Customer Reviews

Milk & Kisses

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My first exposure to Cocteau Twins was via MTV, of all places, back when they played music instead of commercials masking themselves as music. "Postmodern MTV" hosted by Kevin Seal (whatever happened to him?) played the video for "Carolyn's Fingers" from "Blue Bell Knoll," saying it was brilliant. I had to agree - BBK was in my collection the next day.

I have since been fortunate enough to own all of the Cocteau Twins US releases, and a few of their UK releases for good measure. What a gift to the world their career as an ensemble was!

"Milk and Kisses" is an appropriate coda to a catalogue of ethereal, heartfelt masterpieces. Frasier's vocals lilt above the astral guitarwork like wispy clouds on "Serpentskirt," evoking visions of love, lust and loss.

On other tracks, like "Tishbite," her assured stylings portray an inner strength that is positively inspirational. Each track is a journey itself, while being a chapter in a larger, more universal story. Overall, the sound is epic, angelic and hopeful.

Though we may not see another release from this seminal, completely unique band, "Milk and Kisses" is a practically perfect curtain call. Recommended highly!!!

Let me begin by saying that I've been a CT fan for many years. In my opinion, the best album you can buy is the out-of-print (and hard to find) "Pink Opaque." "Milk and Kisses," however, is one of their best. While not as experimental per se as their earlier work, nor as commercial as "Four-Calendar Cafe," it's still a great showcase of the unique CT sound.

"Rilkean Heart" is one of CT's most poignant songs (the accoustic version, which is not available on this album, is even lovelier). "Serpentskirt," "Tishbite" and "Half-gifts" are also excellent tunes featured on this album.

It's a definate must-have for the dedicated CT fan...like myself.

It's a clear fact that a lot of people just ignored the release of this album, and told very loud they hated it wothout having really listened to its songs. Cocteau Twins is a typical band which changed something on its music style during all of ther EP and album releases, but surely without losing its own undebiable essence. In the same way, no-one would compare Victorialand to Garlands, or Head Over Hills to Treasure, but I must admit that the releases after Heaven Or Las Vegas, including Four-Calendar Café, are quite similar in a more calm, mellow way which probably irritated a lot of actually exclusive followers of their so beautiful darkest years. Liz' voice sounds more lyrical, but the adorable strange atmosphere CT creates in each and every song they prduce still stays that. The highligh is the poetic Rilkean Heart, and the single Violaine, title track of a wonderful previusly released EP with different mixes/arrangements to some of the album cuts also claimed some attention. Half-Gifts is a no-more-hidden treasure, Ups and Eperdu keep the album's highest point and seekers who are lovers was tyhe perfect key. The only problems with it are the singles choice and the at some level less innovative lyrics, but anyway the music cointained ther is ethereally magical and stays amonge their more relevant stuf. Just because of its beauty.

i own every Cocteau Twins album and though this one isn't as cosistent as some of the others it has some of the best songs of all time on it -- especially "Half-Gifts" which, even after all these years, i still listen to over and over and over again... it makes me want to cry, it is so moving!!
"Treasure Hiding" is the most erotic song i've ever heard, it reminds me of a female orgasm! slowly waiting for it to happen, waiting, waiting and then WOW!!!!! hee hee....

Of all the reviews I will write this one will be the hardest, because I am reviewing quite possibly the last album from the greatest group of musicians to ever walk the planet earth. There are many great and talented musicians out there who have made great music, but NEVER has there been a group like these guys. There has been many different styles of music created over time, from classical, to jazz,to new age, to rap, to heavy metal, to rock, but these guys fit none of these styles, they actually decided to make their own. So, when you listen to Cocteau Twins music, you are listening to a style of music called Cocteau Twins. And on this album, "Milk and Kisses", they prove again they were really one of a kind that the world will never see the likes of again. Let me tell you my five favorite songs on this album. 1)Violaine.
Get ready for a roller-coaster ride on this song. In the middle, right when you are at the top of the coaster, they drop you out of the blue, and send you on your way, but the oasis, the part of the song I always call the sound of butterfly wings flapping, at the end of the drop awaits you, and when you experience it, I believe it is as close to experiencing ecstacy in music as you can get. There are two songs that I consider my favorite Cocteau Twins songs of all time, this in one of them. The other is a song off of "Head Over Heals", but I will let you read the review of that album to find out which one it is. "Violaine" and the next song, "Serpentskirt", best convey the erotic nature the group had in mind on this album. 2)Serpentskirt. The title alone of this song drips in sexual overtones. I believe the cover of a picture of a nude woman hiding in the middle of yellow and red fog is more evidence of the groups erotic intentions for this album. 3)Seekers are Lovers. Here the group ends the album with a coda song after all the erotic tension they built up on previous songs and their career. 4)Ups. The mystery of the Cocteau Twins once again shows itself. 5)Tishbite. Brilliance once again.
I believe the Cocteau Twins knew this was going to be the last record when they recorded it, and so the focus on the recording of "Milk and Kisses" was to give their fans the best possible exit. And they did that. And if they ever read this, I just want them to know, I personally thank you for 20 years of always being there for me, and you leave behind a kind of music that will never be made again. But you do not need me to tell you that. You have always known.

Not so much a review but a response to the last person. In my opinion, Treasure Hiding is the best song on the album.
I love the way it just builds very slowly and majestically and then, bang, its there. And those swirling guitars just get me right here ( there, follow my finger)

Have to agree with Seekers who are Lovers. A truly great song and yes, it has elements of eroticism about but then I've always fancied Liz Fraser!! Oooh, that voice.

