The Milk Men have been around for over 15 years, getting nominations for award after award, laying down classic Blues & rock, ubiquitous festival acts & just living the modern Blues life. This is their fifth album, and it shows that they are still growing, still developing and still making music that they like (as well as their many followers) to play. It hit my deck and instantly got to be the album I listened to for the sheer enjoyment of the music.
A four piece consisting of Mike Roberts on drums (ex-Pirates), Lloyd Green on bass, Jamie Smy on vocals and Adam Norsworthy on vocals and guitar (Mustangs and a solo career), they have influences that include almost any classic Blues band you can think of, AC/DC to ZZ Top and healthy doses of Dr Feelgood and no fear of letting those influences colour their music.
The music is very much as one might expect, straight Blues, no chaser, but the quality of playing and songwriting is what sets the band apart from the masses. Jamie Smy has a rough edgy voice, very Lee Brillaux, and is one of the best frontmen around at the moment. He is very ably supported by Adam Norsworthy’s guitar licks with Roberts and Green incredibly flexible in the back. The album opens with a couple of stock Blues-rock pieces and then suddenly we are in Average White Band territory with ‘Give A Little Love’ – incredibly funky and probably my favourite number. ‘Wild Girls’ follows takes us into Brian Adams with tongue firmly in cheek. Elsewhere, ‘Fill Her Shoes’ has echoes of the riffery of ZZ Top.
Every track is well crafted, played to perfection and with a touch of humour as well as a nod to their heroes. Adam Norsworthy and Wayne Procter did a fine job of production with Wayne mixing and mastering for House of Tone. It really is a superb album, one that you can pick up and listen through or pick individual tracks for equal satisfaction. Album of the year contender.
