for virtue and a need for reciprocity in all that is good, yet the execution is a little uninspired.
A song like Don’t Give Up On Me is pleasant on first listen, but it doesn’t leave you aching to hear it again. Recognition is due for the beautiful use of four part harmonies (see - Cutty Love); the diverse vocals do allow the album some much needed versatility and shows that each member of this group boast vocal abilities powerful enough to stand on their own.
Another instrumental track, Wooden Antlers’ use of sprawling percussive arrangements is to be admired while the proceeding song Take A Step’s melody is hard to ignore. The album as a whole reminds me a lot of Australian contemporaries Busby Marou.
I desperately wanted to enjoy this album but with the indie-roots scene teeming at the moment, this record doesn’t hit the notable heights it needs to make it an essential listen.
Potential is unquestionably present throughout Milo Greene and hopefully the groups next release can realize it.
David Noordhoff
After recording the self titled album, the band turned their attention to writing and producing a short film entitled Moddison, to compliment the audio. The name is taken from an instrumental track on the album and these complimentary videos render a complete cinematic narrative, a nice touch.
Unfortunately for the music itself, aside from the indelible single 1957, the album does struggle to capture the attention of the listener for the duration. The themes explored through Milo Greene are ageless: a quest for permanence, a longing for virtue and a need for reciprocity in all that is good, yet the execution is a little uninspired.
A song like Don’t Give Up On Me is pleasant on first listen, but it doesn’t leave you aching to hear it again. Recognition is due for the beautiful use of four part harmonies (see - Cutty Love); the diverse vocals do allow the album some much needed versatility and shows that each member of this group boast vocal abilities powerful enough to stand on their own.
Another instrumental track, Wooden Antlers’ use of sprawling percussive arrangements is to be admired while the proceeding song Take A Step’s melody is hard to ignore. The album as a whole reminds me a lot of Australian contemporaries Busby Marou.
I desperately wanted to enjoy this album but with the indie-roots scene teeming at the moment, this record doesn’t hit the notable heights it needs to make it an essential listen.
Potential is unquestionably present throughout Milo Greene and hopefully the groups next release can realize it.
David Noordhoff