The Sonic Ranch

by Midland

Overview

Sonic Ranch is a studio out in El Paso, Texas, a place where Midland hunkered down for a spell in 2014 as they tried to find their voice as a band. Come 2021, the group decided to release documentation of these early sessions as The Sonic Ranch, a relatively brief film accompanied by an album of the same name. Midland's subsequent success creates some interest in The Sonic Ranch in perspective, as it's possible to hear hints of the neon-lit barroom country the trio essayed on 2017's On the Rocks and 2019's Let It Roll. As its own entity, though, it's a bit threadbare, the sound of a trio figuring out their strengths and weaknesses. The retro sheen of producers Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne, and Dann Huff is missed -- part of the charm of Midland is their vintage vibe -- as are the sharply articulated melodies. Without these elements of the equation, Midland sound pleasant enough as they amble through memories of Texas troubadours past, yet the lack of defined songs and persona means that The Sonic Ranch just kinds of drifts past like a tumbleweed on the breeze. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	04/16/2021
Label:	Big Machine Records
UPC:	0843930062652
Rank:	191951

Tracks

1. Fourteen Gears [Adobe House Version]
2. Cowgirl Blues [Mark Wystrach Vocal]
3. Worn Out Boots
4. Champagne for the Pain
5. Will This Life Be as Grand
6. Fool¿¿¿s Luck
7. Whiskey
8. She¿¿¿s a Cowgirl
9. Runnin¿¿¿ Wild
10. Texas Is the Last Stop
11. Cowgirl Blues [Jess Carson Vocal]
12. This Town

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Midland   Primary Artist
Kitty Harloe   Vocals (Background),Percussion
David Garza   Guitar (12 String Acoustic),Drums,Organ,Piano,Percussion,Slide Guitar,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Nylon String)
Elijah Ford   Vocals (Background)
J.J. Johnson   Drums,Maracas
Cameron Duddy   Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Russ Patterson   Drums
Emily Booher   Cello
Mark Wystrach   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic)
Jess Carson   Vocals,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric),Vocals (Background),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Luke Cutchen   Guitar (Electric)
Bill Ratcliffe   Dobro,Pedal Steel
Bruno Lauretano   Double Bass,Bass (Upright)
Emily Hardtke   Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Ethan Kennedy   Guitar (Electric)
Gabriel Gonzalez   Pedal Steel
Hope Wright   Vocals (Background)
Jim Ward   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Nathan Dantzler   Mastering Engineer
Brad Bell   Engineer,Recording
Janice Soled   Production Coordination
Chris Rowe   Mixing
Doug Rich   Production Coordination
Lars Fox   Mixing,Editing
David Garza   Composer,Producer
Zach Mauldin   Engineer,Recording
Mark Wystrach   Composer
Jess Carson   Composer
Manuel Calderon   Engineer,Recording
Hallie Melton   Mastering Engineer