Originally from Boston but now based in Denver, Milquetoast & Co. is a sextet that knows how to throw earnest and humble wisdom into a pot, and mix it with blues, rock, and a general earth-toned Americana flavour.
The band went their separate ways for a time after releasing two full-length albums, with each member going off to pursue different things called “life”. They couldn’t keep away from The Company, however, and before long they found themselves recording and gigging together once again, this time in Denver. The name “Milquetoast” can be a bit misleading, the band is neither bland nor meek, and a testament to that is in their newest single release, a slightly re-written version of Kate Bush’s “Army Dreamers”
“Army Dreamers” has stood for four whole decades of conflict as one of the most poignant anti-war songs written in the later part of the 20th century. The Waltz is written from the point of view of a grieving mother who failed to keep his much-too-young son from the Army, and so powerful and heart-wrenching a song it is that the BBC would add it to a list of 67 other songs unfit for airplay during the First Gulf War, which took place roughly 10 years after its release.
The original song was a dainty dream-like Waltz with a wry dulcet-falsetto combo with a creepy aura that made the sad lyrics hit with a haunting and unsettling aura. This new version by Milquetoast & Co. hits a bit differently, slightly less unsettling but no less impactful by any means, it preserves the dignified strings and tones of its waltz roots while venturing into a more rugged soft-rock terrain that feels a bit more modern.
As far as the Band’s intentions for covering this song, Lead singer James McAndrew spoke in detail about his personal relationship with this song, saying; This particular song goes back to my childhood, it ushered in an emotional response I wasn’t old enough to understand short of, it was sad. The chord progression to the chorus was incredible to me. It was one of the first songs to really have that type of effect on me. My sister was a huge Kate Bush fan and the reason why I was exposed to her and her music. This song has been part of my musical DNA for as long as I have had any reaction to any music at all.
For forty-two years, this song has seen approximately 11 different large-scale conflicts, several of which are still going on to this day. With no end in sight to this facet of international politics and economy, this new version by Milquetoast and Co. will pay homage to many more Army Dreamers to come.
