The Singles Jukebox

Make a little bit, make a little bit of Texas for you…

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[5.67]

Anthony Easton: One of the best things about Midland is that they are deeply artificial, with a literal soap opera past, arrivistes in Austin, who play Texan country as good or better than the people who were born there. Part of the excellence, is a refusal to believe recent conventional wisdom about the split between Nashville and Austin–that Nashville is showier, or cares more about slick production, or even stage craft. All those kids in Austin who think they want to be the sons of “Willie, Waylon or the boys” forget how excessive the stage craft was, or how charismatic they were as performers, or even how slick the production could turn.  This is game playing, but it knows the rules, a winking, well studied, historically minded, pastiche of a genre’s history that adores pastiche, well constructed performance, and a genuine sentiment riding an ironic wit. I love the idea that playing the game well can be as good for country music, and the open recognition that is an active game. Plus, the outfits kill. 
[7]

Alfred Soto: Several years ago, Brad Paisley commemorated Alabama in song. Midland wants to be Alabama.
[4]

Edward Okulicz: The “are they authentic?” debate passed me by, and is beside the point, because whatever you can say, the big grins on their faces and their expertly-crafted songs (with the best help money can buy, of course) are real enough for me. The verses are loaded with hooks and harmonies and the chorus is an empty feelgood expanse of meaninglessness that just happens to feel really really good. Whatever the machinations, it’s a simple pop song to be happy to. Like you’re going to begrudge me a factory-produced bottle of wine or a block of chocolate while you’re at it?
[7]

Ramzi Awn: Straight out of a country music television series, “Make a Little” lives up to its promise of being the perfect cameo, except the chorus falls far short of its fun-loving verses. In the end, Midland might as well have recorded a song for an iPhone camera commercial.
[4]

Ryo Miyauchi: Midland never runs out of cheesy catchphrases to go around actually saying whatever they want to say. My favorite out of them all is “dixieland delight,” which sums up the music as well as their happy-go-lucky attitude: it’s so squeaky clean and cheerful, the band sounds a little out of touch from the now.
[6]

Thomas Inskeep: No, it’s not as good as “Drinkin’ Problem,” but it’s still got a highly pleasurable ’80s/’90s country vibe, a little Ricky Skaggs mixed with some Little Texas, and maybe even a bit of John Michael Montgomery at his most ornery. And it sounds damned good on the radio.
[6]