iii. Milk

When Flying Nun Records announced iii in its weekly newsletter about a month ago, I had never heard of Milk. Reading further, it turned out that in a way I learned about the band too late. The artist behind Milk, Reuben Samuel Winter, had died in September 2020, after living with a horrible and extremely painful decease. iii is a posthumous album released by Flying Nun in close cooperation with Winter's family. It's an album Winter had recorded in 2019, did not release, but simply had to be presented to the world.

Next, I received the album digitally and started listening. From the very beginning I was totally gripped by the album. I literally had no idea what to expect. The sad story made me want to make an extra effort. Most likely I would have listened after the release. The effect of the first song, 'Dopehead', certainly would not have been different. The difference is that the introduction enticed me to make an effort beforehand.

iii simply is an incredibly good album, by an incredibly talented artist, who due to illness and the pain was not able to continue his life and career. Reuben Winter had two musical careers actually. One in electronic and hip hop under the name Totem and one in alternative rock and punk under the name Milk. At 26 he took his own life, leaving behind many grieving musician friends who described him as very kind and gifted. Someone who shared his talents with others, to receive in kind.

So what for an album is iii?, you may ask yourself by now. It's an alternative rock album filled to the brim with interesting melodies, little extra's on guitars and keyboards. Surprising sounds, massive drumming and bass playing. Over it all, Winter sings or screams, venting his anger and / or angst.  Don't run away immediately, as you will miss the tranquil interludes, the spoken word pieces and the softer rock songs that all together make up iii. This is not a 30 year after 'Nevermind' rehash of Nirvana's best album. Reuben Winter expressed his own take on alternative rock without having to look back on the grunge that once was. At the end of the album I'm sure you will be able to take the more metal tinged 'A Letter To Silent Heaven' without a problem, as it is another great song, with a little home made sounds and a contented sigh to end the album, just before the stop-recording button was pushed.

To go back to the opener 'Dopehead'. What I noticed of course was the giant opening, that great riff, the screaming. At that point the album could still go off in a horrible screamo or whatever extravaganza. It doesn't. A great guitar melody comes along, the pleasant singing voice of Reuben Winter follows. All this makes a nice song, without a doubt. It becomes special in the middle section when the force goes out and a saxophone solo comes in played by Jung-Yun J.Y. Lee. It turns the song and album upside down, before the great intro returns as an outro. By then iii had me alright. When the soft and slow opening of 'Maple' takes over, I'm reminded of the best ballad Smashing Pumpkins ever made with a better, much better, singer.

On the album the best of Britpop is integrated into the alternative rock as well. You can find a Supergrass melodic solo in a song like 'Stolen Valor', while being so much louder or wilder, what you prefer to call it. From there be surprised what else this song brings the listener. Milk shows a few sides to itself in just one song. As a whole, just let yourself be surprised by iii. You will not be let down for a second.

There's only one good side to this incredibly sad story announcing iii, that there are two albums to backtrack to. At best a small consolation for all the music we will never hear. Reuben Samuel Winter was tremendously talented. With iii he has left the world his legacy. It is an album that all fans of alternative rock with a little pop feel should take to their hearts and minds. Mid April 2021 I dare to state that I'm just about to post on one of the contenders of album of the year 2021 and who knows of the 20s.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order iii here:

https://flyingnun.bandcamp.com/album/iii

 

or listen to our Spotify Playlist to find out what we are writing about:

https://open.spotify.com/user/glazu53/playlist/6R9FgPd2btrMuMaIrYeCh6?si=KI6LzLaAS5K-wsez5oSO2g