Despite The Quality of “On The Rocks,” Midland Are Still Bullshitters
WARNING: Language
I can’t stand these Midland guys. I can’t stand their faces, I can’t stand their bullshit Tom Selleck circa 1985 mustaches, I can’t stand their stupid getups, or the fact that they’re making a mockery of the authenticity of scores of Austin-based country artists, and legions of traditional country performers across the globe with their false narrative about beating it down the highway for years and paying dues in dives bars and honky tonks.
We’ll get to the music in a second, but first I must say my piece.
The men of Midland are bullshitters, plain and simple. The first time I spoke about Midland, I attempted to coax these guys into slowing their roll on selling themselves as authentic Austin honky tonkers, and steeled in the hardscrabble existence of the dusty road, and I attempted to do so in a positive, constructive manner. While giving their EP a score of 8/10, I said,
The lingering concern with a band like Midland is if they have the real stuff to ingratiate themselves to grassroots fans, or if they’re more of the mainstream answer to a phenomenon that’s occurring outside of the industry’s influence that they wish to incorporate … There’s also fair concern about the attention to styling that seems to permeate everything about Midland—their sleek suite of band photos [which] seems to want to set a visual component to their music that precedes the music itself.
When that initial concern was met with consternation and rebuke by some of the band’s fans and surrogates, and as Midland ratcheted up their rhetoric on their Austin-bred authenticity even more, I felt an expose was in order, enumerating the multiple reasons why Midland was less than what they were selling, including the fact that any dues paying in Austin was fleeting at best, frontman Mark Wystrach was once an underwear model and soap opera star, Cameron Duddy was already a wealthy, successful member of the entertainment industry with MTV Video Music Awards on his mantle from working with “best friend” Bruno Mars, and how Duddy’s wedding where Midland was formed was covered in People Magazine. These guys, specifically Wystrach and Duddy, were part of the power elite of the entertainment world way before Midland even played a note.
But that hasn’t stopped them from attempting to sell themsleves otherwise. They’ve doubled, and now tripled down, aided by elements of mainstream country music media, especially Rolling Stone, which published yet another puff piece on the day of the release of the band’s debut album On The Rocks, all about how Midland is “rough and ready” to hit the big time after paying their dues in dive bars.
“Texas trio Midland knows a thing or two about dive bars – in fact, they just might be the biggest bar band in country music right now,” says the piece in Rolling Stone. “It’s appropriate, then, to meet them at one of Nashville’s best dives, Springwater Supper Club and Lounge … ‘We walked in here today and I immediately felt at peace in this place,’ Midland bassist Cameron Duddy says of Springwater. ‘Places like this all around the country, it’s where we got our 10,000 hours in.'”
Bullshit, Cameron Duddy. You didn’t put 10,000 hours into anything. You know it, and I know it. Everybody should know it, and it’s already been established as common knowledge that Midland’s embellishment of their time in dive bars is gratuitous. All you have to do is keep reading the Rolling Stone piece to confirm that.
“Springwater is not unlike the bar in Texas where Midland cut its teeth,” Rolling Stone says. “In fall of 2015, the trio held a month-long residency at Poodies Hilltop Roadhouse in Austin, a historic honky tonk just outside town where the band played hours-long sets on Tuesday afternoons to notoriously difficult-to-impress bar-goers.”
That means Midland played four fucking shows at Poodies. Four fucking shows, and somehow you’re going to equate that to getting your “10,000 hours” in? Sorry asshole, but you’re about 9,992 hours short. Hell I’ll even throw in a few more hours for Midland’s one-off shows at The White Horse and The Broken Spoke in Austin and make it an even 9,980. We’ve been hearing about this stupid fucking Poodie’s residency for the better part of a year as the sole justification for Midland’s “authenticity,” and it gets more ass chapping every time. Most Austin bands play four years of residencies, and still don’t get to hopscotch everyone in line because of their established connections in the industry.
I’ve had people up my ass for the last 72 hours asking, “Trig, where’s your Midland review dammit? You’re too slow these days!” I’ll tell you where it is, it got sifted to file 86. Five minutes before I was set to post my review of On The Rocks on the release day, this Rolling Stone piece can down the wires, and reading it made me so fit to be tied, I deleted the entire review, of which the upshot was, “Screw the worries of Midland’s authenticity. This is good music and you should enjoy it.”
But I can’t in good conscience sit here and allow the sainted Saving Country Music reader and the rest of the public to be lied to about these guys. Constructive criticism was tried. And when that didn’t work, it was elevated to stern warnings. But if anything, Midland’s increased the “hardscrabble bar band” rhetoric, even as they’re now the owners of a hit single on mainstream country radio in “Drinkin’ Problem.” They know it’s bullshit, but they’re banking on the bullhorn of Saving Country Music being too weak to be consequential, and when you have so many willing accomplices in mainstream country media who will never question Midland’s bullshit-ass “10,000 hours” claim, that’s probably a pretty smart bet to make.
Look, all artists lie, including independent and underground ones—or at least present a public persona that is not entirely true to their honest selves, for the purpose of marketing. I get that, and you should get that as a music fan, and always keep it in the back of your mind. But this Midland stuff is far and beyond. This is way more egregious than anything Sam Hunt does, because at least Sam Hunt is somewhat honest about himself and his influences and desires.
A guiding maxim of Saving Country Music from the very beginning has been to call into question the marketing of artists when it is presented in a discordant harmony with reality, but never let that affect the personal feelings about the music itself, which should be the most underlying concern. But I won’t lie, the flippant, audacious nature of Midland’s claims, along with their ostentatious posturing, has created an intellectual crisis within myself as a critic, and much soul searching as to how this should be handled.
The worst part about what Midland is doing is their exploiting the true authenticity that actually does exist in scores of Austin-based songwriters and performers who haven’t received an ounce of the assistance or attention from the industry that Midland has. It’s this poetic fancy in the minds of fans of the lowly, hardscrabble songwriter playing to a half-empty bar somewhere in Texas, hoping to be recognized by someone important in the industry so their dreams can finally come true that drives the public’s fascination with Midland. And Midland knows it. Texas is filled with these type of struggling performers, and that’s also where you’ll find reams of hatred for Midland, because they’re taking the sob story of every bar band and commercializing it.
Folks in Nashville think Midland is all hunky dory, and they could be the bridge between the independent and mainstream, the traditional and contemporary for country music, even more than Chris Stapleton. But in Texas, the Midland name is mud. The folks who actually have put in their 10,000 hours in dive bars in Austin, they know Midland never paid any dues. They know their names didn’t grace the crumbling marquee’s of Austin’s shitty venues more than once or twice. They know what a measly penance four shows at Poodie’s is compared to what most songwriters have put in. Folks in Nashville and L.A. say, “There’s somebody out there that don’t think these guys are cool?” Meanwhile you better not mention Midland’s name with anything sharp around when you talk to many true Texas songwriters and their fans.
And all of this is a crying shame, because the music of Midland and their debut album On The Rocks really is as good as advertised, is authentic honky tonk country at least in style, with steel guitar and superb arrangements. You want to find the best example of true traditional country that currently exists in the mainstream? Sonically speaking, it’s not Chris Stapleton, it’s not Eric Church, it’s not Miranda Lambert or even Jon Pardi. It’s Midland, with a hat tip to William Michael Morgan.
Give Midland credit for this: They figured out how to make traditional country cool again, and deliver it to the masses through Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine label. This is an incredible feat that should be celebrated, and without caveat. The Midland sound is truly dedicated to traditional country, and not the “Eagles-esque” or “Laurel Canyon” sound that idiotic, ill-informed music writers are attempting to couch it as. Perhaps there’s some fleeting moments in that vein, but the best way to describe the sound of Midland is pre Class of ’89 traditional jukebox country music.
Though frankly, a lot of folks are getting so blinded by their enchantment with seeing a project like this come out of the mainstream that they’re missing the fact that Midland does suffer from a substance issues in much of the songwriting. A line about “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men” in the chorus of “Out Of Sight” is just one of many examples of rehashed and hackneyed lines that leave much to be desired. A song like “Check Cashing Country” would be cool if it wasn’t such a play off of their bullshit, inauthentic media narrative.
And looking in the track list, many of the usual suspects of the Nashville machine appear in full force, including Shane McAnally with his seven songwriting credits and producer mark he accrued while fitting in Midland sessions between working with Sam Hunt and Old Dominion. Josh Osborne appears eight times in the songwriting credits, and is also credited as a producer. So as much as Midland is out there trying to make you believe this music is straight out of their rough and rocky honky tonk dive bar experience, these songs are actually straight off the Music Row songwriting conveyor belt, and produced in the belly of the beast. The only difference is the arrangement and instrumentation is traditional, though don’t sell that short as an important feat in itself.
That’s what makes the whole story of Midland that much more heartbreaking. These guys truly could have been the bridge between the independent and the mainstream, the contemporary and the traditional. The music is there, at least for the most part, and so are the opportunities to reach the masses. But they just couldn’t shut the hell up about how rough and seasoned they are from hard-earned years in Austin honky tonks to the point where they poisoned the well.
The point of criticism is not to vent anger, or enact some sort of revenge born from spite or jealously against artists. It is an attempt to share perspective to aid the creative process, and to see art thrive and succeed in the marketplace. Midland had a unique opportunity bestowed to them by Big Machine. And nobody would have given a shit how rich they were, what their background was, or where they’re from originally if they just would have let the music speak for itself, and would have stood on their own two feet as opposed to trying to bullshit their way into the hearts and minds of listeners. Cautious fans would have overlooked all the marketing and the ridiculous promo photos, or maybe even found them cool if the music had preceded it all as opposed to vice versa.
But Midland blew it. They bought into the idea that the music wasn’t enough—that traditional country can’t stand on its own, that they needed an interesting story to cover their tracks, and prove themselves to fans. Sturgill Simpson doesn’t say shit to the media, and comes out on stage in New Balance shoes. Chris Stapleton is a boring, puffy, bearded, soft-spoken introvert who brings his wife out on tour with him. And they’ve both been wildly successful. Not because they’re interesting individuals, or sexpots dressed up like Robert Redford in The Electric Horseman. It’s because they are who they are. And when the music is good, that’s all that should matter.
With Midland, they figured out how to screw that formula up.
– – – – – – – – –
One Gun Up for really good traditional country music, served boldly through the stuffy environment of the mainstream.
One Gun Down for attempting to bullshit the public, and exploiting the authenticity of true Texas songwriters and bar bands.
Amanda
September 25, 2017 @ 8:20 am
Based on the music alone, Midland is fantastic. I still personally prefer William Michael Morgan and Jon Pardi (maybe because of my obsession of mid-late 90s-early 2000s country), but this is still very good. It will most likely be one of the best mainstream albums of this year.
Judging by the music, 8/10 for me.
Bill Thomas
September 26, 2017 @ 11:40 am
John Pardi….not impressed with him or his version of the limp-wristed shit-country I call Tractor Rap. I’ve had it with the “urban” sound coming out of no-talent twerps like Pardi, Sam Hunt and Jerrod Niemann and the other posse of pussies like Brantley Gilbert and Cole Swindell. Ugh, ENOUGH! Can we have someone just sing their damn songs without all the bullshit? If you want to wear your flat-billed ball cap sideways and rap…get your ass to L.A. and have at it. If you want to sing country music, pay your dues and you’ll find out there aren’t enough sorority girl-types out there to fullfill your “10,000 hours”. You’re going to have sing something REAL. And by the way; songwriters: If the first line in your “country” song is “dang girl” or “uh, uh, girl”…you suck at songwriting and maybe should find something else to do for a living. Yeah, this was harsh, but you know what? After 38 years in radio and 28 years in country radio…..I’ve had my fill of “products” posing as artists and my ears hurt from all the SHITTY music being pumped out of Nashville
Amanda
September 26, 2017 @ 12:47 pm
Go listen to She Ain’t In It, Cowboy Hat, Love You From Here, and What I Can’t Put Down and come back and tell me that he has no talent. I mean, I can understand why Jon Pardi is polarizing for some (Dirt on My Boots, although better than Cole Swindell and Sam Hunt and the like, is still somewhat lazy and half-assed for someone who can do a zillion times better), but most would agree that he is head and shoulders above those other terrible artists mentioned. If anything, he makes the nearly insufferable award shows a tiny bit more bearable.
Spencer
November 15, 2017 @ 10:12 am
I personally think she ain’t in it, cowboy hat, and majority of Pardi’s more traditional songs is the material he wants to put out. The shitty singles, seem to be more his label handcuffing him a little bit. Just my personal opinion
JR
June 13, 2019 @ 9:47 pm
You mean you can’t stand Midland cause they are actually talented, creative and aren’t boring like rest of the red neck, shit kickers who all have the same sound. Country needs more intelligent, cool, fun acts like Midland and less Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan etc. Most country today sucks compared to the past. No fun songs, no creativity or intelligence. Johnny Cash, and Willie Nelson were in a different league but even guys like Randy Travis blow today’s acts away talent wise
Carol
May 29, 2022 @ 9:51 am
I really don’t care who you are. I have never heard of you. But I have been around a long time Almost
80 years. I have listen to Country music my entire life. The Midland group can say whatever the hell they want to. But what sells it for me is when they get up to the Mike and sing, they blow all these sound , the same, look the same, Austin want a be’s out of the water. Sounds like your jealous. Go Midland.
