Search - Milton :: SCENES FROM THE INTERIOR

Suprisingly Strong Debut

Joe Montifore | Elyria, OH | 04/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Funny, but this record is really good. Milton is a rising name on the east coast adult contemp. scene and his debut is a well recorded, nicely designed record, full of really good writing that's very well performed. If you're like me and you keep looking without luck for a good new singer/songwriter with a direct voice whose songs are actually about something, Milton will be a welcome suprise. The CD, packaged to look like an early 60's folk or Jazz record, including period design, and convincingly stiff 60's era liner notes, is a blast. Through the cool package you are welcomed into the mind and musings of a great young song scholar. Recorded in North Carolina with area session pros, The record has a definite country twang. Dobros, fiddles, pedal steel guitar and country harmonies accent the disc's 11 songs. The songwrtiter's voice however is decidedly not country. Milton's vocal attack is urban and gravely soft, his lyricism is a bit jazzy and bluesy, and his narrative is somewhat literary, though it's rhymes are always concise and his stories are easy to follow. Milton is a veteran of several years East Coast and Midwest club gigs. The world of his road work comes alive vividly on the Cd in two short gem ballads "singer" and "come to the show." But Milton's songs are refereshingly not confessional for the most part. His songs are rhyming stories, told each time by different suburban American characters. "In The City," "This is the Town" "Scenes from the Interior part one" are day in the life portraits of Urban, suburban, and rural existence respectiviely. "Caroline" is a loving memoir of a suburban commuting punk rocker. "Winter of '39" tells the story of a Jazz musician from New Orleans who relocates to the North for work, and features upright bass, clarinet and old timey blues structure. If you like Lucinda Williams, Dylan, John Hiatt or Nick Lowe, you'll probably enjoy this. I've heard Milton compared to Jack Johnson and G-Love but I don't quite hear that. I've heard people say that he made them think of Lou Reed and Jonathan Richman. I say his sound is more like Randy Newman meets Evan Dando, but those are just my ears. Over all, country and folk rock feel, especially good lyrics, memorable pop melodies, cool voice. Most favorable reviews make all of these claims about the artists that they review. With this record, you'll be suprised to find that it's actually true. A great debut and definitely worth it."

I love this album!

Dominique | New York | 05/26/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am blown away buy this debut album. I have had the record over a year now and I just keep listening to it again and again. It has a rich sound, wonderful lyrics, top-notch rifs, and Milton's voice is so soothing. It is a great choice for road trips. I can't wait for his next effort."

Milton is Good!

Joe Montifore | Toledo, Ohio | 04/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Funny, but this guy is good. This is an extremely adept debut from a new voice out of New York City. If you've been hoping to find a singer/songwriter whose voice is warm and direct, whose melodies stick with you and whose words are really not dumb, I would advise checking this record out. Recorded in North Carolina with session players from the South, many of the songs feature a country twang. Dobros, Fiddles, pedal steel guitar and country vocal harmony can be heard in different moments, always tastefully integrated with super-pro performance. The singer and his voice however, are decidedly not country. There's a gritty urban folk and slightly jazzy feel to Milton's attack but the songs are always smoothly accessible. Milton is a veteran club and performer of Northern and Southern and Midwestern cities. A portrait of the road gig experience is painted rather vividly in the two short ballads "Singer" and "Come to the show." But Milton is by no stretch a confessional singer/songwriter. Set in various moments of suburban commuters lives, the songs on this album are stories with different narrators told in actually clever (not goofy) rhyme. "In the city," "This is the Town" or "Scenes from the interior" survey the a walk through a day in the life of an American in urban, suburban and rural settings respectively. "Winter of '39" tells the tale of a New Orleans jazz musician who moves north for work. "Caroline" is a loving memoir of a punk rock girl from the suburbs. This stuff is suprisingly good and enjoyable. I think if you like Lucinda Williams and you like Dylan or John Hiatt or Randy Newman or Nick Lowe then you might like this. Some people say they hear Jack Johnson and G-Love in this stuff. Other people have said they hear Lou Reed and Jonathan Richman. Me, I say Milton is like Randy Newman meets Evan Dando. Regardless of who you choose to compare it to, Milton is a great first Album and definitely worth it."