Midland's Captured "This Old Heart"

What do you get when you combine an actor/underwear model, a music video director, and an amazing lead guitar player? You get Midland, an American country music group founded in Texas and signed to Big Machine Records. Billboard has described the band’s sound as “a definite George Strait 80’s New Traditionalist feel to it, combined with the rich California harmonies that made The Eagles legendary.” In short, you can call Midland’s style neotraditionalist country, emphasized by the “traditional” country vocals.” Midland consists of Mark Wystrach, Cameron Duddy, and Jess Carson, and you can usually find them clad in the fashions of the early country music scene - think Rhinestone Cowboy.

If you didn’t already obsess over their EP like I did, then you’re a little late to the game. However, good news is that they just released their debut album, “On the Rocks,” which features their previous single, “Drinkin’ Problem,” which hit #1 at country radio, and their newest single, “Make a Little.” My personal favorites of their album, besides the singles which top the list, are “Burn Out” and “This Old Heart.” And to those hooked on Midland, you’ll be happy to know that they're going to be on tour with Little Big Town and Thomas Rhett in 2018.

When “Drinkin’ Problem” hit the radio, I fell in love. Not only does it have a smooth, singable tune, but it has the most clever ingenious lyrics. The hook line is, “People say I’ve got a drinkin’ problem, but I got no problem drinkin’ at all.” Clever, right? The whole song is that slick. Their second single, “Make a Little,” was crafted in the same manner. After showing it to a songwriting friend yesterday, she kept talking about how satisfying the song is. The chorus starts off by saying, “There’s just not enough love in the world, so we should make a little.” Midland’s witty lyrics are present in every one of their songs.

If you’re a true country music fan, Midland is a band you definitely need to keep up with. They’re bringing pieces of the 70’s and 80’s country style back to radio, a task that’s been long overdue.