Milburn were a 4-piece indie-rock band from Sheffield. Joe Carnall, Louis Carnall, Tom Rowely and Joe Green made up what is probably one of the best bands never to make it in the industry.
Formed in 2001, all of Milburns members had just learned how to play instruments. However by 2002, they had sold out the boardwalk in Sheffield, played twice at Liverpools infamous venue The Cavern and also had been on the bill at The Leadmill. Following there massive local success, fellow Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys rewarded them with a support slot on their UK tour, and it wasnt long before Milburn were signed by Mercury records in 2006.
The bands first release at Mercury was the single "Send In The Boys" which reached number 32 in the UK singles chart. Following this the band released there debut album "Well, Well, Well". This would peak at number 32 in the UK charts. The album itself explodes into life when the guitar in lead off track 'Well, Well, Well' kicks the doors in. This exploiveness is seen again in fast-paced debut single 'Send In The Boys'. We then encounter the uplifting track 'Cheshire Cat Smile'. The album begins to wind down when we come to 'What You Could've Won', a song that frontman Joe Carnall claims that even his dad has bounced to....The album is rounded off with slow-moving track 'Roll Out The Barrel' which is without a doubt one of the best tracks on this tremendous debut album.
The Sheffield lads went on to quickly release there second album "These Are The Facts" in 2007. The band released one single from this album which was "What Will You Do?(When The Money Goes)". The album is slightly dark in parts compared to there first effort and perhaps not as strong, but still a great effort from the indie four piece. The album is kick started into life with the first track 'Lo And Behold'. This urgency continues as the bands only single from album comes into play. The album is strong throughout and is rounded off with the heart-felt lyrics of 'The Genius In The Tramp'.
In March 2008, Milburn annouced they were going to split. They revealed there had been no fall-outs and said it was simply because they felt they could go no further. They annouced two more gigs to round off what really had been a fantastic journey. They would play the Glasgow ABC and sign off back where it all began in Sheffield. The band closed there emotional and intimate set in Glasgow with Joe Carnall and the entire crowd singing "You can't put your head in your hands forever", the chorus to 'The Genius And The Tramp'.
Milburn never quite made there mark on the industry, and never quite made it. However these lads left a legacy with two tremendous albums and a great relationship with there fans throughout there existance. You cant help think that had Arctic Monkeys not been around at the same time, Milburn could have been the voice of the Sheffield music scene. It's a sin that Milburn didn't get there, but it was a valient effort from 4 tremendous lads from Sheffield.
Best tracks from 'Well, Well, Well' - 'Send In The Boys', 'Roll Out The Barrel' and 'What You Could've Won'
Best Tracks from 'These Are The Facts' - 'The Genius And The Tramp', 'Wolves At Bay' and 'What Will You Do?(When The Money Goes)'
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