Ahead of their Let’s Try This Again! tour dates scheduled for September of this year, Midland have released their brand new EP – The Last Resort – that sees the band dig deep into their roots and artistry, offering up hardcore country with a twist. Here, we review The Last Resort.
Stream the EP here.
Ahead of their stint in the UK, Midland have released their new EP – The Last Resort – out everywhere today, including the new single ‘Sunrise Tells The Story.’ On the EP, Midland dig their heels into their hardcore-country sound that has always felt immensely nostalgic, yet timeless, scoring out their honeyed, thick harmonies, crooning melodies and steel guitar as the central thread of the project. In just five songs, Midland lays out the spectrum of their sound and emotion, kicking off with the country heartbreak ballad, ‘And Then Some,’ where the band sing of being unable to move on from a lover. ‘Then some friend of a friend says you’re doing well / I don’t know if they can tell I miss you / But I still miss you, and then some.’ The juicier guitar lick lifts the sound of this quietly indulgent ode to heartbreak that is the perfect introduction to the project, before taking down the pace yet further on ‘Sunrise Tells The Story.’ This last, already released from the project, brims with a hazy nostalgia. ‘And the moon saw it all through a thin piece of glass / And the stars must have blushed when you kissed me like that / We can’t hide the evidence / It’s scattered everywhere in all its naked glory / The night knows the truth / The sunrise tells the story.’
A highlight of the project is without a doubt, ‘Two to Two Step’ a shimmering straight-up honky tonk track that sees the trio trade off lead. ‘It’s takes two to two step / Two to tango / Two to wrangle down that hardwood / Don’t ya’ think it’d do your heart good?’ It’s a toe-tappingly compelling track that nods to Midland’s past influences, including Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, and allows the band’s vocal chemistry to shine through – an oasis of retro country.
‘Take Her Off Your Hands’ is a swaying, compelling track about seeing a man waste his chance with a woman. ‘If forever’s just not in your plans / Let me take her off your hands.’ It’s a sweeter, more mature and stirring track than we have come to expect from the wilder, bombastic side of Midland, through which they first burst onto the scene. Indeed, the final track ‘Adios Cowboy’ demonstrates the growth of Midland since ‘Drinkin’ Problem’, showcasing a more mature and deeper side to the band’s music and lyricism. Indeed, in the emotions they exhibit throughout the project – from heartbreak ballads to sentimental walks down memory lane to romping honky tonk tracks – Midland have added a more mature and authentic underbelly to their lyricism that adds a more compelling layer to their lyricism, giving it greater staying power. Yet again, Midland demonstrate their ability to evolve, yet retaining their signature edge.
For more on Midland and tour updates, visit MidlandOfficial.com.
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