Blue Highway Records

****

After a dozen years of pursuing their muse with honesty and integrity, Midland are still content to stay true to their original intents, unaffected by any trend or trappings that dilutes the music and distances it from its roots. They may wear their influences on their sleeves, but over five albums they have evolved into genuine torchbearers for neo-tradionalism. STAGES pays tribute to not only the many and varied venues where they’ve performed, but also the phases and stages they’ve traversed to where they stand musically today. From the opening shot of Marlboro Man, they seem to have gone for even more of a country sound; honky-tonk at its best, nodding to George Strait and Dwight Yoakam in equal measure. Their most immediate, beguiling and, dare I say it, finest work yet, the arrangements are layered without feeling cluttered, an easygoing mix of old-school country and barroom romps.

Mark Wystrach handles the lead vocals throughout the album, offering listeners a fine, soulful twang that fits well with the classic country instrumentation, with a distinctly modern production approach. Guest spots by Mackenzie Carpenter and Clint Black help sweeten the deal. Marlboro Man, which launches the album,  features smoky-cool western vocals with a solid groove set to bittersweet lyrics. A song like this, taps into the stirring of longing for more that can be a whole new beginning following a break-up. Shooting Memories With Tequila has vibes of Old Mexico. If you close your eyes, you might think you’re listening to a Johnny Rodriguez tune.

Listen to Walk A Mile In My Boots and One Day You Won’t each with a unique sound built around steel, fiddle and twanging guitars. The chugging fiddle driven Glass Half Empty opens the door to the local honky-tonk, inviting us to step inside, take a seat, and cast our cares to the wind. It’s a song about dressing up and getting down, rooted in the same supersized stop as your favorite hit-the-town epics from the 1990s. In similar style is their revival of Drinkin’ Dark Whiskey, a Chris Stapleton and Mike Henderson co-write, previously recorded by Gary Allan, but best remembered by me from a dynamic live version by Henderson at 3^rd & Lindsley many moons ago. Drink features regularly in this collection, like Drunk Enough, one of three songs the band had a hand in writing. A typical barroom heartbreaker, this evokes the breakup of a relationship, with sparse vocals flowing over like someone trying to soundtrack heartache and pain.

Mackenzie Carpenter joins them for I Wish You Would, a pleasant duet that makes an immediate impact. The downside is that her vocals sound a dead-ringer for Ella Langley, and this song, which she co-wrote, has a very close vibe to Ella’s Choosing Texas hit. Clint Black guests on Up In Texas, a song that is sure to prove to be a live favourite with its Lone Star references and jaunty rhythm which is quite irresistible. STAGE has Midland at their finest, with another great instalment in their portfolio to get their growing legion of fans excited for their next touring schedule.

https://www.midlandofficial.com

June 2026