Customer Reviews

Milly's Cafe

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm fresh from a live Fred Eaglesmith concert in Goshen, IN and was lucky enough to snag a copy of Fred's newest album, "Milly's Cafe," which was released less than a week ago. Fred has always been sort of a musical enigma - he's a Canadian "liberal who hates liberals," a singer-songwriter who sings songs about trucks, cowboys, liquor, and guns better than people who truly hail from Texarcana. Musically, he's always followed his muse: his albums have varied from alt-country to pure country, bluegrass to billhilly, acoustic folk to folk rock. His sound, and his band, can vary from one album to the next, and that's okay from his small but devoted fanbase, known affectionately as "Fredheads."

"Milly's Cafe" is in this case vintage Fred, relying on long-time collaborator and friend Willie P. Bennett, the one constant from Fred's early days with the Flying Squirrels. Here, the sound is pure alt-country, relying on a small ensemble of electric and acoustic instruments and especially Bennett's electric mandolin and harmonica. The overall feel is mellower than the hard-rocking "50-Odd Dollars"; Fred's songwriting more often than not emotes elements of hardship, loss, and aging. "Rocky" takes the form of a letter from one aging cowboy to another dying of cancer in Albuquerque. It's companion song, "Tired", is another wonderful minor key cowboy ballad, while the title cut tells the story of failed diner-owners-turned-outlaws. "18 Wheels" should go down as one of Fred's best trucking songs to date.

Fans of "Balin'" may be disappointed with the lack of banjo, but Fred fans who have heard the gamut of his works should rejoice: "Milly's Cafe" will not disappoint, and this could be his best release since 1998's "drive-in movie."

I have to confess to being a huge fan of the man's work however this is an outstanding record and a very rare thing an Album without a bad track. If you listen to nothing else check out Rocky it will make you cry, the vision of an old man in a home just waitin to die, so sad but brilliant Fred I aggree with the previous reviewer his best Album since "Drive In Movie"

I bought this on impulse with the new Toby Keith and I gotta say, it's a find. Eaglesmith has a heart-tugging way with a song. It's not lite music at all, it's real roots country and it hits hard. It's moving and has lots of great instruments playing like mandolins and harmonicas and guitars and piano and they're all really good and with the vocals, awesome. I like his powerfil voice and how the guitars all move the songs along, and I like the twangy stuff like "Hank Williams" and the southwestern title track. It's fun finding a new singer to love! I'm going to be singing "Summer is Over and My Baby's Gone" all week! I'm not a good reviewer but this whole CD reminds me of taking a great vacation to a little place in Texas and stopping into some bar and finding the best music.

Fred's new set is a slow reflective collection of tunes that delve deep into loneliness. The opener "18 Wheels" sounds big with Fred's deliberate guitar churning like wheels on the road, "Up against the wall, 56 tons, grain alcohol, Danger pay, I'm trying to be strong but my will is gone." In "18 Wheels" he mentions Sioux City, Iowa, but in track 2 he turns south to "Kansas" in another stark lonely ballad, "That's where I fall apart, That's where my broken heart catches up with the news." On "Summer is Over," he continues his brokenhearted lament which slides easily into "Thinking 'bout Her" with its eerie melody aching chronic desire. After 4 heartbreakers, the middle of the set moves into story songs. "Rocky," the title track about a closed diner, "Tired" about finding the body of Ray McGuire, and "Mrs. Hank Williams" all have characters that focus on memory & lament. Of the last two songs, "Sign on the Wall" is a ballad about a small town where nothing much happens, "We thought we bought the American dream; we were just a sign on the wall." "The Rains" ends the set with some amazing images about guys who pour gasoline on Main Street & set it on fire, "Some say it's a tragedy, some say it's a shame; some say it's the water that we never got to drink; Some blame Jesus; Some blame rock n' roll; I think we were just trying to gain a little bit of control." It's an excellent close to this stark & lonesome set, as if these powerful emotions of sadness, loss and regret are so strong that they simply must be set aflame. Eaglesmith's tunes feel homespun & ragged. While not upbeat, this is powerful music. Enjoy!

old and smoky,sweet and tangy;like the best bbq and bourbon whiskey ;millies cafe,the newest fred eagleton release is a primary pleasure.i have only just heard him and could notbe happier with both his incisive lyrics and his classic country melodies.every song is good and several are gems.for all you john prine and townes van zandt fans,get this record now,you will not be sorry.

Fred's cool. His songs are hurtin' cowboy country songs and they're fantastic for driving or easy listening. Guitar players, songwriters and singers, as well as just fans of cowboy country will love this guy. He's Canadian!

Another fine CD for those who like the hauntingly melancholy songs of this Ontario crooner.

Fred Eagelsmith is a unusual CD not a rough and rowdy material. Very subduced and understated. The only downer is the songs are all the same in style and arrangement. He should mix up the material.

as the title suggests I was a little bit put off by the sameness of the songs
not the lyrics or topics just the delivery
the best of a type stood out against others
e.g. best songs : mrs hank williams
thinkin bout her
the rains

I'll be honest: I'm not a fan of Fred Eaglesmith but since I am a researcher for a local community radio station (which means I get to preview the music and make suggestions) I had to listen to it. I held off reviewing it for as long as I could for obvious reasons. There wasn't a single cut that didn't make me want to slash my wrists with a rusty spoon. All the selections are too long, the subject matter from beginning to end is only suitable for consuming alcholic beverages while carrying loaded firearms and there is just too much going on on the background all the time.

It could be that I'm just an old geezer that refuses to change with the times and to an extent you're right. But when the opening cut on ANY album is five minutes long and sets the overall tone with such a dark image it's hard to be impressed.