Andrew
September 25, 2017 @ 8:23 am
Who gives a shit as long as the music is good? And this is a solid album.
Dan Morris
September 25, 2017 @ 9:01 am
Andrew, I’ll tell you who gives a shit. Me, I give a shit. Authenticity still means something to me and I hope to many others. When I was growing up my dad repeated one nugget of wisdom constantly, that being a man’s word is the main thing he has to get and keep peoples respect. If your word is no good then you are no good and if this band is going to lie and pile up bullshit around themselves they are no fucking good in my opinion. Damn shame really because I actually liked their music. Bunch of fucking posers and I would have no problem saying it to their faces.
FeedThemHogs
September 26, 2017 @ 9:37 am
‘A man’s word is the main thing he has to get and keep people’s respect.’
Amen, Dan. Amen.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 9:04 am
Good point for a certain type of listener, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, there are many people out there who delve a little deeper into the artists they listen to, and place a good amount of weight on authenticity. To me, a “vocal trio” who 3-4 years ago were hipsters living in LA and all of the sudden decide to put together a singing group that is obviously designed to make a lot of money based on the novelty of model good looks with a hard, honky tonk, true country edge is bullshit…………especially when they flat out lie in the press to achieve it. There music is also a bit too polished for my taste, but I would have zero issues respecting them if they weren’t selling a bag of lies and were just a group of former underwear models / soap opera actors and a MTV music video producer who happened to get together and make a decent country record.
Tim Frailicks
September 27, 2017 @ 4:11 am
You have no fucking idea my friend. We put our future on the line every time we decide we will roll the dice one more time….betting on our success. To see these Ass clowns jump the line is disheartening to say the least. The problem here is that as artists and writers we think that the public “gets it”. Ernest Tubb said “Never over estimate your audience.” Like it or not Midland is right on track for success. The shallow sorority and fraternity minds they sing to are not cultured enough to call bullshit.
Tom Smith
September 25, 2017 @ 8:23 am
They look as ridiculous as all of those string bands dressed like Depression-Era hobos.
Cameron
September 25, 2017 @ 8:25 am
I know you are frustrated with this band. But what would you rather have, fake artists making great music (midland), or great artists making shitty music (dierks, luke, etc.)
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 8:36 am
Why can’t we have great artists making great music? Actually, we do. The problem with Midland is they’re sucking up the attention for scores of other bands that do what they do, only slightly better, and that didn’t lie to get there. And that money Midland is making is going right back into the same Music Row system that is systemically keeping down traditional artists. I could look the other way (and have in the past) if I wasn’t being lied to over and over about these guys.
Kent
September 25, 2017 @ 9:53 am
It seems like that we will finally get at least a release day for First Aid Kit’s next album. Most likely with the title “It’s a Shame”. And I have to say I’m damned curious about it… And at least you don’t have to worry about any Tom Selleck 985 mustaches on them… 🙂 But they will probebly be drown in all the fuss about these guys and other releases….
https://twitter.com/FirstAidKitBand
Dustin
September 27, 2017 @ 5:01 am
FWIW, Last time I saw Sturgill he was rocking the Yeezys. Which in the eyes of some purists must be hugely egregious.
Jared
September 28, 2017 @ 4:32 am
Is the FAK US album release today? I’m looking to download from Amazon and its not showing up in my search.
Johnny
September 28, 2017 @ 4:17 pm
Sounds like pop schlock to me.
Stringbuzz
September 25, 2017 @ 8:32 am
This review mirrors a conversation I had last nite after the Aaron Watson concert (Great show by the way.. Small room prolly less than 200 people. Also, like him or not AW is someone who has paid his dues.). Don’t really know what to make of Midland’s act. My wife was not on board with their look! LOL
The kicker is the album though.. It is good. I want, not to like it, but I listened to it a couple times over the weekend and it doesn’t suck.
Adam
September 25, 2017 @ 8:36 am
I knew this review was coming- was excited to see it post and had a pretty good idea of what to expect. It can’t feel good to love an album and be so consumed with all the extraneous to the point where you can’t enjoy it.
If I could maybe make a comment to try to sway you away from all the reasons why it’s not fair, how fake they are, etc, it would not be to prove myself right or you wrong at all, just to hopefully let anyone in a similar boat put on “Lonely for you only” or “At least you’ve cried” and come back to a place where the band doesn’t matter, their image doesn’t matter, and instead you’ve simply got some new music to enjoy.
My first point with Midland would be that they are speaking Pop-country’s language of love. Shaggy hair, handsome smoldering looks at the camera, enough pop to appeal to 18 year old Sam Hunt fangirls and enough sound to pull in 80s country fans as well. Their youtube comments are full of old people saying how much they love the return to country. So my argument is, people who read this blog are already sold on what country music is and should be- they’re ready for the next wave of neo-traditional stuff to hit- the ones who weren’t are now going to develop an appetite for it. It’s going to result in the “big labels” starting to pull more and more acts from the scene who can fill that void, and hopefully result in a shit ton more good music getting payrolled as a result of Midland.
Additionally, one point I haven’t heard yet, is we are getting the chance to hear professional songwriters getting paid to write traditional country songs. A lot of these guys listen to the same stuff as us, may not like the rap-pop country direction of country radio, but have to write that stuff to pay the bills, or to make network connections, to further their career. it’s their business. Personally, the beauty of On the Rocks is we get here Shane McAnally and Josh Osbourne, and some other pros writing classic country songs. And we get to hear them recorded with the best session musicians Nashville has to offer. If I had the choice between getting to hear that, vs Midland never being created, I’d gladly take the former.
Amanda
September 25, 2017 @ 5:32 pm
Lonely for You Only is a damn fine song. How I’d love to hear more songs like that one on mainstream radio.
Cool Lester Smooth
September 27, 2017 @ 9:20 am
Yup. Guys like McAnally and Osbourne are good at writing songs. Their collaborations with Kacey Musgraves (including Merry Go Round) are fantastic.
The issue is that they aren’t usually paid to write the type of music we like listening to, not that they can’t.
Ballgame
September 25, 2017 @ 8:37 am
I don’t understand the hang-up over the fact that they are certainly a manufactured act. Well, maybe a litte, but not to the point where it is overstated over the actual music. I like this site because a) I’ve been introduced to some good acts here and b) even when you poke fun at the mainstream acts that I like and enjoy, you do it with pretty good humor and terrific writing skills. I just can’t get back the push back against Midland when its obvious that the music itself is DAMN GOOD. This is one of the best albums of the year, hands down in my opinion.
Andrew
September 25, 2017 @ 11:32 am
Completely agree. You know what else was a manufactured act? Brooks & Dunn.
R2D2
September 25, 2017 @ 11:53 am
Brooks & Dunn was the shit lol always enjoyed those guys.. they had the whole imagine thing going on as well, pretty sure they had a line of panhandle slim shirts!
R2D2
September 25, 2017 @ 12:33 pm
*image
Corncaster
September 26, 2017 @ 5:07 pm
Brooks and Dunn could play and sing better than mediocre bar band strummers.
Doug
September 26, 2017 @ 7:48 pm
Yea, but Ronnie Dunn could sing like a motherfucker.
Fat Chance
September 26, 2017 @ 12:29 pm
Well they call them ACTS for a reason. Really like the music. Thanks for bringing another great band to my attention SCM.
Mo Crawford
September 25, 2017 @ 8:43 am
I’ll take these guys over that turncoat metal reject,Cody Jinks
Trucker Speed
September 25, 2017 @ 9:08 am
You’re on your own on that one
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 9:10 am
I know. Like, I bet Cody Jinks doesn’t even have a six pack. Mark Wystrach has an 8 pack! http://viewmanagement.com/models/mark-w/
SteveG
September 25, 2017 @ 6:17 pm
Congrats! You win most ridiculous comment of the day. Here’s your sticker.
Doug Stone
September 25, 2017 @ 9:47 pm
I’d bet you are a really fun guy to be around, what with your negative attitude and all. If you don’t like Cody Jinks, you must be deaf.
JB
September 26, 2017 @ 12:33 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s bothered by this. Every time I hear him, I can’t stop imagining him singing thrash metal. I like the guy and I like his music, but it’s a distraction for me.
jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 3:53 pm
I just realized that I had never listened to Cody’s metal band. Just checked them out. Really good stuff, actually. He has a great metal voice and the writing is solid. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4tEr95F6Vw&list=PLTVMeqY4GTa-_aVIpLaRDfJwGCFB9-dmb
Trainwreck92
September 26, 2017 @ 9:26 pm
I’d never heard his old band either. He sounds a bit like Phil Anselmo from Pantera.
Rita Ballou
September 25, 2017 @ 8:46 am
“That means Midland played four fucking shows at Poodies.”
Hahahahahaha. I am only laughing out loud at this because it is true.
Robberino
September 25, 2017 @ 8:53 am
The thing that sort of perplexes me about the criticism of this bunch is the attention to content not taking more of a priority over the visual and backstory. The fact that Wheeler Walker Jr. gets praised for “authentic” country music, but this band gets questioned on authenticity seems a bit contradictory.
It’s not lost on me that the Wheeler persona is a complete put on, but I just feel that if the music is good, that should go a lot further than the story that’s gotten the individual(s) the chance to record it and have it heard. While I understand the sentiment differs in that Midland is supposed to be a more authentic outlet despite being based largely upon the fabricated story, I’ve always felt that the mantra of “saving country music” should be about the music itself, and less about the stories behind the people making it.
To make a long story short, my take is that if one band can get airplay with sonically authentic, good country music and potentially open up the possibility for others to do the same, then they should be celebrated for it, not vilified. Just my two cents.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 9:19 am
Good points. There could be a huge silver lining in all of this if their existence ends up paving the way for more real country artists to get wider exposure. But to be clear, that would involve Nashville looking to existing acts, and not thinking they need to go the route of putting together manufactured, “full package” acts (good looks, guys or girls who will do whatever the label says, etc.). My guess is that even if Midland’s success leads to the big wigs wanting to back more traditional country artists, they will approach it the same way they did with Midland or that they do most of the bro-pop guys: that is, starting basically from scratch and finding someone based on their looks, feeding them some songs written by the pros who were instructed to write some traditional country, coming up with a marketing plan, and being off to the races.
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 9:54 am
I openly struggled with writing this review, and it does me no good to post it. Once again I’m the big mean asshole critic who shits on everything to feel better about myself and get attention, or at least that’s how it’s couched on social media as folks delete me in droves. With a review like this, I lose. But I can’t in good conciseness let these guys lie to the public about the “10,000 hours” they put in at Austin honky tonks and on the road.
It isn’t just a good idea, it is a guiding principle of Saving Country Music that the music should always be the underlying concern, and all the off-stage stuff be swept aside when judging the music itself. But these guys crossed a line. Their arrogance with lying about their past is so incredible, somebody has to challenge it, even if it’s the most unpopular thing on the internet.
If you like Midland’s music, that’s all that matters. I like Midland’s music too. But it’s my job to call out falsehoods whenever they’re presented to the public, despite how unpopular it is, or how much it pains me to do so.
Jen
September 25, 2017 @ 2:12 pm
Awww. 😔 You “openly struggled” writing this review??? Come on, dude. If it’s what you truly believe then own it! Don’t come back, post-facto and qualify your haterade by pandering to those of us who disagree with your opinions. Their shtick is just as much an homage to the core of country music as it is an attempt to differentiate from the masses. Don’t take everything so literally. Just enjoy the sound. Maybe then you won’t struggle so much.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm
I think the majority of people who know Midland’s true back-story and can see the way the band came together and has allowed themselves to be marketed would disagree that they are doing any of this as an homage to the core of country music. This whole thing is totally the result of a calculated effort to put together a money making musical act. True it is more country than the other stuff on the radio, but that is just part of the overall marketing plan. I mean, do you think guys who were doing this from a sincere love of the music perspective would allow themselves to be dressed in these costumes, or would agree to do Dodge truck commercials before their album is even released?
Jen
September 27, 2017 @ 6:17 am
This is the exact same type of bourgeoisie snobbery criticism that was heaped on the Dixie Chicks when they initially found sucess. The music stands on it’s own. The outfits are absolutely meant as a tongue in cheek homage to the classic crooners that dressed exactly like this: Buck Owens, Porter Wagoner, Hank Williams, Gene Aubry, Ray Price…
jtrpdx
September 27, 2017 @ 10:26 am
Jen – that is of course your opinion and choice. I, for one, think the music is overproduced, too polished, and I can’t get into it. I also think these guys, who are doing all of their dressing up for cutesy / sexy PR shoots and financial gain, don’t have license to do anything “tongue in cheek” as it relates to classic country pioneers, and the reasons behind it disqualify it as an homage. Again, just my opinion, and I can see how others can look past this.
