Music review: Midland ëƵ ëƵLet It RollëƵ
With the start of the school year and the realization that summer is coming to a quiet close, I searched for a quick pick-me-up to bring a smile back to my face.
MidlandëƵs new album provided the happy vibe that had me forgetting the fading warmth that would soon be replaced with the chill of fall.
For ëƵLet It Roll,ëƵ lead vocalist Mark Wystrach, lead guitarist Jess Carson and bassist Cameron Duddy offer up songs that are just as stylish and smooth as the outfits they sport on the cover of the album.
The sophomore effort from the Texas-based trio playfully captures a retro country feel through 14 pleasurable tracks that cover all the needed ingredients for a classic country song.
Love songs like ëƵFast Hearts and Slow Towns,ëƵ ëƵPut the Hurt on MeëƵ and ëƵI Love You, GoodbyeëƵ speak to the highs and lows of trying to maintain a good relationship, while ëƵCheatinëƵ SongsëƵ stirs up the bitter embers of unfaithfulness with an EaglesëƵ ëƵLyinëƵ EyesëƵ tone as Wystrach sings, ëƵSheëƵs lyinëƵ with him and sheëƵs lyinëƵ to me.ëƵ ThereëƵs also ëƵCheatinëƵ by the Rules,ëƵ a track that outlines the proper etiquette for sneaking around.
Good times are highlighted on the title track with a laidback and carefree innocence and ëƵMr. Lonely,ëƵ the albumëƵs lead single, boasts about being Mr. Right at just the right time.
ëƵFast or slow, they all go good when youëƵre buzzed,ëƵ ëƵEvery SongëƵs a DrinkinëƵ SongëƵ follows the tear-in-your-beer blueprint with references to country legends Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr.
Life in a band is placed in the spotlight on the guitar-driven ëƵ21st Century Honky Tonk American Band.ëƵ This rousing number oozes of Southern rock and dishes the details about life on the stage. ëƵPlayboyëƵ is cleverly penned as it follows a similar theme of never letting the party stop with more tales of making a little noise on stage and having too much fun in the process.
ëƵLet It RollëƵ is the perfect cure for anyone suffering from the summertime blues.
Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

