No one wants their band described as middle of the road, but I’m afraid the term can very much be applied to this four piece from New Jersey. They play a form of pop rock which is completely unchallenging. It’s the kind of music the most conservative minded parents would happily allow their teenager to listen to.
The Milwaukees don’t feel quite the same way about their music. They claim the likes of Husker Du and Jimmy Eat World as peers, and proclaim repeatedly on the final track of this ep, “We still play rock n’ roll!” But this music has none of the invention of the above comparisons, none of the talent, and not enough danger about them to be described as even marginally rock n’ roll. No, think more along the lines of The Calling when you try and imagine this band’s sound. It’s very poppy, which is no bad thing, but it is also bland in the extreme. There are no hooks, no pace and not enough power; it doesn’t even have any epic choruses (Brian Adams, Bon Jovi…hello?). Third track ‘The Breakup’ makes you think something is going to happen as the chorus builds pace, and then it just dies. The (weak) bridge is actually more powerful than the chorus; come on guys, it’s not like your in a prog band.
Former Inch bassist Chris Spinninga desperately noodles away to try and make things sound interesting, but in vain. Avoid this band, and just buy all the Jimmy Eat World albums instead.
www.mikwaukees.com
Sonic Bang
Alex