Midland arrived in our lives back in 2016 when they released their debut self-titled EP. Featuring debut single “Drinkin’ Problem”, which was a huge hit on the Billboard US Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts, the EP paved the way for the band’s 2017 debut album ‘On the Rocks’. Since the release of that album, Midland has toured relentlessly and found time to release three more albums – ‘Let It Roll’ (2019), ‘The Last Resort: Greetings From’ (2022) and ‘Barely Blue’ (2024) – along with live album ‘Live from the Palomino’ (2020) and soundtrack album ‘The Sonic Ranch’ (2021). A little under two years on from ‘Barely Blue’, Midland is releasing new album ‘Stages’.
Ahead of the album’s release, five of the 10 tracks have already been released – ‘Marlboro Man’, ‘Shooting Memories With Tequila’, ‘Glass Half Empty’, ‘I Wish You Would’ with Mackenzie Carpenter and “Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey”. Those tracks give a good representation of what you can expect from the album. Leaning into a blend of traditional and California country, the album is a laidback affair that focuses on melodies and instrumentation rather than chasing after chart hits. For the record the band has teamed up with producer Trent Willmon, except for ‘I Wish You Would’ which is produced by Jamie Moore.
‘Marlboro Man’ opens the record and it’s a real classic Midland track. Mark Wystrach’s voice continues to impress and it packs a lot of emotion, supported by backing vocals from fellow band members Jess Carson and Cameron Duddy. Of the other already released tracks, “I Wish You Would” with Canadian Country star Mackenzie Carpenter is a highlight. Channelling ‘Islands in the Stream’, the playful back-and-forth is dreamy Country that really evokes the golden age of the genre. The punchy “Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey”, co-written by Chris Stapleton, is one of the album’s more rousing moments and is sure to become a live favourite in the band’s sets.
The five other tracks on the album will be new to fans. “One Day You Won’t” sounds like an uncovered George Strait classic thanks to its gorgeous instrumentation and gentle mid-tempo beat. ‘Walk a Mile in My Boots’ takes you straight to a Texan honky tonk with a stomping beat and a catchy chorus, while ‘Up in Texas’ really showcases the strength of the band’s harmonies for one of the strongest tracks on the record, which features iconic singer Clint Black. ‘Drunk Enough’, a track that the band had a hand in producing, is a swoonsome drinking song that reflects on a heartbreak that can’t be drowned in alcohol.
The final track on the album, ‘Vaquero’, is a mid-tempo track that pushes Wystrach’s voice into the spotlight. Embedded in faultless arrangements, his voice drives the song forward and takes you back to the glory days of Country music. It sounds both classic and contemporary at the same time, which is no easy thing to achieve.
‘Stages’ is a mature collection of songs from Midland that highlights their growth as men and artists. The classic Country sound has always been their USP and they sound as good as they ever have here. Fans of their earlier material may miss the wordplay that was central to that but these songs are so gorgeously put together, that you can’t help but listen to them on repeat. Midland have always done their own thing and they continue to do so impressively on this record.
Track list: 1. Marlboro Man 2. One Day Your Won’t 3. Shooting Memories with Tequila 4. Walk a Mile in My Boots 5. Glass Half Empty 6. I Wish You Would (with Mackenzie Carpenter) 7. Up in Texas (feat. Clint Black) 8. Drinking Dark Whiskey 9. Drunk Enough 10. Vaquero Record label: Blue Highway Records Release date: 12th May 2026 Buy ‘Stages’ now
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