Sean McConnell - ‘Midland’ Album Review

Sean McConnell is an incredibly brilliant songwriter.   His songs ring true with real life.  It’s impossible to not relate to the situations he vividly describes.  He paints scenes with his lyrics that make you feel like you’re experiencing it.  His latest release ‘Midland’ was highly anticipated and was worth the wait.  

Every song on this album is crafted perfection.  There’s no way to choose a favorite.  The album starts with the title track “Midland.”  It describes the tragic life of a girl stuck in a small town.  Her life and surroundings are constant and things never change.  Days turn into years and time passes; this song is a perfect representation of the monotonous cycle of life in a small town.  I love that this is the title track of the album because it says a lot about the type of artist/songwriter McConnell is and the audience he writes for. 

“Save Our Soul” is about the need for a musical revival.  His soulful vocals accompany the powerful lyrics on this one to make it a strong delivery that sings to all that hope for the return of real music.

“Let Me Go” is heart wrenching from beginning to end.  The first line tells us how the song is going to conclude, yet every line following makes the song more and more compelling.  The ending of a relationship is difficult and finding a way to go about the break up is challenging.  After listening to this song, it makes you feel exactly like you do in the moment.  The play on words in this song describe how it is and the struggle in trying to find the words to say.  The bridge connects the song, ‘Could you just break this trap, unwrap me from your finger, the least that you can do is not let it linger.’  This is a call of desperation to hurry up and get the pain over with.  Ultimately, each line in this song delicately describes an emotional situation that we all face that never gets easier.

Next up, “Novocaine” is about the blissful stage in liking a person.  The comparison of a girl’s affection to Novocain is brilliant and edgy.  This girl takes his mind off worries and is essentially is his drug. 

“Kiss” is about a guy who is crazy over a girl and would do anything for her.  It starts off kind of circus sounding, which gives it an eerie yet cool vibe.  This is a sweet song because he is completely consumed by her, he’s basically as the song says, a puppet on a string and his salvation is ‘just one kiss’ from her.

“Suppertime” is about how time changes life as we know it.  When we’re young there’s no worries in the world.  As we grow older our lives become busier and more complicated.  This is unfortunate yet true; sometimes we just want to go back to the times where we were sitting around eating at the table.  In reality, life is a constant and we can of course not go back.  This song is reminiscing on the simple times in life of the past. 

“I Didn’t Want to Love You Anyway” rips at the heartstrings.  It describes about giving a relationship all you have and waiting for your feelings to reciprocate.  And when they never do, the disappointment is devastating.  The lyrics are powerful and the listener can hear the sincerity in McConnell’s vocal delivery.  The verbal irony in this song is mind blowingly good.  It’s hard to believe what the guy is saying, and it seems that he is struggling with believing what he is saying himself.  The bridge brings the song to another level of emotional. “I don’t need your sympathy, girl don’t act like you ruined me.  Don’t you dare speak my name when you pray.  I didn’t want to love you anyway.”  This song is an honest representation of this situation.

“Different Kind of Blue” is a tune about all of the good things in life, seeing beauty in the smallest things and making the most of each day.  It’s hard to listen to this one and not tap your toes.

“Lord It’s Gonna Rain” depicts a severe storm in an eerie way.  The details in the lyrics put you in the scene.  It’s terrifying to listen to the story of this storm destroying everything around. 

“Hungover You Tonight” is another brilliant example of play on words McConnell is so great at.  The type of hangover in this song is from knowing a relationship is going nowhere and the contemplation that happens as a result.  There is no hope for the situation even though there was an effort to make things work. 

“Old Brown Shoes” is about the sentimental emotions that result from a loved ones passing.  When someone dies it is always too soon.  There is never a day that goes by that the person does not cross your mind.  Coping is one of the hardest things to do; this song describes the way this person is dealing. 

Sean McConnell is a genius singer/songwriter and this project is incredible.  It’s one of the best this year and the songs will continue to resonate with many for a long long time.  The topics he writes and sings about are relevant as they relate to the greater human experience.  He is one of the best at what he does and “Midland” is the perfect representation of that.

Download 'Midland' on iTunes now:  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/midland/id577659438?uo=4