This year marks the 10th anniversary of Midland – Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy and Jess Carson – forming and this week is the 7th anniversary of their debut album ‘On the Rocks’, which produced their breakthrough hit single ‘Drinkin’ Problem’. Over their career so far the band has forged a path outside of the Nashville system, building a fanbase through relentless touring. That approach has paid off for the band, giving them not only a domestic market to tour but an international one too. With three studio albums – the most recent being 2022’s ‘The Last Resort: Greetings From’ – a live album and the soundtrack to their film ‘The Sonic Ranch’ under their belts, the band releases fourth album ‘Barely Blue’ this week.
‘Barely Blue’ sees Midland change gears somewhat and it marks their first collaboration with super producer Dave Cobb. The end result is an 8-track album that is easily their most cohesive and it finds the trio doing things a little differently. That’s evident from opening track ‘Lucky Sometimes’, a song that is more stripped back production-wise than anything we’ve heard from Midland before. Band member Cam Duddy recently told us that wasn’t always the case for that song, but the eventual arrangement allows the band’s harmonies to shine and puts a real focus on the lyrics.
The tempo for the record as a whole is best described as mid, with a relaxed feeling running throughout the record. The dreamy title track ‘Barely Blue’ leans into the George Strait-sound the band has long-embraced, while ‘Better Than a Memory’ lyrically feels like a twist on Crystal Gayle’s ‘Talking In Your Sleep’ as Wystrach sings about being a woman who’s still thinking very much of her ex. ‘Old Fashioned Feeling’ features a soulful groove that pushes the trio’s signature harmonies to the fore, ‘Vegas’ turns ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ on its head with the story of a man who tries to carry on a fleeting love affair outside the confines of Sin City, and ‘Baby It’s You’ is a romantic moment with smooth vocals and an even smoother arrangement.
The final two tracks on the album ‘Halfway to Heaven’ and ‘Lonestar State of Mind’ are actually the strongest. ‘Halfway to Heaven’ harks back to the good old days of Waylon Jennings for a shimmering slice of Country tradition, while closing track ‘Lonestar State of Mind’ could be one of the best songs Midland has ever recorded. Wystrach really shines as his lead vocal drives the acoustic-driven melody, dripping with emotion and proving to be very affecting.
My only real gripe about ‘Barely Blue’ is its length. It’s becoming more and more common for albums to clock in at around 8-9 tracks, and that feels just that bit too short. I can live with a solid 10-track album but 8 tracks leave me wanting more and it feels more like an EP. It’s a minor quibble as the quality of the album is high, I just wanted it to go on a bit longer.
‘Barely Blue’ is definitely a progression for Midland. It’s less chaotic than some of their previous output and it showcases a more mature and reflective sound for the band. Doubling down on their traditional influences, the set is a cohesive and enjoyable one, that you can revisit often and find new layers. ‘Barely Blue’ feels like the start of a new era for the band, without them abandoning everything fans loved before. It’s clear they’ve lived and learned a lot the past decade, and come out the other end older and wiser.
Track list: 1. Lucky Sometimes 2. Barely Blue 3. Better Than a Memory 4. Old Fashioned Feeling 5. Vegas 6. Baby It’s You 7. Halfway to Heaven 8. Lonestar State of Mind Record label: Big Machine Release date: 20th September 2024 Buy ‘Barely Blue’ now
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