Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Album Review: The Milk Carton Kids - All The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didn't Do

The Milk Carton Kids
All The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didn't Do
***and1/2 out of *****

There has been a lot of change in the lives of the Milk Carton Kids. The duo of Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale have been making excellent acoustic music for years now but with Ryan having children and Pattengale surviving cancer and ending a long term relationship, upheaval is at the center of their newest record, All The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didn't Do.

Even with that sense of change, fear and some sadness (as well as increasing instrumentation on certain songs) it is impossible to hear the duo and not immediately think of classic Simon and Garfunkel. The acoustic strumming and particularly the sweet harmonies recall the great 60's duo as the younger California players bring much of the same talents that the New York City folkies did decades ago.

Tracks like "A Sea of Roses" and "Younger Years" in particular sound like they could have been outtakes of S&G's as the Pattengale and Ryan reflect on life. Things get updated for "Nothing Is Real", an interesting take on our digital society wrapped in bitterness which actually works well with the Milk Carton Kids gorgeous sound while "Blindness" just pairs the groups magical vocals with haunting melloncholy.

Drums, violins and flutes are added to the politically tinged "Mourning in America" and while it isn't the most successful track here the extra instrumentation works, strongly supporting the singers. A style that doesn't fit as well is the weepy steel guitar accented country tearjerker "You Break My Heart" which finds the vocals going falsetto but the end result feels more parody than tribute.

The centerpiece of the bands newest release is the nearly ten and half minute "One More For The Road" which again incorporates a full band sound as the group jams out and lingers over lost loves, all lead by excellently searching acoustic guitar work . Other winning efforts are the rootsy-rolling "Big Time", the swirling "Unwinnable War" and the intimately confessional disk closing title track.

Overall, the record is an enjoyable journey as The Milk Carton Kids grow, hurt, love, lose and persevere on their retrospective sounding All The Things That I Did And All The Things That I Didn't Do.   
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