Doug
September 26, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
I for one appreciate the struggle. Isn’t it a critic’s job to take stuff seriously? Taking it seriously is a sign he really gives a shit, and it’ a sign of honesty (authenticity even!) to acknowledge ambivalence.
Uncle Buck
January 8, 2018 @ 7:53 am
The only reason Duddy is in the band is his entertainment relationships. He’s not a singer. He’s not a bass player. He’s not a guitar player. He’s not a song writer. The other guy, the nameless guy, is maybe a songwriter, maybe a guitar player. Hard to tell as all the songs are very simple to play and I suspect that Osborne and Macanally did the major heavy work on song composition. The lead singer has, for better or worse, copped a vocal style that mimics the archetypical country male singer from the early nineties. You will hear the same vocal styling and inflections in the early Garth Brooks recordings. The thing about Nashville is the producers and engineers are very skilled at churning out polished recordings, to the point that even a poorly written song gets a sonic sheen that distracts from the lousy song to the point where upon first listen, it sounds good, but doesn’t hold up to repeated listening. Midland lacks substance. They will quickly rise and fall to be a mere footnote on what’s left of the “charts”.
Smokey J
September 25, 2017 @ 10:07 am
In fairness to Trigger, it seems like he really did try to give these guys the benefit of the doubt because of the quality of their music, but he just couldn’t anymore, or else he would be complicit in their deception.
To me, Wheeler is different because he knows everyone else knows he is roleplaying and he’s playing it up, and he also goes out of his way to give the spotlight to more deserving artists.
That being said, I thought your counterpoint was well-reasoned, so kudos for not just screaming “hater!” and running away. Lol.
Isaac
September 25, 2017 @ 8:58 am
Does this make Midland the Americana version of The Monkees?
JB-Chicago
September 25, 2017 @ 1:59 pm
Loved The Monkees and the guys that wrote those songs did a great job. Those songs like these songs are great. I didn’t care when I was 6 years old that they weren’t actually playing and didn’t write em. Nor do I care at 56 that these boys aren’t authentic enough for Trigger. If I like the songs and the shtick that’s good enough for me. I bought the album and I’ll see em open up for Pardi twice.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 4:03 pm
It’s not about meeting any type of authenticity standard. The problem is that they are using lies and falsehoods to market themselves, and claiming to be a part of a scene that they were never part of.
JB-Chicago
September 26, 2017 @ 7:38 am
It’s the music business, you ever been in it? Whatever it fuckin takes to break through. Most people not on this website every day don’t care. They just want to hear good tunes, and these tunes are good.
jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
“whatever it fuckin takes” in most people’s minds includes hard work, busting your ass, living dirt poor for years, etc. etc. When that crosses over into flat out lies and fabrications, and parading yourself around in fake cowboy costumes that show your sexy chest, and Nudie suits you have no business wearing, that is not to be respected in my book. Not to mention heavily relying on vocals that are heavily polished in the studio to sound halfway decent. It’s is called selling your integrity out for the shot at a few hits and short term gain.
JB-Chicago
September 27, 2017 @ 7:51 am
Granger Smith has busted his ass for years and everyone on here still hates him. If it eventually takes help from outside writers and Earl Dibbles Jr to break him so be it.
There’s more than 1 way to make it.
Herman
September 26, 2017 @ 12:43 am
Eh, not really. Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork were both musicians who had spent a few years each playing folk music and stuff before they became part of the Monkees, and desperately wanted to take a larger role in the writing and session work on Monkees’ records. I would wager (without knowing them personally) that they saw the Monkees as a way to get exposure and then record music that they wrote themselves, whereas Midland actively welcomes being part of the machine.
Kevin Davis
September 25, 2017 @ 9:06 am
I love the album. I’ve listened through it three or four times from beginning to end. Love the melodies, the production, the vocal harmonies — consistently good. You may be right with their bullshitting, but that’s not gonna change the fact that this is already one of the most enjoyable albums I’ve heard all year. And I love the Dwight Yoakam influence throughout, with a few songs in particular.
dick deluxe
September 26, 2017 @ 9:28 am
haha…Dwight Yoakum’s a big phony too!…He grew up in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio depsite him playing the “I was born in Kentucky” card at every opportunity. and he’s been a part of the Hollywood machine for decades….he’s about as country as Cracker Barrel-and he was total asshole to Pete Anderson who made him what he was.
Doug
September 26, 2017 @ 7:57 pm
Can’t buy that. He’s too good a songwriter. Doesn’t mean he’s a nice guy, I wouldn’t know about that, but he’s also made great music for a long time, with and without (the great) Pete Anderson.
Cool Lester Smooth
September 27, 2017 @ 9:26 am
Who says you can’t be a great songwriter and a “big phony” who plays up certain aspects of his background in order to obtain unearned street cred?
Pickle
September 25, 2017 @ 9:12 am
Ive been following this blog for years and serously cant we just be happy that there is some country music being played on the radio. Rome wasnt built in a day, and if people are listing to what apears to be real country music then odds are REAL counrty will be comming out of our speakers from the radio in the near future. There have been alot of strides made i the last few years so be grateful.
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 9:44 am
There have been a lot of strides over the last few years, but Midland is striding on the truth, and on the backs of actual Texas music artists that did pay dues. And for what? Is the fact that they’re jawing off in the press about how authentic they are actually making a material difference in their level of success?
And they had every opportunity to recalibrate their marketing strategy and put the music first, especially after they knew folks were on to them. Yet they kept on. And I think this is a very important point because they knew what they were selling was bullshit, yet didn’t stop. Midland isn’t just bullshitting us. They’re now flaunting it in our faces that they’re bullshitting us, but you’re supposed to just put up with it because the music is awesome.
I’d rather champion artists who got to the top the right way.
I don’t want to take away the joy of Midland’s music from anyone. But I cannot in good conscience let someone lie to the public about “10,000 hours” put in when it was 20 at most. Sorry.
Andrew
September 25, 2017 @ 11:35 am
I think you’re getting too hung up on the 10,000 hours thing when that’s very clearly a reference to Malcolm Gladwell’s work that even Gladwell himself doesn’t take entirely literally.
Trigger
September 26, 2017 @ 9:23 am
I was writing about Midland’s stretching of the truth way before Cameron Duddy made his “10,000 hours” claim. The fact that he made that claim, knowing there were scores of artists and fans already angry at them over their falsehoods of their time in Austin, and a journalist out there already willing to call them on their false claims, shows an arrogance and flippancy with the truth that goes far beyond marketing and becomes a mark against character.
jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 4:01 pm
Perhaps…..but the whole “10,000 hours” comment is used popularly to represent that one has become world-class in a given field. In this case, Duddy is claiming that they are world class honky tonkers, which couldn’t be more laughable.
Kevin Smith
September 25, 2017 @ 9:17 am
And Gram Parsons was a spoiled rich Harvard attending, drunken frat boy. All true, look it up.However , he was talented and genuinely loved country music. Had Gram lived longer he might have been a country legend. And he wore Nudie suits.
Although Dwight Yoakam does have Kentucky roots, his teen years were spent in a big city in an average metro neighborhood a few miles from where I went to school in Ohio. And he wears suits made by Manuel.
I’ve debated the authenticity thing here with yall before. Personally I’m all about the music. ( although, secretly I’m a fan of NudieCohen and Manuel, but hey John Cash and Marty Stuart were too!)
But I get your point. If these guys could have played without the made up hype, all the better. But when I listen to Midlands music…oh man, hard to ignore the talent. That said, I prefer my artist having a more Stapleton aw shucks vibe. It resonates better with fans. Prediction, Midlands gonna be a short lived novelty. Then back to crappy ole typical Trashville bubble gum music.
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 9:47 am
As I said in the review:
“nobody would have given a shit how rich they were, what their background was, or where they’re from originally if they just would have let the music speak for itself, and would have stood on their own two feet as opposed to trying to bullshit their way into the hearts and minds of listeners.”
Gram Parsons never tried to hide who he was, or lie to the public about how many dues he paid. Who cares if an artist comes from a rich family, or where they’re from, or even how many dues they’ve paid? It only becomes a concern when they lie about it.
Jay
December 27, 2017 @ 7:07 am
I’ve always felt like Parsons was full of shit too.
Rode Keith Richard’s coat tails becasue he was independently wealthy enough to jet set with The Stones… Renting limos for himself, making the band take the van.
You got to be brave to really say who you are, easier to buy a costume and play a part.
The fundamental issue at play isn’t “authenticity” it’s honesty.
Tighthead
September 25, 2017 @ 9:34 am
Slightly OT but why would they record “Fourteen Gears”, shoot a video and not release it?
https://youtu.be/ppRvLqgS2BY
Were they with a different company at the time?
Whiskey_Pete
September 25, 2017 @ 8:52 pm
I saw that video too. The guy who posted it said it was from 2013..good song!
Charlie
September 25, 2017 @ 9:43 am
It should be no surprise that if music row can excrete fake ‘County Rap’, half-ass fake R&B, and middling fake Pop then squeezing out some ho-hum fake Country is no great shakes. At least they have some history there. Evidently there are a few Nashville Cats left out there that can play a bit, huh?
Samantha
September 25, 2017 @ 10:18 am
You just sound jealous I love them
Bo Fiddley
September 25, 2017 @ 11:48 am
And there it is. Our first “you’re just jealous” argument.
Keith
September 25, 2017 @ 10:33 am
I didn’t care for the song… sounds like a Kenny Chesney B-side, the one countryesque song on one of his albums so he can still be called country artist.
I know nothing about them… other than seeing a girl on a Facebook feed with them that I would refer to as a fake girl that really doesn’t like country music, or know anything about it.
The band ain’t country, their fans like fluff, and that’s what this is. It absolutely is a kick in the nuts for fans and country artists who do pay dues from performing and attending shows. Just One Look shows there is no substance and I’d be an idiot for clicking on their song. I clicked on their song and listened to it, and now I feel like an idiot.
Jackie
September 25, 2017 @ 10:39 am
The chorus on this song takes me back to some Mavericks’ tunes, as well. I really like the music this band is putting out. Too bad so much emphasis is put on appearance for musicians these days, because if this was still back when we had radio and no videos to watch–all of this other crap about the band probably wouldn’t be an issue because we would be judging them solely on what we were hearing through our speakers. And by the way, I absolutely love William Michael Morgan. I can’t get enough of his music.
OlaR
September 25, 2017 @ 10:41 am
Well…the album is good. But why should i listen to a not-so-real “honky tonk” band with all the real music from the 80’s available?
Randy Ray alone…wait…Randy Traywick…oops…Randy Travis released one of the best albums of the 80’s with “Randy Ray Live”…nope…”Storms Of Life”.
The young Randy Travis was not a soap star or a model & he was not an overnight success.
I’ll wait for a second Midland album. The next album will show how “real” Midland are.
Is the current album only a springboard & the next album will be more mainstream Nash-pop? Time will tell.
My 80’s Playlist:
Keith Whitley – “I’m No Stranger To The Rain”
S-K-O (Schuyler, Knobloch & Overstreet) – “Baby’s Got A New Baby”
Judy Rodman – “Girls Ride Horses Too”
Randy Travis – “Diggin’ Up Bones”
The Judds – “Why Not Me”
Kathy Mattea – “Eighteen Wheels & Dozen Roses”
Tanya Tucker – “If It Don’t Come Easy (Let It Go)”
Baillie & The Boys – “Oh Heart”
Don Malena – “Ready Or Not”
J.D. Martin – “Wrap Me Up In Your Love”
Earl Thomas Conley – “What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)”
Restless Heart – “That Rock Won’t Roll”
S-K-B (Schuyler, Knobloch & Bickhardt) – “No Easy Horses”
George Strait – “All My Ex’s Live In Texas”
Don Williams – “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good”
Kenny Rogers – “Tomb Of The Unknown Love”
&…”80’s Ladies” – K.T. Oslin
Bear
September 25, 2017 @ 11:29 pm
Nice list. I would add
Rosanne Cash – My Baby Thinks He’s a Train
Dolly Parton – Single Women
Joe
September 25, 2017 @ 10:45 am
Musically the album is awesome and is everything I’ve been waiting for from Music Row for years. Personally, I am of the belief that I find good music and generally don’t care how it comes about. I can’t stand 90% of what Florida Georgia Line puts out, but every now and then there’s a song like “Dirt” that I really love and I will listen to even though it is from FGL.
However, I know many many music lovers go beyond the songs and “buy into” an artist, and I can certainly see why those fans would be unable to buy into Midland. Their story is as phony as it gets and would be a complete roadblock to getting that buy in.
Another example, I can see being skeptical when you see some of the music row names thrown around on this album (Shane McAnally, etc.). However, when the music turns out to be good, I think we should step back and give those guys credit for helping this really good music come together. Maybe, just maybe, Midland can serve as the catalyst to get more traditional albums made both inside and out of music row and maybe some of those artists who have paid their dues will get a shot.
For me, if there is one take away for everyone it is to please be willing to step back and understand the perspective of on the other side of the fence. Different perspective can lead to different, but both reasonable, opinions of a situation. I promise that thinking this way will help you in a lot more places in this day in age than just SCM.
PS Regarding a comment just above about Fourteen Gears, it is another great song and I have to wonder what happened there. Nothing about that song (the date, the uploader, etc.) make much sense in light of the story being presented to us, and I would love to see somebody get to the bottom of it.
Clyde
September 25, 2017 @ 12:08 pm
I looked at the perspective on the other side of the fence and all I saw was $$$$
Cool Lester Smooth
September 27, 2017 @ 9:29 am
So…”I don’t give a flying fuck who these people are, or what they lie about, if they make good music” is the ethos of corporate Nashville, in your opinion?
I wish I had your optimism.
Top Dawg
September 25, 2017 @ 10:46 am
My friends and I have been calling them “Cosplay Cowboys” because that’s all they are. They’re also pretty big douchebags to boot.
Ben
September 25, 2017 @ 10:53 am
Great read. For those of you questioning why making up their back story is a big deal I ask you to take a second and think about your favorite bands that are actually living that back story. The guys that spent hours locked in a room trying to channel their emotions and perfect their craft, followed by years of beating the road and themselves to death, all for the passion and love of music. It’s a slap in the face to them. Midland is paying for attention these guys work their asses of for. By doing that and “putting that money back into the machine” it’s bastardized the whole diy scene we all are so proud of. The record labels won’t pull any acts from the scene based on midlands success, they will just follow the manufacturing formula they did with this group, thus pushing the guys who actually believe in what they are doing further and further away from being able to do it. If you think Midland is the answer to country musics problems, actually go to a bar in Austin or where the fuck ever and see that country music is still alive and well and you don’t have to settle for bull shit pandering from the machine.
scott
September 26, 2017 @ 5:25 am
This. Compare them to the Troubadours, they couldn’t carry TT’s gear.
Whiskey_Pete
September 25, 2017 @ 10:58 am
Strange, I never heard of these guys till now. Just checked ’em out. These stached fellas sound pretty good. I like their style. Sounds like fun music. What’s the problem, they did a little embellishing?
What’s wrong with thick mustaches, asshole? I sport one, haha. I’m just glad this isn’t another article about baby faced Jason Isbell and his bitch crying music @ saving..er.. http://www.promotingamericanamusic.com
Anyways, interesting article.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 4:10 pm
Isbell can’t change the way his face looks, but these toolbags have a choice to button up their shirts, not shave their chest, and not all of the sudden decide to go from being standard LA hipsters to wearing nudie suits overnight because someone in Marketing at Big Machine thought they would look sexy in them (and apparently it’s working!) Good lord.
RWP
September 25, 2017 @ 8:23 pm
Lol @Whiskey Pete ….Or another article about Miranda Lambert being the biggest badass cowgirl of the century
Jon
September 26, 2017 @ 4:19 pm
Is “bitch crying music” what you call it when you have to think to understand the lyrics sometimes?
Ryan
September 27, 2017 @ 1:46 pm
LOL. Isbell could knock you into next week and then write a song about it that’s too complex for your dumbass to understand.
CountryCharm
September 25, 2017 @ 11:01 am
Everybody’s got a hook. Well the people who make it to the top do. In this day and age image is as much part of the act than the music itself. Luke Bryan sells himself on tight jeans and getting soccer moms heated up. Kacey Musgraves with her stoner persona. All of East Nashville going hipster 5 years after the fact.
If the music is good I doubt anybody is going to sit there calculating the hours put into dive bars to make it good. It must also be a day to go after Shane McAnally. I see people are up in arms because Miranda(her school friends on FB claim her accent is a con job) apparently liked a tweet trashing Sam Hunt’s Body Like a Backroad which Shane McAnally wrote as uneducated. Funny she would go down that road since he’s nominated with her for Vice isn’t he?
Mike
September 25, 2017 @ 11:24 am
Burn it down, motherfucker. Burn it down. I’ll take your word for it and steer clear of this here bullshit.
RD
September 25, 2017 @ 11:45 am
These dudes are as authentic as Ben Hoffman.
Tsloan4904
September 25, 2017 @ 11:47 am
Somebody that deserves some attention, broke into the top 50 with “All The Beer In Alabama” not too long ago is a guy named Shane Owens…real country without a fake mustache…suprised this guy hasn’t crossed Triggers radar
JLW
September 25, 2017 @ 11:51 am
Maybe if Mike Moonpie would go shirtless every now and then, they would have caught that big break first.
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 12:05 pm
Mike and the Moonpies is a great example of a truly local Austin band that has paid countless dues in honky tonks for years, have a great traditional country sound, and whose persona is being absconded with by three guys with deep ties to the music and entertainment industry who are looking to get rich working with Shane McAnally. You want traditional country from real deal guys from Austin with badass mustaches? Look up Mike and the Moonpies, Croy and the Boys, The Crooks (RIP), and countless others.
R2D2
September 25, 2017 @ 12:36 pm
Mike & the Moonpies and Croy & the Boys are both great bands that I found out through this website! I saw on The Moonpies website that they are having a new album come out in 2018. Pretty excited about that!
Corncaster
September 25, 2017 @ 12:40 pm
now that’s what I’m talking about — just watched Mike and the Moonpies “Smoke em if you got em”
sold
Corncaster
September 25, 2017 @ 12:44 pm
feck they even sing harmony better than the Middlage People
Nate
September 25, 2017 @ 2:00 pm
Smoke em if you got em is my fucking jam!!
Scott
October 6, 2017 @ 11:16 am
What is the obsession with “real deal” on this site? It’s entirely subjective and seems to be based on whether the listener feels anything when he hears the music. There is a marketing strategy behind every musician, even the original “outlaws”. Mike from the Moonpies has said in interviews that he started a country band as a joke after trying several different styles. So is it just who keeps the joke going longer? Is it doing a good copy of what you grew up listening to? Is it where or how you grew up? Is it playing club shows before you play bigger shows? Sure, that has its hardships, but the band chooses to do it, it’s fun, it pays and it adds to the story in the long run. Not to mention, they would have been playing bigger shows all along if someone like Borchetta had come along early and seen it as a worthwhile investment. Interesting that Margo Price faced backlash on this site when she came up the exact same way but when you like a guy or they’ve schmoozed the right way it’s “paying dues”, unless you’re Midland? It’s subjective. If you want to be a working musician, you find a path. Midland is maybe just more obvious about it being planned.
Clyde
September 25, 2017 @ 11:53 am
I must say that I completely agree with this article. I could give a rats ass that the music is good, because there is a lot of better music out there, both old and new. It’s not like it’s Midland or nothing. So who needs a bunch of lying posers who accomplished not much more than leapfrogging other deserving bands and artists who write and play their own music.
Man, I can’t stand these guys.
Corncaster
September 25, 2017 @ 12:04 pm
Midland is the “Village People” of country music.
Corncaster
September 25, 2017 @ 12:15 pm
And this song is boring.
K
September 25, 2017 @ 12:48 pm
I’ve wasted many hours listening to “authentic” music, mainly indie pop. When I gave up trying to be hip i discovered country music.
Sam Cody
September 25, 2017 @ 1:01 pm
It’s nice to see the fellas taking a few minutes out of playing dress up, to play some country…
this old fart
September 25, 2017 @ 1:02 pm
why are they dressed like mexicans and posing with a german car
Whiskey_Pete
September 25, 2017 @ 3:55 pm
They’re ‘Nudie’ suits and that’s badass. Paying homage to western swing era. You can’t be that old.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 4:14 pm
Nudie – type suits are badass……if worn by someone who has the credentials to wear them and pull it off in a non-ironic way.
Mike Honcho
September 26, 2017 @ 8:59 am
Unless you can transport yourself back in time, there is no non-ironic way to wear a Nudie suit.
Bill Weiler
September 28, 2017 @ 5:07 am
Jim Lauderdale can.
10-GEN-NC
September 27, 2017 @ 12:07 pm
Imo the old Benz juxtaposed against these alleged cowboys / Texans/ whatever they’re supposed to be sort of sums up this band & article in a nutshell.
It’s just a(nother) pretty blatant attempt at trying to look cool hipster-rific but misses the mark on so many levels…classic pickup or hell even a brand new dually luxotruck would make so much more sense aesthetically for the image they’re trying to pretend to be…
MrShifterK
September 25, 2017 @ 1:05 pm
Jesus wept, the lead vocals have enough auto-tune for a half-dozen T-Pain records. I mean, practically everyone’s guilty of that these days (even George Strait), but still…
Benny Lee
September 25, 2017 @ 1:06 pm
Think I’ve come to a similar conclusion as Trigger on this.
If you just listen to the music, it ain’t half bad. The lyrics are crappy, but less crappy than a lot of the crappy music row garbage. The sound (vocals, instrumentation and production) are spot on for what they’re going for. They nailed it. I’d say the music is ~1.5 guns up.
But the other side of it – the lies, the ridiculous image/fashion stuff they’re doing, the fact that they’re trust fund kids playing dress up so they can buy more yachts or something (who knows) and have no connections to real country life at all – just kills it for me. I give them a firing squad’s worth of guns down for their crimes against country music and country people!
Minimal
September 25, 2017 @ 1:08 pm
Astonished at all the people who don’t realize Trig is pissed that this is the next wave of polished pop country crap: the music might be good, but it still wreaks of Nashville. This is Luke Bryan 2.0.
Until now, the whole gripe has been how the music sucks. Nashville incorporates traditional sound into the same pop country & cuts SCM’s nuts off all in one fell swoop, and you fools blame Trigger for being confused about what the hell just happened.
Kevin Davis
September 25, 2017 @ 1:13 pm
You clearly have not listened to the album. It is hardly “the next wave of polished pop country crap,” and even Trigger doesn’t say that…or even hint at that. Trigger’s grievance is based on how they are presenting themselves, marketing themselves. I think Trigger is overblowing it. Regardless, he’s not saying that this is just polished pop country. It’s a great album, and (like the EP) Trigger would have to admit that it’s at least an 8/10.
Minimal
September 25, 2017 @ 1:46 pm
I never said their music was polished pop country crap. I flatly stated they are polished pop country crap. There is a difference.
jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 1:11 pm
And on another note, I have never met a person I liked OR been able to trust or respect anyone who wears their shirt unbuttoned like this vocal trio insists on doing. I’m talking in 2017.
JB
September 25, 2017 @ 1:31 pm
This may be the most interesting review I’ve read on this site. A few years ago, while country fans were plunged in the morass of Bro Country, I read a comment projecting that Bro Country’s rebuttal would come in the form of pseudo-traditionalists, that the backlash to the crappery of FGL or Luke Bryant manifest as something like Midland. At the time, I found it inconceivable; surely a mainstream return to traditional country would be something to celebrate.
I think Midland is our first example of a postmodern mainstream country act. Bro Country only halfheartedly marketed itself as “real country”. Everyone knew the reality of the matter. The binary between “real country” and “pop country” was still a clean divide. These are the first guys who blurred the binary, self-awarely, and it’s raising hell among country fans.
I don’t think industry connections alone should disqualify an artist from honest qualitative assessment. If that were the case, we all need to throw Stapleton in the stocks. I understand Trig’s point that the issue here is Midland’s exploitative styling, and I also find their prominent ’80s aesthetic to be a bit cloying. But if you listened to this album without any prior knowledge of Rolling Stone articles and hackneyed promotional photos (and will be the case with most country listeners), this is nothing but excellent two-stepping music at a Texas dive bar. Crack a Shiner and hit the floor.
I too care a great deal about comprehensive authenticity, and William Michael Morgan does it right. But the fact that Midland has met such commercial success with such an unambiguously country sound is heartening to me. They’ve helped to right the ship. That said, all power to their successors.
Gina
September 25, 2017 @ 1:40 pm
It’s funny. I spend half the year in Austin and I’d never heard of these guys until I saw posters here mentioning them. That doesn’t mean much, there can be some jealousy among Austin musicians but they do seem to have come out of nowhere. I’m fine with marketing an image, but sometimes that fakeness can be felt in the music as well.
Gina
September 25, 2017 @ 1:43 pm
Also, the song was pretty blah, imo. I wanted to give it a chance.
Kevin Davis
September 25, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
The most impressive thing about this album is the strong melodies. The biggest shift in recent years (as Merle Haggard complained before his death) is the focus away from melodies and toward grooves, beats, rhythmic patterns, and whatnot. To my mind, this is one of the most significant aspects of Midland’s work. It’s a great album. I read the RS interview over the weekend, and I didn’t think much of it. And I certainly don’t understand why anyone is complaining about the aesthetics. It’s not like Hank Williams actually herded cattle.
