Midland Stages Review: Five Albums In, They Have Delivered Their Best Yet

Review by Lauren Page | @LiveWithLP

Midland have released their fifth studio album, Stages.

When you're four studio albums deep, how do you manage to create a fifth that's somehow your best yet? We'll have to ask the guys in Midland, because their latest release, Stages, is one for the history books.

After a mammoth touring schedule over the last year, the band have been teasing new music at every opportunity. Their collaboration with Mackenzie Carpenter, I Wish You Would, became a staple on many of our summer playlists, and with Stages we're also treated to a collaboration with Clint Black on Up in Texas.

The 10-track record stays true to the Midland sound we've all come to know and love while exploring new themes and influences along the way.

Kicking things off with Marlboro Man, we're immediately transported into Midland's world. Dreamy synths, heart-tugging lyrics, and that effortless cool they've mastered over the years set the tone perfectly.

Midland's signature blend of traditional country and their western identity shines throughout the record. Songs like One Day You Won't and Shooting Memories with Tequila feel right at home in a honky-tonk, before the album shifts into a more 70s-inspired groove with Walk a Mile.

Then comes my favourite track on the record, Glass Half Empty. Previously released as a standalone single, it somehow feels even stronger within the context of the album. It has all the makings of a live show moment - one of those songs that completely changes the atmosphere in a room. I'm already wondering how I can work it into a line dancing class.

Drinkin' Dark Whiskey was the final standalone release before the album arrived and perfectly set the stage for track nine, Drunk Enough. The song highlights everything Midland do best: traditional country storytelling, aching heartbreak, and lyrics so clever you'll want to sit in silence for a minute just to take them all in.

As I write this, I've listened to Drunk Enough three times in a row - and honestly, by the time this review goes live, that'll probably be closer to thirty. It's one of the most impressive non-single tracks I've heard on a country album in a long time. Mark Wystrach's vocals never miss, and this track is no exception.

Closing out the record is Vaquero. It subtly winds things down in tempo while still delivering the unmistakable Midland sound fans have been devouring for years.

Releasing a sixth studio album is a major achievement in itself. Releasing a fifth studio album that might just be your best work yet is something else entirely.

Stages proves Midland aren't just maintaining their place in country music - they're still finding new ways to raise the bar.

Stages by Midland is out now