Barely Blue

Midland

Publicado el 18/10/24 por Big Machine Records, LLC
Artistas principales: Midland
Género Country

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When Midland's On The Rocks was released in 2017, with the band decked out in Nudie suits on the cover, hopes flickered that a new country rock powerhouse had arisen. But the threesome has since settled for a more commercial '80s country music style that borrows equally from the honky tonk attitude of Merle Haggard and the smooth vocal harmonies of The Eagles. On Barely Blue, the spirit of Texan George Strait also hovers over their view of how to live through romance whether it's goin' good or fully gone bad.

Given the title, it's no surprise that ballads are the order of the day. Lead vocalist Mark Wystrach has a big, stirring, emotive voice, and in the experienced hands of Dave Cobb—who has impressive range and perspective as a producer (Jason Isbell, Miranda Lambert, Shania Twain)—his vocal talents have never sounded smoother or more resonant, nor have they been recorded with more presence. Cobb appropriately highlights Midland's greatest strength, the three-part harmonies at the center of every track, and also nails the details of the backing instrumental tracks, adding just the right amount of studio gloss to the entire production. (He also adds lead guitar licks on the album's most upbeat track, "Halfway to Heaven.") Most importantly, the tunes are catchy, well-crafted vocal pop.

The title track sets the album's emotional tone: "I've been hanging out late/ slowly chipping away at the heart of this heartbreak/ Save your sad song for another day 'cause/ I'm barely blue without you baby I'm alright." "Better Than a Memory," another love song that digs into its complexities, is impossible to resist as Wystrach pleads, "I can be better than a memory/ I can lay you down with both hands/ Hold you tighter than a ghost can/ Let me kiss all of that miss him right out of your lips tonight." In "Vegas," the singer finds himself hooked after a weekend with a stranger: "The bank ain't all that's breaking" and on closer "Lone Star State of Mind," Wystrach gives a cliché new life: "I guess everything's bigger in Texas, even all of my regrets." Smooth and astutely produced, the confections on Barely Blue are downright enchanting. © Robert Baird/Qobuz

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Barely Blue

Midland

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Lucky Sometimes

00:02:46

Daniel Bacigalupi, Assistant Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Lyman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Cobb, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brandon Bell, Editor, StudioPersonnel - Josh Osborne, ComposerLyricist - Greg Koller, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cameron Duddy, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Powell, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Midland, MainArtist - Leroy Powell, Electric Guitar, Dobro, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Dragstrem, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Barrette, Additional Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Andrew Brightman, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Philip Towns, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Jess Carson, Acoustic Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mark Wystrach, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist