Rating:
Genre:
Blues
Release Date: 11/14/2006
Malford Milligan has been belting out his own blend of blues, soul, gospel, funk, and rock & roll from his home base of Austin, TX, for many years, working and recording with a lengthy roster of talent that includes
Storyville,
Double Trouble,
the Boneshakers,
Eric Johnson,
Sue Foley, and
Marcia Ball.
Milligan, whose influences range from
Joni Mitchell to
Al Green and
Stevie Wonder, didn't begin releasing albums under his own name until well after he had passed the age of 40. His rendition of
Blind Willie Johnson's
"Dark Was the Night" set the tone for the album
The Gospel According to Austin, Vol. 2 in 2001.
Sweet Cherry Soul appeared in 2002 on
Stagger Lee Records,
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished came out on the
Austin to Boston label in 2004, and
Rides Again... was released by
Mass Appeal in 2006.
Rides Again... might just be his best piece of work to date, as maturity gives
Malford a leonine quality that works wonders and is bound to make him even more exciting and unique with the passage of time. Stoked with original tunes and new renditions of favorites by
Muddy Waters,
Otis Redding,
Freddie King and
Merle Haggard (as well as a cover of
"Drive" by
the Cars that brings to mind the passion of
Eric Burdon), this album of contemporary Texas-styled entertainments illustrates just how perfectly all of the inspirations meet and combine in the king-sized heart of this joyously driven individual.
~arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide
;)
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