Fanny split in 1974 but their legacy grew over the decades, leading to occasional live dates in the 2000s. Ten years later,
June and
Jean Millington reunited with
Brie Howard -- a drummer who played with the band in 1974, after
June left the group -- and decided this was good enough to make it a permanent concern under the name
Fanny Walked the Earth. Assisted by several female rockers who followed in their path,
Fanny Walked the Earth recorded a brand-new self-titled album for a 2018 release. Given that the
Millington sisters and
Howard are a few years older than they were in the '70s, it's appropriate that
Fanny Walked the Earth aren't as hard-edged as
Fanny, but that's also the appeal of this record. There's a warmth in the trio's interplay, a quality that's underscored by the cameos -- the younger generations are also saluted in song on "Girls on the Road," which tells the tale of
Fanny and their legacy -- and that's charming, particularly because
Fanny Walked the Earth seem to be having a great time writing songs about the past and present. They may not be as loud as they were in the '70s, but
Fanny Walked the Earth still value harmony -- both in the musical and spiritual sense -- and write strong, melodic tunes, which makes this an appealingly understated comeback.