CovfefeDealer
September 25, 2017 @ 2:06 pm
There’s a part of me that wants to hate these guys, that was just waiting for the sellout song that they’re waiting to ship to radio *cough, Dirt on my Boots*, but I’ll be damned. Sure they’re bullshitters peddling a bullshit story, but they have a damn good sound and they’ve gone all in on playing country music. There’s not a bad track on the album. If it takes an underwear model and a Bruno Mars producer on Big Machine to get this music serious backing in Nashville, then that’s just the state of the industry. Sad, but it’s how it is right now. I’m not defending the embellishments in their marketing, and if that keeps anyone from being able to enjoy it I can’t argue with them. But I enjoy it for what it is. One of my favorite albums of the year so far, along with Tyler Childers and John Baumman.
R2D2
September 25, 2017 @ 6:53 pm
I agree with this comment 110%. I mean if these guys keep on making good music that helps turn the tide in the mainstream then so be it..
Boss
September 25, 2017 @ 2:10 pm
Midlandi Vanili
Mark
September 25, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
“On the Rocks” is ok. The EP was really good, and I had high hopes that I too could get over the nonsense and just enjoy the music. Other than “Altitude Adjustment” nothing new on the album grabs me. I’ll probably throw it on when people are around because it’s easy listening. That’s it though. It sounds country, and that’s it.
Trigger, I hate to be a contrarian. But I don’t think these dudes are lying. I genuinely think they have absolutely no idea that they come off as totally fake, because they don’t have the slightest inclination of what actually goes on in the music underground/subcultures etc. In that abomination of an interview with Rolling Stone one of the guys says something like “I feel like we have more in common with the Stapletons and Sturgill’s of the world.” HAH. Truly no idea. (I’m surprised you didn’t jump all over that quote).
They are no different than those folks back in the 2000s who heard the Strokes on the radio and thought they were part of the scene when they bought a pair of chuck taylor’s.
I too wish they wouldn’t have doubled down on the media strategy, but they’re too dumb to realize that it’s totally divorced from the reality of the musicians they want a kinship with.
Just shut up and have music row feed you their offcuts and have some fun.
Palmer
September 25, 2017 @ 2:49 pm
I’m confused why the “legitimacy” of their public image matters at all. Seriously? All that matters to me is the music. I enjoy listening to their music. I don’t listen to them because I believe they’re truly throwback legends of the Texas country scene. I don’t listen to traditional-leaning country because I like the people more or I like what they stand for, I listen to it because I like the music more! In Midland’s case, I hear excellent country music, which is all that matters. I’m not going to worry about the drama of who they are.
Mark
September 25, 2017 @ 2:55 pm
It wouldn’t matter if they weren’t selling it so hard.
Palmer
September 25, 2017 @ 3:00 pm
Yeah thats fair, I believe its completely fine to question it and to not like it but I’m not going to pretend like I don’t want to listen to their music because of it.
Corncaster
September 25, 2017 @ 5:29 pm
because the truth will out: if they bullshit in one area, they will bullshit in another
I don’t hear a single original musical idea in their music, so I’ve concluded they don’t care
so neither will I
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 6:15 pm
Palmer,
Then you need to tell that to Midland. This is an unforced error on their part. They didn’t need to justify their authenticity to anyone, they just needed to play music. But with scores of people out there already calling their numerous bluffs, they just kept forcing the same false narratives down people’s throats until it became married to the music. If I write a review for them and don’t mention the fact that they’re lying about how many dues they paid in Austin, I’m the one getting torched today, which I already am.
Their music should have been a force of unity in country. And they figured out how to screw that up by being so out front with their marketing and image.
Palmer
September 25, 2017 @ 6:30 pm
I see what you’re saying, and I believe that the music should always come first. My initial reaction to the review was surprise because I remember how excited I was when I heard them on the country radio station in my town; it was similar to when I listened to Jon Pardi’s California Sunrise. I hope they soon realize they don’t need to justify themselves to me or any of us, they just need to let their sound speak for itself and hopefully that can be a catalyst for the change most of us want to see. Even if they never change and continue this charade you speak of, they still provide proof that there’s room for that kind of sound on the radio, which is promising. Learning about this whole story about Midland is disappointing, but I still think they should be viewed as a net-positive for the direction of the genre as a whole.
Uncle Buck
January 8, 2018 @ 8:12 am
It’s not their music. This is a producers’ band. It’s the producers’ sound. Midlland has no sound other than what they are told to play. The songs aren’t great. They imitate a style from years past. I could go to Nashville, plunk down my money and come out with an equally pleasant sounding recording. Radio doesn’t like them. They can go away now.
JB-Chicago
September 25, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
Well 5 of these songs were on the EP that many of us have been listening to for awhile so that really leaves 8 new songs that have been released. I’ve made no secret to the fact I love the EP but I’ve only been listening to these new 8 songs for 4 days. So I’m going to give them a few more listens before I judge them. So far I like some more than others. Even though their story is bullshit. Good tunes are good tunes and I always say “a good song is a good song” no matter what genre or who wrote it. Now if I can just get my local Halloween store to order me a “Midland” costume for Halloween I know what I’ll be wearing Joe’s Live costume party. I like the red one with the black hat. 😉
Charlie Nickrenz
September 25, 2017 @ 3:12 pm
Maybe it’s that Midland supposes the world is still buying the Urban Cowboy soundtrack, an era when people felt Country music started to lose touch with its history. (I know, Billy Sherrill pissed people off first…) To dedicate themselves to a period that split music fans apart is to plan on controversy and animosity, and that may be part of the marketing. Maybe they are legitimately interested in reviving this sound, maybe they will continue to grow and thrive on the charts and radio, and maybe their success can lead other acts back to at least trying to write songs again.
Dane
September 25, 2017 @ 3:21 pm
There are far too many great 2017 Country & Americana albums by great authentic artists to stomach this Halloween costume charade:
Jason Isbell & 400 Unit
Gregg Allman
Sunny Sweeney
Rhonda Vincent & Daryl Singletary
Zephaniah O’Hara
Chris Stapleton
Tyler Childers
Christian Lopez
Turnpike Troubs
LeeAnn Womack
Hiss Golden Messenger
Jon
September 27, 2017 @ 4:24 pm
John Moreland
Wally Cockcroft
September 25, 2017 @ 3:23 pm
Trig, dude, I love you man. Keep calling it like you see it because brother your right on point.
There’s too many fake ass douchebags claiming to be something there not. I don’t give a fuck if you are the best musician in the world, don’t be a fake ass Mf’er.
BE YOURSELF.
You cant call yourself working class with a silver spoon in your ass and manicured fingernails. You cant call your self a farmer if you live in a condo. You cant call yourself a Soldier if you didn’t enlist in the Army.
You can not call your self a man or a band of integrity if your Band is based upon falsehoods and made up dues you’ve paid.
This goes much deeper than just the authenticity of a bullshit band. This is the NORM for the world now. Folks adopting and co-opting other folks misdeeds, fortune, pain, tragedy, happiness etc to further their own stylized self perception and who they “think” they are or more importantly, who they want to pretend to be.
The sooner we get back to being a Human Race of integrity, honesty and truth the sooner D’bags like Midland will cease to exist.
Brett
September 25, 2017 @ 3:55 pm
I have to say, this is the most troubling review ive ever read from this website. I dont feel its right to diss a new band when the talent is clearly there just because they got a shady backstory and dress cheesy.
Its pretty petty and childish to me, why think less of them just because “the machine” actually had a successful marketing campaign that worked. I cant speak for Midland, i dont know how sincere they are. They love vintage clothing and old vinyl, its all part of their image, i could care less bout all of that if the music is cohesive and enjoyable…. and it is, very much so. I love the Wheeler Jr. Comparison and if i recall at times that the Sturgills and Isbells at times have said things that make them look like complete asses sometimes. But you know what? I still admire them and blasts their music all the time.
Only time will tell how legit these dudes are but i also agree with another commenter that to hear these songs and to think of this album as anything other than a success for country music is absurd. The one thing i do agree with Trigger on is how sucky it is that hard working more deserving bands wont get oppotunities like this because of their connections. But on the other hand less deserving kids make ball teams, less deserving individuals get job promotions….suck it up buttercup, lifes shitty sometimes. My final answer, im gonna listen to good music, and Midlands good music. Mainstream radio is gettin better folks. Luke Combs, Stapleton…hell at least we got a few things to work with.
Trigger
September 25, 2017 @ 6:19 pm
There’s a difference between a successful marketing campaign and false advertising. In my opinion and in the opinion of many others (especially in Texas), this marketing wasn’t successful, it was divisive, and undermining of a band we should all be able to get behind (and many still do).
Also, I don’t just see this glass as half empty. I recognize the quality of the music, and the importance of its success.
Brett
September 25, 2017 @ 6:47 pm
Fair enough, i can see where folks especially Texans feel misled, i can totally understand that. I think people including myself were just so thrilled to have something like Drinkin Problem go to the top and actually sound country that you cant help but get behind them. I just never seen a group reviewed so harshly based mostly on the outside politics and outward things rather than the music. Everything you say may be right, only time will tell. Maybe its the throwback style, retro sound, or Bellamy style harmonies. But ill stick with them until they give me a reason not to i guess.
Palmer
September 25, 2017 @ 6:38 pm
Lets keep this in mind. Many individuals listening to the radio have no clue of this whole campaign that we’re talking about. They hear Drinkin Problem on their FM radio or on Spotify’s Hot Country playlist and they notice its differences from Sam Hunt’s Body Like a Backroad and Thomas Rhett’s Unforgettable. The songs developing into a summer smash hit shows that from here on out there is a place for that sound on the radio. I think its important to celebrate that milestone, while also bringing the marketing issues to light in order for future artists to not feel they need that false image to succeed.
JB-Chicago
September 26, 2017 @ 7:28 am
Palmer for the win!
Someguy
September 25, 2017 @ 4:49 pm
I totally get that for those of y’all in the industry this bs narrative must be frustrating. But as a consumer, I don’t give a half a shit. Im just happy there’s half decent music on my radio. They are no Turnpike, but its solid pop-country
I just look forward to a world where I can say I like country without people assuming I’m a misogynist with a room tempature IQ.
Honky
September 25, 2017 @ 5:38 pm
And yet they’re still infinitely better than most of the folks you parade across this website.
Jtrpdx
September 25, 2017 @ 6:43 pm
Like who, honky? And I’m not talking about the occasional review of pop “country” that trigger posts.
JB-Chicago
September 26, 2017 @ 7:31 am
Like Simpson, Jinks, Stapleton, and that Americana chode Isbell. That’s who. None of their albums are in my playlist so shoot me. I’ll take Luke Combs and bullshitters Midland over them any day. Honky is right.
jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 4:04 pm
No problem with having an opinion, even if it is in the extreme minority!
Honky
September 26, 2017 @ 5:17 pm
I agree with your list. I didn’t want to respond to that dude because he’s a stalker.
Amanda
September 25, 2017 @ 5:47 pm
Honestly and sadly for those who love Midland (me included), I really don’t see Midland having another number one hit. It’s good music. It’s country music. Look at how radio treated Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Ashley Monroe, Maddie and Tae, and William Michael Morgan. Even George Strait and Alan Jackson have been blacklisted, and it’s a damn shame. Midland will be next, and, even more disheartening, if Jon Pardi releases She Ain’t In It, he won’t be far behind. Hopefully, Pardi and Midland can prove me wrong, because mainstream country could use some actual country music with substance.
Sorry for being so negative, it’s been a rough couple of days.
RP
September 25, 2017 @ 7:01 pm
Rolling Stone is completely full of shit, so what do you expect from them? They lie and intentionally tell mistruths. That is all they do these days.
Frank C
September 25, 2017 @ 7:01 pm
“You didn’t put 10,000 hours into anything. You know it, and I know it. Everybody should know it,”
😂😂😂Way to rip off Donald Trump you classless HACK!!! Again you’re article shows little research or true journalistic narrative. You’re just a pathetic sniveling little online troll hater who I liken to the “Drunken Stepfather” of country music. 👌🏻
Frank C
September 25, 2017 @ 7:02 pm
@trigger
Mike Honcho
September 26, 2017 @ 9:02 am
Disagree with him all you want, but its poor form to come on his website and be an insulting dick. Maybe somebody needs to come over and take a dump on your living room floor.
Aggc
September 25, 2017 @ 7:13 pm
These guys are gonna be big. Really big. It’s a fun album. Who doesn’t want a fun album? Hell, I thought (and think) the Partridge Family’s “Up to Date” was awesome. Great songs backed with some of the best session players in the business. Just enjoy it without trying to analyze it. I’m a 57 year old guitarist who’s tastes haven run the gamut from The Osmand Brothers to Deep Purple. Just go with what your gut tells you and forget about someone else’s opinion.
Dennixx
September 25, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
So I’m getting mixed signals here.
