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Milk Carton Kids

A few years back I went to DC for a concert in honor of Emmylou Harris (Its on DVD now) and one of the performers (only one I was unfamiliar with) was The Milk Carton Kids.  I was very impressed, just the two of them, their guitars and voices, and their chatter between songs.  Well I have a few of their records, but the newest one (All the things that I did and all the things that I didn't do) is something else.  Produced by Joe Henry, great songs and musicianship, wonderful sounds, different than their previous style, but worth a listen, in my opinion.

Richard
rpeluso
4 responses Add your response
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 
Yeah, and sing a little harmony if called upon. I learned how to sing one part in a 3-part fugue when working with a classically-trained songwriter. Hardest thing I ever had to learn, and gave me even more appreciation for Brian Wilson's genius.
rpeluso OP
1,048 posts
 
bdp24, are you a drummer?
fjn04
1,561 posts
 
I have Ash & Clay on vinyl. Certainly hear the similarities to S & G, as bdp24 mentioned. I just bumped in to it the other night, and plan to put it back in to rotation soon. I recall being satisfied with the first spin, although it was years ago. David Cope turned me on to this at one of the shows, when he was with Audio Note. 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,788 posts
 

Richard, I became aware of The Milk Carton Kids when watching the documentary filmed of the recording of the New Basement Tapes album, and immediately loved them. I put them in my notebook of albums to get, but before getting around to doing so again watched the video a couple of times. I started feeling a little differently on second and third listen; they started reminding me a little too much of Simon & Garfunkel, rather than The Everly Brothers. By that I mean 2-part harmony, something I adore, can be done in a way that is full-throated, strong, almost aggressive (The EV Bros, John and Paul, Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe in Rockpile, etc.), or it can be too gentle, a little effete, almost prissy (S & G, Crosby, Stills, & Nash, etc.).

I dropped them from by "Buy" list to my "Consider" list. I plan to get one of theirs when my "Must Buys " list gets smaller, so I’ll make it your recommendation of the Joe Henry-produced album. I like his work---Eric.

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