Cocteau Twins
Milk and Kisses


3.0
good

Review

by Robert Garland STAFF
November 28th, 2021 | 34 replies


Release Date: 1996 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Confessions from the other side.

The urge to pigeon-hole this album into a slipstream of consciously subconscious thoughts regarding its musical neighbors is sometimes greater than it needs to be. The reluctance to do so however is mostly due to Johnny’s [_well] pandering that some measure of research would serve me better than vague generalizations. He’s right. The same could be said of most pieces of music ever put to a cassette, disc or vinyl and the need to unpack Milk and Kisses robust themes cry for the right kind of attention. This has mostly to do with the fact that Cocteau Twins’ music is rather ambiguous and somewhat unique, but still manages to suit in the realms of dream pop. That about clears it up doesn’t it?

Nope? That’s okay. I think I was in the same boat. Or maybe I was in a vessel of a different sort. Either way I hope to explore Cocteau Twins in a manner that won’t draw too much ire from those who would know better. My illustrious (and [so far] very short-lived) journey with Cocteau Twins brought me to Heaven or Las Vegas. You see, I needed somewhere to start and rather ironically I found myself reviewing a band’s ending. As such I tested the waters by dipping my toe into something that could easily be described as “moods’; ethereal, twinkly or wholesome. It made sense, and even as I traversed the well-trodden planes towards that of Milk and Kisses I couldn’t help shake the dream pop atmospheres of my research. Heaven or Las Vegas did something to the tone of getting me ready, but I was still as much a maiden to the subtle nuance that would drive me towards liking the Liz Fraser led tilt. By now you’ve probably realized I’m being slightly evasive, if not a little bitch about this. This probably stems from my lack of familiarity [completely], but I'll push on nonetheless.

In finding the sum of Milk and Kisses’ parts I came to some quick conclusions. Putting aside the knee-jerk reactionary; hair pulling ilk that screamed “why the fuck are you doing this to yourself?” I put on my reviewers’ perspective and tried channeling something...constructive, prose or no prose.

“Violaine” has an impact as far as dream pop goes, but the album’s larger mainstays are found in its belly. “Tishbite” has that accessibility, a culmination of all the clinical stereotypical climes mentioned at the top of this review. These moods are melt-worthy; an air of atmosphere akin to the abrasiveness of an uncomfortable pillow. You know peace is one more adjustment away and yet, there’s another shift as Milk and Kisses moves into “Half-Gifts”, “Rilkean Heart” and “Ups”, all of which make a listener feel ‘safe’ while taking them on an adventure off-world. That’s vague right? Good. That’s how Milk and Kisses feels, taking what’s comfortable within the niche and stretching that feeling outside of it. Further travels down this short-lived path led me towards the likes of “Treasure Hiding” where light ebbs of ethereal twinkling swayed like a breeze through trees. It’s not until the track’s back half does this twinkling landscape move into something more ‘conventional’ hooks thrown into lyrical phrases like they were born to be there. “Treasure Hiding” fits the bill for casual listening and transcends its own mood; self important as it ushers in the album’s closing sections.

Despite the baser unnatural waters I’ve found myself in, I have found something in Milk and Kisses larger feel. Will I return to Cocteau Twins in the future? I might need an arm twisted. Largely I’ve found Milk and Kisses essentially non essential for better and worse. That aside I’m willing to admit that Cocteau Twins’ sound aesthetic is beautiful and pleasantly uncomfortable at times. As such it should be treated as perfect Sunday afternoon listening. Hugs and...



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user ratings (202)
3.3
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
November 28th 2021


18266 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

I am one less commitment in debt now. If there was any chance to rip me a new one about things I don't know - now's your chance.

Trifolium
November 28th 2021


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

!!!!!!!!!



Oh 😍



Thanks for the review, now I can finally come here every day to talk about its perfect tracks!

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
November 28th 2021


18266 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

If that's all the value we get out of this then it's a job well done. I should apologize for taking forever to get this done.

Koris
Staff Reviewer
November 28th 2021


22041 Comments


Johnny's list is getting completed slowly but surely :] Nice review!

Trifolium
November 28th 2021


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yes lovely stuff. Two bonuses from this already!

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
November 28th 2021


18266 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

--Johnny's list is getting completed slowly but surely :] Nice review!--



Project expected completion date: eh, sometime 2031.

Colton
November 29th 2021


15845 Comments


a milk and kisses review from you? gnobody expected that

Trifolium
November 29th 2021


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Agreed, agreed, agreed and agreed.

brandontaylor
November 29th 2021


1228 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

i found that the tone of voice made the review a little bit hard to follow but i appreciate that its challenging to say a lot about an album that clearly didnt elicit much of a strong opinion either way.

still definitely well written and im glad this now has a review. 'tishbite' and 'rilkean heart' are standout tracks for me

Trifolium
November 29th 2021


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Tishbite yes yes!!!

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
November 30th 2021


62525 Comments


woah it is ____

Trifolium
December 1st 2021


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

here!!!!

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
December 1st 2021


18266 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Out of my depth but not a flaker confirmed.



However as late as fuck this is.

Trifolium
December 9th 2021


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Ups is so lovely. Even on their least loved record (on Sput) they RULE.

Source
June 19th 2022


19917 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

dumb average

Trifolium
June 19th 2022


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Absolutely. A mystery to me.

Source
July 9th 2022


19917 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

man i just adore this album

Trifolium
July 9th 2022


40059 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Same. Craaaaazy average.

Gnocchi
Staff Reviewer
July 9th 2022


18266 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

As much as I detest this review and my personal lack of _________, I am proud that it exists and respect some of my own growth as a writer during/because of it.

JohnnyoftheWell
Staff Reviewer
July 9th 2022


62525 Comments


That's the spirit. Keep writing out of your ballpark (within reason) and you will become bigger! Have you backtracked round to Treasure yet?

Also yikes, need to finish this discog. Gotta get back on the EP catchup soon



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