Midland: ‘The Last Resort: Greetings From’ – Album Review + Interview

Midland’s brand new album, The Last Resort: Greetings From is out now, May 6th on all streaming platforms. Take a listen and read our full review below.

Country music’s favorite outlaw band, Midland is back with their third studio album, The Last Resort: Greetings From. The album is a fabulous, romantic, and glamorous record all wrapped into one. We had the chance to chat with the trio leading up to the release, so read below as we dive into the record and the conversation.

One of the first things to note is the parallels between the sonic and artistic aesthetic and lineage that runs deeply throughout The Last Resort: Greetings From. It could be considered a concept album, as the men of Midland are no longer bar regulars staying until last call. “We kind of workshop ideas around, and during Covid I moved back to my hometown of Arizona”, Mark Wystrach shared with us. “I found myself living amongst this world of tons of cacti… selfishly, I wanted everyone to come out and hang, I made some references and helped find some locations… and that set the setting for it all.”

The opener and title track does indeed set you to a desert and a smokey bar. “The Last Resort”, written by all of the band members plus the incomparable Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, has a foot-tapping groove to it along with lush pedal steel guitar. Then, there’s the standout moment “Take Her Off Your Hands” that will have listeners nodding along to the guitar riff that is obvious ear candy. “She didn’t put that dress on to be ignored by a man short on romance // To blind to give her a second glance”, they sing in the second verse. “If forever’s just not in your plans // Let me take her off your hands”. It’s a traditionally country, unrequited love song.

“Bury Me In Blue Jeans” has the perfect, witty lyrics that are classically western and country tropes. “When I’m heading home // Bury me in blue jeans”. There’s a certain kind of swag that this song entails, and it’s more upbeat than a lot of the rest of the record.

The Eagles-meets-Alan Jackson-esque “Long Neck Way To Go” collaboration with Jon Pardi feels incredibly natural. “I feel like of all the songs we cut, “Long Neck”, as we’re tracking it in the studio, felt like, ‘how is this not a song we’ve cut and recorded before?’…. Jon is someone who’s championed us since the beginning,” the band explains to us. “He took us out on our first real tour…. he’s the like the fourth member of Midland. He’s like our crazy cousin!”

The album’s middle and the album’s end both anchor the rest of the record in completely different, yet substantial ways. “And Then Some”, perhaps the strongest and saddest on the record, is a tasteful heartbreak song about being over someone, “and then somebody says your name // and I’m right back where you left me”. The moments that are subtle are just as impactful as the more outrageous moments. “Adios Cowboy” is the perfect closer to an already remarkable album. Another foot-tapper, this one is about how sometimes, the cowboy doesn’t always win the girl over. The lyrics tell a story in real-time, so plainly, that you really feel it. It truly makes the record so cohesive and will leave the listener feeling content… and ready to listen to the album again and again.

Midland continues to make amazing music, and this project is no exception. It’s great to listen to as a whole collection of songs, but will also sound wonderful live. Their album proves that Midland is here to stay in country music.

 

The Last Resort: Greetings From is available everywhere you buy or stream music. Take a listen below and check out more new recently released tunes on our ‘New Country Music’ playlist. Be sure to give the playlist a follow for your weekly new country music fix.