Having not heard of or heard them should I care?
Life’s not long enough for uneasy listening
Joost
September 25, 2017 @ 10:54 pm
Their music is great. The guy just wants something to complain about.
scott
September 26, 2017 @ 5:49 am
Give it a listen. If you like it, that’s okay. Just know the back story.
Mighty Vastardikai
September 25, 2017 @ 8:59 pm
A fun fact: If their “10,000 hours” is simply total time being together, that adds up to just under 417 days, or just over a year.
Not giving them the benefit of the doubt or making excuses for them. Maybe they’re just playing semantics to give themselves credibility where it isn’t earned or deserved.
Mike Honcho
September 26, 2017 @ 8:24 am
10000 hours is referring to a Malcolm Gladwell posit that it takes 10000 hours of practice to master a subject. Midland is claiming mastery of Country Music.
Chris
September 25, 2017 @ 10:45 pm
If we were in a different era of country music I might agree with you. But right now I couldn’t give two shits about how authentic they are. As long as Midland doesn’t start putting out singles a la Sam Hunt and keeps up with the songs like drinkin’ problem I’ll take it any day. It a welcome relief to hear music like this in the mainstream. I’ll worry about their image later
tim
September 25, 2017 @ 11:04 pm
Eric Church did the same thing never even once fronted a band. Tells stories about ruling several counties and even being country. He was biggest prep in the county.
Bear
September 25, 2017 @ 11:26 pm
It not surprise me if all the bros suddenly started wearing matching Nidie knock off suits as a way to claim they are authentic country. The suits now being part of the checklist thanks to Midland.
Dw. Dunphy
September 26, 2017 @ 3:15 am
While I truly care about whether an artist is being at least marginally honest with the audience, pertaining to who they are, where they came from, and if they’re at least not completely pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes, I also know I’m an outlier. The majority of the population really does not care, not even a little bit. The years of being offended by Milli Vanilli’s deception gave way to active acceptance of suburban kids appropriating “street cred” as rappers and private school children as strung out loner rockers.
But, if it hasn’t become all too clear at this point, people aren’t put off by being deceived. Some actively enjoy it. Others don’t care where the burger came from, just shove another burger in their mouths. In this, the majority are probably going to tell you that, no, they aren’t concerned about Midland’s falsehoods. They don’t really care about Midland as an entity either. This group is, presently, just another burger and they want to eat it. That’s it. Blank consumerism.
Your frustration is commendable but misplaced. You are committed to “saving country music,” but it’s pretty clear that country music, and its fans, aren’t interested in being saved. Don’t feel bad about that. Just accept that you are now in the same club as rock fans, rap fans, and fans of any genre that has been co-opted by corporatization.
MH
September 26, 2017 @ 4:09 am
“I’m tired of y’all playing dress-up trying to sing them old country songs.”
Straitcountry81
September 26, 2017 @ 6:19 am
I’d still take these guys over most of the artist Trig gets hard over.
Aside from Dale Watson,Jackson Taylor,Hellbound Glory,Whitey Morgan and Jinks.
Ezra
September 26, 2017 @ 6:49 am
This band makes me sick, and I couldnt agree more with the review. I have been trying to wrap my around this, and a couple thoughts come to mind.
Just because people are starving for something to change, doesnt mean we should ignore all the warning signs.
Their song Drinkin Problem makes a mockery of a serious problem in American society. I have said this once before, but i think its worth repeating. This country is in the midst of a serious Heroin and opiate epidemic, the likes of which we have never seen. Nobody in their right mind would write a song called Heroin Problem, put it to a catchy melody, make light of it, and sell it to the masses. Alcohol has been destroying thousands of lives and families in this country forever, yet people still make light of it. There is a time and place for songs about drinking. Partying songs are stupid, but there is nothing wrong with partying, drinking a heartbreak away is ok as well. However this horrible song, makes light of a person who has throw their entire life away, and refuses to change. It would be one thing if this was written by a person who actually experienced it, but the fact that 5 or 6 people got together in a room, and contrived this story, to create a hit, is an embarrassment, and clearly the work of people whose family has not been destroyed by a drinking parent or sibling. As a former heroin addict myself, i understand the dangerous nature of a song like this. When you are deep in addiction, you are always looking for something to convince you to not change. I can easily imagine teenagers, or 20year olds, with drinking problems, hearing this song, and being convinced they are ok…its just wrong
and last, this odd analogy that came to my head. If i lived in a town that for years had shitty steakhouses, and along came this fantastic new place, amazing steaks, like we havent had in years. Then we find out its artificial meat, not from a real cow, pumped with juicy chemicals. Would everyone just say, who cares, it tastes great? i think most real meat eaters would say f-off, thats fake meat
Midland is fake steak
that sounded better in my head
BwareDWare94
September 26, 2017 @ 7:17 am
OK, I was with you until you said “Don’t write about [insert subject here].”
The only way to destroy art is to limit subject matter and apply parameters to personal expression. This is a huge problem in America–we need to stop taking every little thing we don’t like in art so seriously. Art is meant to be a medium with which we can convey difficult emotions or apply a lighter side to tough issues. STOP trying to limit art.
Mike Honcho
September 26, 2017 @ 8:25 am
Oh fuck. Political Correctness in Country Music is worse than bullshitting.
Trigger
September 26, 2017 @ 9:14 am
I agree that “Drinkin’ Problem” is patronizing to people with drinking problems, which is the polar opposite of what many of the great drinking songs in country music history do, which is delve into the pain and destruction the addiction can cause. I think a lot of people are taking it as a given that Midland’s music is excellent, and it’s only the presentation that may suck. I think when you really start to listen, their music becomes much more exposed. It’s still really good, but not the top tier stuff some are selling it as just because it’s found reception in the mainstream.
DerekJoists
September 26, 2017 @ 9:57 am
I’m a recovering alcoholic, and I don’t find it patronising, and I don’t find any of the many other country, blues, rock or whatever songs about drinking and alcoholism patronising either. If anything it’s relatable, before I quit plenty of people would tell me I had a problem and I’d brush it off.
As for the band overall, they are nothing special. I’m sure they’d be fun to see live, but I can’t imagine I’ll listen to the album much.
Sam Cody
September 26, 2017 @ 8:21 pm
I’m with you. I drank all day, every day, right up until it was literally “quit or die”. Now haven’t drank in 17 years. I don’t find the song – or any other song like it to be patronizing to people with drinking problems.
CPS
September 27, 2017 @ 7:22 am
Soylent Green is people!
Aspiring Songwriter
September 27, 2017 @ 9:27 am
Damnnnnnn. There are thousands of songs about “drinking” and that are wayyyyyyy more darker then theirs. Hmm. Just saying.
ezra
September 27, 2017 @ 9:51 am
Thats sort of my point, that drinking songs such as this, should be darker. With the catchy upbeat melody I hear, it sounds like they are taking a dark subject, and making light of it. The purpose being to manufacture a hit using other people’s serious pain
to me a perfect current example of a “real” drinking song is Pass the Pain on Sunny Sweeny’s new record. You can literally hear and feel the pain with every word, as she is telling the bartender to keep pouring.
Tee Dog
September 26, 2017 @ 6:59 am
I only wish Billy Joe Shaver gave enough of a shit (which he doesn’t) to chime in here, and sum this entire thing up with a one liner. He is everything they claim to be.
jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 10:13 am
I would also like to get Marty Stuart and the Superlatives’ take on their costumes and suits.
Doug
September 26, 2017 @ 8:59 pm
Yes to that, Tee Dog. When Trigger said in this review that all artists lie, my reaction was, You mean Billy Joe Shaver lies? If so, I hope only for good reasons.
Bill Weiler
September 28, 2017 @ 5:21 am
Howling Wolf had a review of one of his own albums. It was done in the 60’s with a Chicago psychedelic band to try to capture the young “Hip” market. When asked about the album he was coerced into doing by Chess, he had two words for it that I’m pretty sure Billy Joe could appreciate. He said ” It’s Dogshit”.
Bill
September 26, 2017 @ 7:27 am
Just listened to this album. Midland may rock the Nudie suits like The Flying Burrito Brothers did but Gram Parsons and Chris Hillman have more real country music in their pinky than this band does. Having said that, manufactured acts is nothing new in music history. I grew up in the ’60’s and had no idea The Wrecking Crew (which included Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, Larry Knechtel of Bread fame among others) played on pretty much every album and song I owned even though they were credited to the respective bands. And that includes not only The Monkees but critically reviewed bands like The Beach Boys. But yeah….not a fan of this group. Too slick, fake and polished for my taste.
Byron
September 26, 2017 @ 8:20 am
The music and songs are country. Anybody can put some great players together in a Nashville studio and make a great sounding record. Good voice – BUT, the phrasing by this singer is terrible. It is obvious he has not marinated much in Merle or George or George or Lefty. It is a shame that a voice that good has no idea what country really sounds like.
Poser vocals if ever I heard some!
jessie with the long hair
September 26, 2017 @ 8:22 am
Midland can’t sing or harmonize very well. Just go listen to them play some radio shows live. What you have here are some good looking guys that like to play dress up and that have been propped up by the Nashville machine of songwriters, musicians, and probably backing vocalist on the album. What have they really done? They (along with others probably) cam up with a concept and look, found a label, producer and songwriters to make the music fit the concept. The only thing the guys in Midland have done is had their vocals manipulated using pro tools and are now out selling the product. They have very little to do with the music that people are liking. In fact, the way the lead singer pronounces/sings certain words smells of inauthenticity. They’ve done a good job with the computers on his voice but even still you can tell he’s a newby. I’d love to hear a real country singer sing some of these songs. Those other two ass clowns didn’t play on the record and after hearing them try to harmonize live, I’d say they probably didn’t do some or any of the harmonies on the album. One more thing, they just look like stupid posers. I say find a real deal band or country singer and give them these songs.
Mike Honcho
September 26, 2017 @ 8:47 am
So, we hear how not-country acts like Isbell, Stapelton, and the rest of the hipster posse is good for Traditional Country Music because they bring new listeners to CM. Of course, this ignores that the new listeners are not looking for Traditional Country Music, only the bluesy, political crap that is being labeled as Country Music. Therefore it would seem logical that Nashville would move even farther away from TCM as sales increase, and Hipster Country becomes more popular.
Now, we have a band gaining traction posing as traditionalists, and sounding more like Traditional Country Music than we have heard in a while. It seems to me that Midland provides a better avenue for exposing people to legitimate TCM acts than the acts that are now being pushed as Saving Country Music. Even if they are inauthentic they are promoting the traditionalist sound. The question is what kind of Country Music are you wanting to save?
Trigger
September 26, 2017 @ 9:10 am
Midland is good for promoting traditional country music. I made sure to go out of my way to give them credit for this in the review.
Chris Stapleton is about the farthest thing from a hipster you could find. Sturgill Simpson as well. Perhaps some of their fans are hipsters and their music sits just outside the ideal in “country-ness” compared to a band like Midland, but they shouldn’t be held accountable to who may or may not listen to their music, and that doesn’t mean they’re not country, and significantly more country than most of what resides in the mainstream.
I never think it’s very fair to cross compare artists. Midland is Midland, Sturgill is Sturgill. Chris Stapleton is Chris Stapleton. They should all be regarded on a case by case basis because they’re complex artists that should each be considered with a different set of parameters.
Neither Stapleton or Sturgill won my Album of the Year last year. Cody Jinks did. Try calling him a hipster.
Mike Honcho
September 26, 2017 @ 12:47 pm
I didn’t include Cody or Sturgill because I actually like their music, and for the most part, you like Country Music if you like them. Isbell and Stapelton make country music for people that don’t like Country Music. It has been argued here that it is a good thing to bring new listeners to CM. I don’t see it that way if new listeners don’t like Traditional County Music. I am encouraged that bands being marketed as traditionalists are receiving attention, regardless of authenticity.
DJ
September 28, 2017 @ 10:24 am
I don’t like Simpson but I like Stapleton who is way more country than Simpson (or Isbell) and I’ve been listening longer than most of you have been alive. I also like Jinks a lot.
Fred Blurt
September 26, 2017 @ 9:13 am
Let’s recontextualize this, hypothetical-wise, and see where we stand in terms of judging the band solely on the basis of their music, which almost everyone here seems to think is great. (Full disclosure: I do not, but I decided that long before I learned of this particular controversy.)
Instead of them waving the faux dues-payin’/real-live-authenticity flag, which clearly troubles some and does not trouble others here, what if they were waving Nazi flags and chanting anti-semitic slogans as a lead-up to the album release? (And no, we won’t rename the band Skrewdriver for our thought exercise.) Okay, so that’s a bit extreme and unrealistic, but still an example worth pondering in terms of the level of social offense being committed and how much someone is willing to tolerate.
