It's taken me an awful long time to put this review together, largely because this is such a problematic offering.

I wanted to love this EP, I really did. I've been a Just Jinjer fan since my school days and I actually did a happy skip when I found out they were putting out a new album. And it's all there — Ard Matthews still sounds as good as he did thirteen years ago and they're still a fantastically polished outfit. They still are Just Jinjer to their core.

But it's not enough.

The album starts off with great promise — the title track, 'Milk and Honies' is fantastic. If this is how the rest of the album is going, I thought, I'm going to love it. But the mood doesn't drop so much as plummet in track two 'Lost and Found'. It's a sombre-sounding track which really doesn't glean with the lyrics "I'm overcome with optimism now". The backing track (and it really does sound more like a backing track than anything else) is far too Robbie Williams-esque and they can't quite reconcile their pop-rock tone with their lyrics.

And speaking of lyrics, Just Jinjer have always been one of my favourite local bands, largely for the strength of their writing. And kudos for the band for taking on some more serious themes where many local artists tend to prefer "safe", Americanised themes. But wow, do they only smack you over the head with it all. Repeatedly. Case in point: "From the bottom of our hearts/ We should all reach out/ And dig deeper in our pockets/ There's a lonely child/ That needs us". It becomes less like a song and more like a lecture.

Then there is the absolutely cringe-worthy 'Mr Morgan', calling on listeners to "Fight for Zimbabwe". Listen, it's admirable enough. And I'm all for a good protest song in the traditions of the 1960s and 1970s. But in my opinion, it's a little over-the-top. And while it will most likely sound awesome live, it sticks out and seems a little awkward on this collection.

There is a heart-meltingly awesome acoustic version of one of their most massive hits — 'What He Means'. I could have gone in for an acoustic album in this vein upon their return — and it would have found a permanent home in my CD player.

Ultimately, the whole thing seems a little rushed. I get that they wanted an album to tie in with their homecoming, but 'Milk and Honies' seems clumsy. I think I would have preferred to wait a little for something a little more polished. But I'm not giving up hope yet.