Milburn - Well Well Well

They are a young gang of tousle-haired friends, they come from Sheffield, but they are not, repeat not, the Arctic Monkeys. Milburn must be sick of the comparisons with their High Green estate mates, but, frankly, they bring it on themselves. Milburn sound remarkably, spookily like the Arctic Monkeys, from 18 year-old singer Joe Carnall's Yorkshire-soaked, cynical lyrics on all things domestic, to the choppy, unpolished guitar riffs. Despite their youth, Milburn have spent years rehearsing and gigging their unshackled brand of garage indie, and songs like the hit Send in the Boys, the impassioned Lipstick Licking and the acoustic album closer Roll Out the Barrel reveal a mature-beyond-their-years songwriting ability. Although it sticks to a narrow musical palette, 'Well Well Well' is a solid debut. Unfortunately for Milburn it comes six months after another band did the same thing, only better. [Nick Mitchell]