The Austin Chronicle August 17, 2001 CD reviews:
"Malford Milligan & Friends - the Gospel According to Austin Vol. 2"

The first edition of The Gospel According to Austin was a glorious if unexpected success. It featured a wide array of Austin artists, from Ruben Ramos and Don Walser to Guy Forsyth performing what's been referred to as "roots-gospel" to great effect. Volume 2 is structured differently, but packs an equally powerful punch. Center stage this time is the marvelous voice of Malford Milligan. Most locals know Milligan through his work with Storyville or his latest projects (Funky London and the Boneshakers) and are aware of his ability to take on a variety of styles, always injecting them with a great deal of soul and grit. The Gospel According to Austin Vol 2 finds him in top form, augmented with the likes of Malcolm "Papa Mali" Welbourne, Steve James, Riley Osborn, and Stephen Bruton, among others. He tackles tunes from the songbooks of Blind Willie Johnson, Al Green, Blind Gary Davis, and Sam Cooke with a grace and reverence that's both inspiring and entertaining. There are also two bonus tracks at the end of the disc, one tune each from E.R. Shorts and the Gospelaires, which fit nicely with the overall tone of this powerful disc. The Gospelaires take on the traditional "Stand the Test in the Judgement" is a revelation, with their delightful harmonies and funky attitude.

One doesn't have to be a spiritual being to enjoy The Gospel According to Austin Vol. 2, but even non-believers will be moved by its joyful sound. 3.5 stars (out of 5) -Jim Caligiuri (www.auschron.com)

From Greenbelt.uk.org -- the editorial dept. -- Culture :: Music :: Reviews "Malford Milligan & Friends - The Gospel According to Austin vol #2"

By Steve Collins on Wednesday September 26 @ 08:11AM

Austin, Texas is a city about music. Especially live music, of the kind that celebrates spontaneous emotion and skilful musicianship. Naturally there is a major local Gospel tradition, but the music has seldom been heard outside churches and the periodic 'Gospel brunches' that are a feature of Austin's bar life. Enter "the 'Gospel According to Austin' Project - introducing kick-butt Gospel from Austin to the world".

The 'Gospel According to Austin' Project is a celebration of 'Roots Gospel' music of all types - that old, rural, gritty, sweaty, movin', shakin', broken, joyful, spontaneous, spiritual Gospel music. It is a non-profit entity whose purposes include:
Raising funds to directly benefit musicians.
Exposing America's rich gospel music heritage and the foundation it laid for all American music.
Helping to preserve 'roots gospel music' by getting it into the street where it can be played, recorded, and appreciated by the masses.

The Project's latest CD 'Gospel According to Austin' vol. 2 features Austin's top secular vocalist Malford Milligan - oh what a voice. The MP3/Real Audio downloads on the website will tell you what you need to know. This isn't slick showbiz R'n'B pop Gospel. It's raw bluesy rock'n'roll Gospel, the sound of material poverty and spiritual riches. It'll warm and break your heart.

www.greenbelt.uk.org/insight

The Omaha Reader -- B.J. Huchtemann 10/3/01 Malford Milligan & Friends - The Gospel According to Austin 2 (Independent)

The extraordinary soul singer Malford Milligan, seen in Omaha as part of Double Trouble's performance at June's Indigenous Jam, fronts this equally extraordinary project.

The Gospel According to Austin 2 is obviously the second of a series. But while the first disc celebrated contributions from a variety of Austin musicians, the second disc glitters around Milligan's remarkable and soulful vocalizing. Milligan can be heard on Double Trouble's Been a Long Time CD and he was also the lead singer for the Austin-based super-group Storyville. The independent Austin producers helming The Gospel According to Austin project have ambitious goals, aside from preserving and promoting the tradition of what they call "roots Gospel music." Their goals and accomplishments include donating proceeds from the recordings to non-profit organizations benefiting musicians and funding a Gospel music venue in the self-proclaimed "live music capital of the world."

The backing musicians on Volume 2 consist of very few names that will be familiar to those outside the Austin music scene, but fans of Milligan's work and fans of old-style country-blues Gospel music will revel in the traditional tunes set down here for posterity.

Despite the traditional Gospel roots, some of the arrangements reach into more contemporary sounds. Tracks like "I've Never Been To Seminary" and "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" feature electric guitar and an aggressive rhythm section that should appeal to fans of Storyville, the Arc Angels and Double Trouble. And the gospel lyrics offer some intangible reassurance that can't help but lift your spirits, if the music alone doesn't do it.

As proof that the founders behind the project are committed to the work, they include a bonus track from the Gospelaires, a group formed from Austin musicians residing at the city's Salvation Army shelter. The producers of Gospel 2 are currently working on a full-length CD featuring this new group. If you can't find Gospel 2 in local stores, you may order directly from the producers at www.gospelaccording2austin.com or by calling 512-261-6322. B.J. Huchtemann -- (www.thereader.com)