So just to conjure a somewhat more plausible real-world hypothetical that is also a more accurate comparison – what if two of the guys turned out to be convicted child molesters who were able to get their records expunged through all those big-name and big-money connections and worked hard to keep these background details secret from the fans until someone outed them. Would it still be just about the music, or would the fact that (a) they weren’t who you originally thought they were, and (b) they tried to hide their true backstory and manipulate public opinion, be enough to drop your support of them?
One’s responses to such hypotheticals will give you at least a modicum of insight into how much hypocrisy from one’s musical heroes one is willing to stomach. All humans have feet of clay to a certain degree, but when I see someone playing the “don’t confuse the artist with the art” card, I cry bullshit. An asshole is an asshole is an asshole.
jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 10:26 am
You haven’t heard the new album from the Ramblin’ NAMBLA’rs? It is actually pretty good!
Corncaster
September 26, 2017 @ 11:06 am
these guys have no story, they have limited skills, and they’re being marketed up the wa$oo
they treat country music as a mere style they can buy off a rack
and they play fast and loose with the truth, which is about as un-country as you can possibly get
so, next
Richard McGee
September 26, 2017 @ 9:34 am
Back in the seventies I was quite conflicted about the Rolling Stones. I despised their Street Fightin Man pose. Everything about their constructed image was insincere, even mockingly insincere. But the music was there. I can still listen to Beggars Banquet, which is something I can’t say about a lot of music of that period. Midland’s not on a similar level, but if they can put out some decent music, that’s something in itself.
You don’t have to buy the hype to enjoy the music.
Brass Monkey
September 26, 2017 @ 10:10 am
The Stones suck.
Crowman
September 26, 2017 @ 11:21 am
Thanks for the heads up! I don’t like the fakery, but I do like their music.
I’d like to hear their reply.
Orest Dorosh
September 26, 2017 @ 1:27 pm
Trust the art, not the artist.
Ginger
September 26, 2017 @ 2:29 pm
You have to consider that there are many mouths to feed with these guys. The songwriters, producers, musicians, managers, agents, video everything, costume people, marketing companies, on and on, and their families. You would like to think that person/s in the center lights, weren’t just pretty and charismatic actor sleeping with the bosses of the industry and their friends. Do you remember how felt about Jason Isbell getting nominated for by the Americana Academy? At least he might be paving a way for other Indy country artists? Well think of it similarly. Women used to get bashed because they could easily sleep their way to success, hopscotching their way to the top of the ladder. Men used to complain that they weren’t even given the chance to sleep with the boss, and it wasn’t fair. Well, in this new age you can if you are pretty. Sport porn starches is a clue that you are ready to go the extra mile. A smile and slinky style isn’t just for women who get the bosses eye and a free ride into the spot light. Anything goes when you are all about fame. Artists on the other hand lead very fortunate lives. They have wild imaginations and can live in their dreams that might have more to do with just fame..if they are any good at their art. They live a lifestyle that others can’t, they have a vision that can’t be purchased from anyone. They’re the actual artists, the good ones are said to be able to communicate in a way that people can recognize. So maybe the artist to be appreciated here are many, even the promoters and the costume designers the musicians and the writers and the performers all a separate. And has nothing to do with the loner with a guitar. Which is a different category where there are less mouths to feed. Everyone wants a piece of that sweet, warm cherry pie, straight from the oven, covered in whipped cream. It’s comforting and if you like the music, woo-hoo a lot of ingredients and work went into it, and it’s better for many Americans than plain root vegetables.
Evel 1
September 26, 2017 @ 3:56 pm
Holy hell, give me some of whatever you’re smoking. Just reading that comment about gave me the munchies.
Jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 6:04 pm
Actually, America needs less crap food like sweet cherry pie, covered in whipped cream and packed with sugar to appeal to children, teens and Middle aged women alike (aka pretty boy vocal trios like midland with studio enhanced harmonies). What America needs are more back to basics, non sugar coated, nutritious root vegetables that are authentic in their flavor and lay it all on the line.
ScruffyCity
September 26, 2017 @ 8:26 pm
This thread has worn me out, but at least I got to read one of Ginger’s psychedelic posts. I mean, she IS a parody poster, right?
Speaking of parody posters . . . I miss ‘lil Dale!!!
Corncaster
September 26, 2017 @ 2:52 pm
nice try, ginger
I believe in minimizing the distance between me and the artist, farmer, educator, whatever, because I believe in them
when it comes to art, I don’t believe in the machine. I never will.
Gingy
September 26, 2017 @ 7:39 pm
Well, gosh darn it, that’s because you’re a decent person, cornball.
Thebugman10
September 26, 2017 @ 4:05 pm
So you’re hating because they have good music and good marketing to boot? Who cares if they’ve “cut their teeth”. If the music is good country music, then it should be listened to. There’s plenty of folks out there that are more characters putting on a show than authentic people, but if the music is good it shouldn’t matter. Luke Bryan seems like an authentic frat bro, but his music sucks.
Eduardo Vargas
September 26, 2017 @ 4:13 pm
This review is one of the funniest I have read here in a while Lmao…
Seriously though, I LOVE the album- say what you will about these guys, I think they may be the real deal going forward in country music
Gopokes34
September 26, 2017 @ 5:07 pm
Trigger, I know this is kinda late to the party, but from what I read yesterday it seemed you were getting some backlash from your post. I have to agree with you it is kinda annoying how fake these guys are, but it is nice to see some more traditional country (fake or not). But to me, the most annoying thing about an act like this, is that there isn’t a need to replicate a sound and story that is already being authentically created in certain places. Why must it be replicated and faked, is the question to me. If the Nashville big wigs are realizing an act like this will do well, why don’t they go find a real one? That is the most frustrating part in my opinion. Why didn’t they go hangout in Austin for a couple months and find a band that did have this sound and story, i’m sure they could’ve groomed them to their likings a bit.
Jtrpdx
September 26, 2017 @ 7:24 pm
Mainly because there aren’t any real musicians out there with integrity who will do whatever the record label wants them to do, e.g., dress in silly fake country garb with their chest exposed, do Dodge truck commercials, lie about their past etc. Also there aren’t many bands with a former underwear model as a lead vocalist. The sex appeal is as big of their marketing plan as anything. Midland is the perfect money making machine. And the record label saw that from early on and is milking it for all it’s worth.
albert
September 27, 2017 @ 8:04 am
”The sex appeal is as big of their marketing plan as anything. Midland is the perfect money making machine. And the record label saw that from early on and is milking it for all it’s worth. ”
Exactly ….marketing an image is way more important to a label than marketing GREAT music ( as we see non-stop in these times ). If they can market an image as fabricated as these guys BUT deliver music with traditional COUNTRY elements and have success maybe that’s at least a start to righting the ship…
Ginger
September 26, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
The thing is Gopoke34, Nashville big wigs, as you call them, have been burned by what they believed to be authentic artistic talent. You can’t trust your own ears these days. They behave well in order to become famous. Too many times they’ve turned bad. Not all people can handle fame. Most do better in the bars and small venues. To take a badger from it’s natural habitat, and to try to tame it, make it a friend of the people, just isn’t safe for anyone. There is nothing wrong with being a musician or band that plays to bar crowds. Shouldn’t try to take a badger out of his natural environment. Once those in the Nashville offices have that direct knowledge of what happens when they do, there is no convincing them it’s a good idea. Have you ever been attacked by a badger? They will try to rip your face off for no reason. It’s just not a good idea, especially not to bigwigs and promoters. Sorry, but good bands suffer because of a few. They’ll have to prove themselves over a long period of time, in front of many different people from now on.
Marie
September 26, 2017 @ 7:15 pm
About 9 months ago I adored Midland and would have defended them to the death. That was before they canceled a show in San Antonio and DIDNT INFORM THEIR FANS. Not on their website, not on social media, not even at the venue. So you have about 500 Midland fans eagerly waiting for them to step onstage and some other act comes on. Rumor has it they got kicked off the Aaron Lewis tour as the opening act a couple of days prior to the show. And didn’t bother to inform their fans. But don’t worry- they posted a couple of cutesy pictures to Instagram of Mark in a cowboy hat and the 3 of them holding mugs. They gave some lame sorry a few days later but never an explanation. Left a crazy bad taste in my mouth and I haven’t listened to them since. They might make it big. But that will be out of sheer luck- certainly not for professionalism or giving a shit about their fans.
Main Street
September 26, 2017 @ 8:33 pm
I saw that. “Hey we pulled a George Jones, tee hee hee.” Cliche.
JB-Chicago
September 27, 2017 @ 7:23 am
There’s no excuse for that kind of shit from any artist ever,
Marie
September 27, 2017 @ 7:47 am
JB Chicago, I agree. Look at Steven Tyler. One of the world’s biggest stars- he gets sick- has to cancel shows- immediately puts out the word on each of his social media platforms and websites. So yeah fans are disappointed, but at least they can make arrangements not to attend AND I guarantee you each and every one of them are STILL Aerosmith fans. Shit happens. COMMUNICATE. The thing that pissed me off the most was how they still found the time to post their glamour shots, but didn’t have the decency to simply say to their fans, “Hey- Not going to be in San Antone tonight.” Done. Simple. I’d still be a fan. The whole thing stunk of disrespect and entitlement. I’m on board with the negative assessment of this group. There are plenty of hardworking, humble, professional musicians out there who know that fans are the life blood of their act. I predict their fans will start slowly dropping off after the initial excitement. Looks and connections only get you so far.
albert
September 26, 2017 @ 9:34 pm
” Why must it be replicated and faked, is the question to me. If the Nashville big wigs are realizing an act like this will do well, why don’t they go find a real one? That is the most frustrating part in my opinion. Why didn’t they go hangout in Austin for a couple months and find a band that did have this sound and story, i’m sure they could’ve groomed them to their likings a bit. ”
THIS is dead on . There’s countless bands playing this stuff from the heart aching for a shot .
HOWEVER….what I’ve heard from these guys not only suggests that they either initiated or , at least , bought into the concept of a more traditional release but offers the added bonus of featuring some GREAT players on it showcasing the uniqueness of traditional country instrumentation ONCE AGAIN . Not to mention a superb production sonically . Yeah yeah …autotune is there. But I’d take autotune over pitchy vocals any day if it delivers the trad song and sound to the uninitiated .I don’t really care if they were grave robbers , porn stars, dry cleaners or fishermen in a former life if they can make this music marketable and have it accepted again . Hell …how many of the legends were prisoners ( or claimed to be ) at some point ? Sure these guys are a product just like Sam Hunt and Rhett . That’s a given . However THIS ‘product’ at least makes people aware of a sound sorely missing from country mainstream and hopefully garner’s a fan base for it again.Maybe the success of this opens doors for the Cody Johnsons who ARE authentic and deserve a shot . No …THIS may not be coming from an authentic source . But neither is Hunt , Urban , Rhett, Partridge ( Eldridge ? ) Moore or almost all of the others on mainstream radio who DON’T write , sing or play COUNTRY music . So yeah …maybe as people these guys are only the lesser of many evils. But I don’t care WHO makes my breakfast if its on time and looks and tastes like breakfast.
BTW I think this tune is terrific and the sound BLOWS my boots off .
albert
September 26, 2017 @ 9:48 pm
……….and oh yeah…..they look TOTALLY contrived and just plain GOOFY ….WTF is THAT all about ?
Thank goodness you can’t SEE radio .
The Hillbilly Muslim
September 27, 2017 @ 1:20 am
I think this is a very entertaining article. I know many artist who bullshit their back stories and sometimes its part of entertainment. The spectacle the audience wants. Who wants to be sold the truth. People want to be sold the fantasy. Despite that I love this article cause its how the mainstream industry is trying to infiltrate the underground music scene. And there fake back story is hilarious. I go to so many bars and Honky Tonks in Austin and I never once heard of them. After hearing this clip only thing I disagree with you is that their music is great. They sound like a mediocre 90s country band.
Ginger
September 27, 2017 @ 6:07 am
‘There’s countless bands playing this stuff from the heart aching for a shot ”
Sorry Albert, the big wigs in Nashville realize this aching desire for a shot at fame all too well. That’s why you give just a sample of what it’s like under the big lights and see what they do. Blame the singers with nihilism guiding their morals for Midland being the most popular band to Nashville. As long as small time players want to act in embarrassing ways to promote how famous they are., might as well go with people they trust anyway. If you’ll play fast and loose with you’re own reputation, might as well employ underwear models and soap stars that don’t announce that they are rummaging through executives’ trash to get something that can be used. Cold War tactics aren’t cool. For executives to groom and promote a band for the masses of country fans, they’ll have to prove they have judgment, and that they aren’t making acquaintances intending to hurt people out of jealousy or rage. A burning ache for fame is no longer enough, the trust is gone. The Austin bands will have to stick to bars and small venues. Hope that’s ok with them. They claim to like that life.
albert
September 27, 2017 @ 4:59 pm
I was reading and re-reading this thinking I was just tired …or possibly approaching senility or some other challenge mentally . Then I saw that it was you Ginger and I was relieved .
Could you PLEASE whittle down the above to one fine point for me ….
