Millie Milner and the Deadnames

When a song is weighted heavily with cultural and social significance, it is oftentimes difficult to pen its review. This is especially true if you have managed to live most of your life without having to navigate the emotional turmoil involved with coming out of a closet. Luckily, this is also where Millie Milner and the Deadnames step in with their track, “Brickwork.” lyrically and musically giving the listener a vicarious three minutes and sixteen seconds of someone coming out to their parents.

We knew “Brickwork.” was important when it arrived in our inbox and we often found ourselves opting for easier songs to review because, quite frankly, nothing we say about this track will ever do it any real justice. Frontman Edi Milner offers some incite: "It's about the relationship between parent and child but also is about an air of hurt, grief for oneself and regret for not being the person you were expected to be" (Milner). The track is sparse in its instrumental, leaving plenty room for the lyrics to be the main focus, but also includes recordings from “Edi's childhood to contrast the current day lo-fi recording to the past laughter of the old person left behind.” Do yourself a favor and take a good, hard listen to “Brickwork.” Then do it again.

-TM