Article by Sheena Barnett originally posted here: NEMS360.com/...
With much of today's music full of Auto-tune wars and digitized sounds, it's rare to find an album so full of human sound and emotion.
Tupelo's John Milstead has created an album like that. His debut record "Sides of the Soul" is a beautiful, soulful album that showcases his wide range of talents and sounds.
The best thing about "Sides of the Soul" is that it perfectly showcases Milstead's gorgeous voice. He has a seemingly effortless, incredibly smooth sound, and it fits his passionate melodies perfectly.
"Sides of the Soul" features a little bit of everything - there's the gospel-y "Always October," the rocking "Your Crime," the moody "No Feeling," the bouncy "Got This Love Thing Down," the reggae-influenced "Hideaway," the country sounding "I'll Do the Same" - but every song features Milstead's signature soul style. Milstead plays with lots of different genres, but he's most definitely a soul artist.
Milstead wrote or co-wrote all of the songs on the record, and he can make you fall in love or break your heart in just a few simple, well-chosen words.
The bluesy "Easy Goodbye" is a gorgeous break-up song: "I'm not sad enough to cry/Another easy goodbye...You've been inside my arms/And not in my dreams/Oh I fell up on my knees/And I just can't fall in love."
Milstead colors some of his songs with a Mississippi hue - take the fun "Got This Love Thing Down" - "Stumbled outta church today with the Lord in my heart/Headed down to good ole State to pick up my girl/My Bulldog cap on, the tires part the dirt," he sings.
Speaking of Mississippi, Milstead's joined on the record by a host of other Northeast Mississippi musicians like Greg Dillard and Shane Rowe.
"Sides of the Soul" is a rare record in that there literally is no filler - every single song is excellent. This is a stellar debut record, and it should open plenty of doors for the singer-songwriter.
Pick up John Milstead's "Sides of the Soul" for a dose of some serious talent, passionate melodies and all-around terrific music.
Tupelo's downtown restaurant and bar Benjamin's on Main has updated its name to Main Street Bar and Grill. Also coming soon, some minor renovations to the interior of the restaurant and bar. You can still look forward to an outstanding menu, lots of fun, and some great nightly entertainment.
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - The City Council voted 4-3 Tuesday night to ask the state for permission to include liquor in its alcohol sales on Sundays.
Article by Sheena Barnett originally posted here: 