Buy this, this is real music for the soul

This is the Cocteau Twins final full-length release, and as sad it may be that they are no longer creating music together, what a perfect ending to a wonderful run. This CD encompasses everything that a long-time fan like myself loves about Cocteau Twins. Sweeping melodies, lush soundscapes, both foreign and yet totally accesible at the same time. Some fans have not given this album the same high marks as past efforts and that is totally puzzling. Are we all listening to the same CD? This final effort is every bit as musically enlightned as "Blue Bell Knoll" or "Victorialand." Put this disc on when you have the time to pay attention, late at night, and let the music sweep you away. This is disc is a must have... you won't we disappointed.

What grabs me about CT is that the band has been virtually fearless throughout a career that spans two decades, the first marked by post-punk wanderings of bands like The Cure, whose creative genius dimmed as the 90s waned, and Depeche Mode, who were either ahead of or behind the time, except for 1986 ( Black Celebration ), and the second to which we owe the debt of grunge and flannel shirts tied around the waists of highschool girls with tattoos. Ah, the richness of popular culture! Yet, there is Cocteau Twins, forging ahead against the tide of cloned death metal bands, their only shield the magic carpet of Robin Guthrie's immaculate craftmanship, their only sword the lancing, glancing, dancing vocals of Elizabeth Fraser.
This CD is not their best, owing to 'treasure hiding' which lost its way early, and 'eperdu', which doesn't mean something in French now, but might 500 years ago meant 'trapped by elves'. But I quibble. The rest of this wonderful album is massively and extravagantly sweet. 'calfskin smack', with its oooh-la-la-la background, belongs in the hall of fame of songs with angelic vocals. ( as an aside, this deserves a hearing on fine headphones -- no advertising, but think German ) I adore 'half-gifts' and its graceful harmonies, Miss Fraser's pure soprano hanging over her alto voice. The droning bassline underscores and contrasts perfectly with the thin, reedy synth. A brilliant display.

Having been a long time and somewhat psychotic fan of this seminal band, I can't help but gush when I hear their name mentioned. Few bands have as intensely loyal a following as the Cocteau Twins. They simply are one of the most unique and genuinely talented bands to have every come down the pike. I have been a huge fan since seeing the video for Carolyn's Fingers. I was hooked. When I listened to Blue Bell Knoll for the first time, I was transported in every sense of the word and have been ever since. While not their best genre-pushing album (and unfortunately their last until further notice), Milk & Kisses is still very good. Just think about the title and you will get a sense of what I think this album is about -- it's about comfort and a sense of finding yourself in the midst of personal trials and tribulations and that "it's a lie" to say you "can't handle" life's ups and downs -- get the lyrics to Halfgifts and you will understand what I mean. From "violaine" (which is now one of my favorite CT tracks) to "calfskin smack" to "treasure hiding" to "seekers who are lovers" -- you get quite a dynamic album that talks of personal strength and maturity (at least when I can make out the words). In addition to this album, I also HIGHLY recommend Twinlights which contains a more "acoustic" version of "rilkean heart" and "halfgifts" from the Milk and Kisses album as well as some old favorites "pink orange red" and "golden vein". A truly memorable companion to the fine music "Milk and Kisses" showers you with.

I have been listening to the Cocteau Twins for merely a few month's time, but I have fallen so deeply into their aural borders, ephemeral though they may be, that these songs have become an inseparable part of who I am as a human being. That being said, this album is the most recent to come into my possession, and is a welcome light in my chambers.

For me, nearly every piece of music that I listen to carries with it a certain association: a memory, experience, or emotion that was engraved into its sounds the moment(s) I first heard them. Therefore, it is difficult to qualify such things, as each emotional experience is equally important to me. However, I can say with certainty that of all the discoveries to emerge from the Cocteau Twins' sonic explorations, it is this album (thus far) that communicates to me most vividly. Within its geography lies a folklore that tells of human nature and variable trust. To me, this is not merely an album, confined to its digital enclosure, but a map that is constantly re-inking itself with the quills of each listener. I would say this about all of their music, for Elizabeth Fraser's cryptic vocalizations (in my opinion) do not seek to construct mystery or hide secrets, but to illuminate them. The consequential lack of linguistic clarity helps us to shed words of definitive, unalterable meaning and embrace them as music with doorways.

This is an album that progresses and returns, ebbs and flows like the ocean of an undiscovered shore, and each wave opens with its own voice. It feels rather pointless to give a track-by-track analysis, but I will say that "calfskin smack" contains a chorus that never leaves my mind. The simplicity of it's "ooooo la la la la la la la" flows down my spine like honey. And I cannot stop listening to "ups" as I write this review. As for an overall impression, this is an album that is overflowing with beauty, both in pain and in love and many things in between. Fraser's voice shines with a multi-faceted honesty, while Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde (and guest musicians) provide an extremely warm sound, dripping with sentiment, confident hesitation, and ecstatic satisfaction.

Anyone who has ever been on a swing as a child (or as an adult for that matter) has possibly felt the urge, as I did, to make the swing go higher and higher, so that it circled up and over the bar from which the chains hung, making a complete circle. Listening to this album makes me feel that I am accomplishing this over and over again...

I purchased milk & kisses 2 weeks ago and have not been able to stop listening to it since. I have tried to listen to other CDs in my collection, but find that my thoughts are so beautifully bound to the sonorities on this disc. I recommend this to anyone who wishes to stare into themselves.