Ginger
September 27, 2017 @ 7:08 pm
More to the point, Albert, it’s all about unconditional love for EVERYONE. Live and let live. It’s all good. We’re all in it together. To each his own. People are people. It takes all kinds. Dignity for everyone. It’s decency and the right to live. It’s about dignity and pride. Actually, it’s ending ignorance and staying out of it’s way.
Omaha
September 27, 2017 @ 7:51 am
It’s an expression….
“Putting in 10,000 hours” is from Malcom Gladwell’s “Outliers” and the rule is basically stating that in order to be good at something, it requires 10,000 hours of deliberate practice.
They’re not saying they literally played 10,000 hours of shows in Texas. Fucking relax dude.
jtrpdx
September 27, 2017 @ 9:11 am
By using that reference, they are stating that they are “world class” honky tonkers (the 10,000 hour theory is that it takes 10,000 hours to become world class / an expert in any field). They are far from experts at anything but being pretty.
A Country Fan
September 27, 2017 @ 8:22 am
These guys are simply the brainchild of the brilliant Shane McAnally & Co.
They ARE fake, plain and simple. Mouthpieces for an experiment from Smacksongs. They didn’t write the songs – Shane and Josh did. They might have been in the room and tried to contribute but I guarantee Shane and Josh were running the show with slight nods to the Midland guys now and then saying “awww that’s a good line… let’s see if we can work it in.”
In the long run though, Midland sounds country. Even if it borders on a cheesy throwback sound I’d rather listen to this than the latest vomitous mass from Luke Bryan or FGL. “Drinking Problem” was exceptional even if I could hear Josh’s style through the entire delivery.
I guess to sum it up for me. I like the music well enough – but I wouldn’t want to drink a beer with them in a bar and be lied to all night.
Aspiring Songwriter
September 27, 2017 @ 9:30 am
As Steve Earle recently said, “So You Wanna Be An Outlaw?”
Stupidwordpress
September 27, 2017 @ 11:02 am
I think something that was mentioned earlier is probably a huge part of why there is so much distain for this band. I believe most of the backlash is coming from the Texas fan base and music scene. Texans tend to take our music pretty seriously and aren’t very accommodating to acts that try to waive the Texas music banner without any real authenticity or respect for the music here. These guys just kind of set up shop in “Dripping Springs, Texas” and now want everyone to believe that they’ve cut their teeth playing all the Texas honky-tonks. It’s just BS. It’s something that Big Machine concocted to try and add credibility to this charade.
Here’s a quote from Shane McAnally. “I feel like we manifested [Midland], because this is our playground, writing songs for a 1982 George Strait,” says McAnally. “When these guys walked in and were a vehicle for those kinds of songs, and also quite capable of writing them as well, it was like [the movie] ‘Weird Science,’ like, it wasn’t our design, but it’s almost like we put into a machine what we wanted, and out came Midland.” This is all a slight of hand magic show and everyone outside of Texas is falling for it because the music sounds good. It sounds like what we’ve all been wanting, but it’s not. As if these three guys are even remotely responsible for what came out of the studio. You can just watch a YouTube video of these guys live and then listen to the studio version and determine that these guys are faking it.
I went back and read a few interviews with these guys and their stories are all over the place. Just to set a quick timeline, none of these guys had any connection with Texas until Cameron Duddy moved here with this wife in July, 2014. She’s a well known photographer and he is an actor/video producer. They moved into a 1.2 million dollar ranch in one of the richest areas of Texas but he says last year they had to borrow money just to pay his mortgage. He also said in an interview that sometimes they played for two or three or zero people at Cody’s Roadhouse in Houston. I’ve been following Texas music for a long time and I’ve never heard of a Cody’s Roadhouse in Houston. Furthermore, why are there ZERO photos or videos of their month long residency at Poodies? I can’t find a single one.
In April, 2015, the three filed paperwork with the Texas Secretary of State to form the LLC Vaqueros Galacticos, LLC. I assume this was the beginning of the manufacturing process of this “band.” It appears that the paperwork was filed by a company in Nashville called FBMM. They are a well known artists management company that have lots of connections in the Nashville industry.
Less than a year later they sign with Big Machine and the whole experiment is in full force.
These guys were created because the big machine saw the rising popularity of true Americana/Country artists and needed a product to fill that gap. That’s what these guys are. They are a manufactured product to fill a niche that is rising in popularity. Sure, the music sounds great. The writing could be improved, but overall, the sound is traditional country. But it’s all hollow inside. There’s no substance and these actors are just playing a part.
How long will the charade last? Who knows, but I know here in Texas, we know bull shit when we see it.
Corncaster
September 27, 2017 @ 12:50 pm
boom — razed to the ground, the earth salted
Marie
September 27, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
Funny enough I DO have video of them at Poodie’s from a show Dec. 2015. When I used to be a fan, I would stalk their website constantly for upcoming shows. I’d say between late 2015-late 2016 they played maybe a show a month. :/
Some other interesting facts are that Duddy’s step mother is Joely Fisher- Carrie Fisher’s sister. Also Mark used to be engaged to a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. (who lives in Austin and is a total bee-atch BTW)
Stupidwordpress
September 27, 2017 @ 1:04 pm
I’d love to see that video if you could post it on YouTube.
Cool Lester Smooth
September 27, 2017 @ 5:31 pm
Everything you said is 100% true.
The thing is, though, I genuinely do not care.
They make music that sounds good, with solid lyrics. There’s no “but” that could follow to overwhelm that, haha.
Stupidwordpress
September 28, 2017 @ 7:10 am
To each his own. I was intrigued when I first heard them, until I really started listening and found out their background. And I would clarify one point. I don’t think its them making the music. Its more like them reciting the music.
Cool Lester Smooth
September 28, 2017 @ 8:59 am
Eh, would “them reciting the music” be in any way meaningfully different from what George Strait has done for most of his career?
And then, even before you account for the fact that pro songwriters are very jealous about not giving credits to someone who wasn’t involved, the song “14 Gears,” posted above, has a music video from 2015 (a year before Big Machine signed them) and they apparently started playing it at shows back in 2013…and it sounds exactly like cuts off this album.
They’re not about to slide into my Wade/Randy/Turnpike/Moreland/William Clark Green Texoma rotation anytime soon (in large part because they’re too trad-country, and I prefer Red Dirt), but when my friends control the radio, I’d much rather listen to something like “Drinkin’ Problem” than “Body Like a Backroad.”
Stupidwordpress
September 28, 2017 @ 9:05 am
You lost me at “when my friends control my radio.” No one controls my radio. I am the radio Nazi. No Sam Hunt for you!
Kim Deschamps
September 27, 2017 @ 11:38 am
.. 🎶 how fast the backlash 🎶 .. During 2016 and 2017, as an Austin based pedal steel guitarist, I rehearsed with Midland at the Dripping Springs ranch, toured California including their Stagecoach Festival debut, visited my near-by neighbor Mark Wystrach at his home, performed local dive bar and SXSW shows with them and recorded pre-production demos here in Austin for the current release. I watched them (and over the years, many other artists) dealing with their frenzied, head spinning rise. In this “build them up, knock them down” music industry, no one is immune. No matter what your take, this article is an interesting case study for anyone reaching for success in our business. Best Wishes to Midland.
The Alpine Cowboy
September 27, 2017 @ 4:40 pm
The writer of this piece and the website guru are dicks, pure and simple. You are such uptight, bullied little twats that you self-contradict yourself and commit flagrant acts of hypocrisy all under the great big canopy of insecurity and jealousy.
seriously, you are the worst sort of coward and hypocrite, hiding behind a keyboard and acting like a petulant little child who is angry that none of the other widdle kids are ‘playing the right way”.
You sit here and bemoan the “death of country’ yet is anyone, and I mean ANYONE who doesn’t fit your delusional idea of what “country” is, you do nothing but throw barbs and unwarranted criticisms 9not the same as critiques). I actually feel great pity for you as through your words the subtext is one-the-nose and apparent that you are envious and beret of any talent. It takes no talent to be bitter twats, it takes tremendous courage to actually go out there and CREATE something which will be remembered for a long time.
I feel such tremendous pity for you.
Mike Honcho
September 27, 2017 @ 5:50 pm
I’ll take your word for it, Brokeback Cowboy.
Bertox
September 27, 2017 @ 7:15 pm
Eloquent retort, Mike Homophope.
Mike Honcho
September 28, 2017 @ 6:32 am
I have no problem with you people, Bertox. Just keep it in your bedroom.
Bertox
September 28, 2017 @ 9:25 am
I cannot be tamed
Gunslinger
September 30, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
Shooter? Is that you?
Aggc
September 27, 2017 @ 4:55 pm
Its a very, very enjoyable album. It makes me feel good while listening to it. I’ve been a music buff for over 50 years and have played in countless bands. Music, like art, is meant to be appreciated on an emotional level. Analyze anything and and you will eventually find fault with it because thats what your goal was when you started.
Having said that, i challenge anyone to find fault with Will Hoge’s “Anchors” album. It was released in August. Come on, I dare you…
Aggc
September 27, 2017 @ 5:38 pm
Trigger, is it possible you need an ‘Altitude Adjustment’?
All kidding aside, i respect your writing and opinions. Ive found so much good music thanks to you. Thank you for that.
Al
September 27, 2017 @ 8:23 pm
Dude’s vocal phrasing is not appealing to me at all and his twang sounds fake as shit. Good songwriting though! Wish some better singers made this record instead of these chain yankin’ wankers.
Uncle Buck
January 8, 2018 @ 8:28 am
Jennifer Nettles- fake country accent. I love her!
Shastacatfish
September 27, 2017 @ 9:22 pm
I like the music. Some of it is pretty close to my country-music sweet spot. I’m not fond of hipsters or posers, though, in a nostalgic-for-my-childhood sense, I like the aesthetic. Reminds me of guys my grandfather hung out with.
All that said, I am fascinated by two things. First, very little in recent years, has generated as much commentary on this site as Midland has. Nearly every post Trigger has done on them has turned into a substantial comment-fest. Second, and related to the first, I think it is interesting that in all these comments, it has proven interesting that someone claiming to know Midland personally always seems to chime in to substantiate their credibility. No one else who receives any kind of criticism from Trigger seems to generate this sort of response. I have been waiting to bring this up until someone inevitably did just that.
In a way, the credibility issue does not bother me too much. The whole thing sort of feels a sort of cinematic feel. It’s like an old Hal Needham train wreck, set to era-appropriate tunes.
Geaux F Yourself
September 28, 2017 @ 8:30 am
I can’t account for anyone else but what I heard of their music was total garbage which makes their pretentious 70s porn getups and phoney publicist writeups even more sad.
Buckin' Chute
September 28, 2017 @ 8:44 am
To quote Doc Holiday from Tombstone: “I don’t know darlin….should I hate him? There’s just something about him.
Nope, I’m sure of it. I hate him.”
You look good. Congrats.
You sound good. Congrats.
You come into the business with connections and plenty of money. Congrats.
But when you just LIE that you put in your 10k hours of road dog, dive bar, no pay, shitty PA, broke down van, artistic competition in the trenches, when in reality, from the get go you had the finest equipment and instruments, the finest transportation, the finest clothes, and possibly played for free at places that would give you a shitty time slot cause you hadn’t EARNED anything better, just so you could name drop a club on your bullshit “resume” you are an offense to all the “real deal” talent. You’re an offense to all the Zane Williams and Moondog Hall’s and Zach Diedrich’s, and Dallas Moores of the world….and all their fans and friends.
There’s plenty of good traditional music being played regularly by hipsters in East Nashville. At least they wear their skinny jeans, miner’s hats and lumberjack beards with pride and let the music speak for itself.
Your Name
September 28, 2017 @ 12:35 pm
Here’s one for authenticity: I ran into these guys at a show last year and got the “groupie” reference. I guess they were just trying to be true to their honky tonk gimmick?
Real Country
September 29, 2017 @ 5:42 am
The world deserves a band like Midland. The world has created and cultivated them. Midland is like all those new animal/monster species who live in the toxic depths of garbage islands that have one eye and 3 jaws that end up on shore after a tsunami.
Cleve
September 30, 2017 @ 1:58 pm
I feel that I have received a real good education, here at TriggerU, over the years. With that said, I really wanted to hate this album, but I can’t. It’s very good. It is exactly the country music I am looking for.
I hear all of the hellfire and brimstone being spoke about the individuals, the process, Big Machine and Shane McWhats-his-face and I give zero shits.
I haven’t taken the time to do any research on the boys (other than what I read on this site) cause I don’t care. It’s good music.
Maybe this is Scott BullShitta pulling the wool over our eyes. Maybe it’s Shane McNawReally showing us he can write trad if he wants to. But, if this was the first thing we ever heard from these guys, they would be our “Savior o’ the Month.”
When this is all over, when we get Dixie Chicked by these assholes. When they show us their true colors, I will shrug and say “eh, it was good while it lasted.”