Anyone who thinks the phrase “it’s all been done before” carries real weight clearly has yet to encounter Fair to Midland. Dark, heavy, moving, cryptic, progressive art rock collides with flourishes of old-school country, Americana and Delta Blues in their sound. These Lonestar boys' genre-defying and boundary obliterating ocean of sound righteously upends the old phrase “fair to middling” from which their Texas-ified moniker was drawn.
Arrows & Anchors, the five-piece band’s first album in partnership with eOne Music, is meaner, sadder and altogether more desperate of an affair than its predecessors. “It’s a very bitter album,” offers vocalist Darroh Sudderth. “The last album had some light at the end of the tunnel in some of the subject matter. This one doesn’t have that quite so much.”
This particularly invigorating yet undeniably gut-wrenching collection of songs is the product of a string of years of career strife since the group last poked their head into magazines and record shops. Arrows and Anchors follows a change in record label, a change in management and one (“maybe two,” Sudderth laughs) changes in booking agent. All of that change and upheaval definitely played a role in the creative process; artistic lemonade from business lemons.
There has never been a lack of faith from the diehard admirers who have steadily adopted the band as their own in growing numbers since Fair to Midland’s initial pair of self-released albums, The Carbon Copy Silver Lining (2001) and inter.funda.stifle (2004). Both were explorations into the furthest reaches of the musical psyche that earned them praise from critics, fans and fellow musicians. Fair to Midland are a true “band’s band.”
So much so, in fact, that eclectic musical connoisseur and multiplatinum recording artist Serj Tankian, best known as the frontman for System of a Down, signed them to his Serjikal Strike imprint, which released The Drawn & Quartered EP (2006) and the band’s third full-length album, Fables From a Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True (2007).
A killer live show and intensive roadwork as a headliner, at prestigious festivals such as Coachella, Download, Rock AM Ring and Rock IM Ring and together with bands like Alice in Chains, Smashing Pumpkins, Flyleaf and Dir en Grey has brought the band’s skillful and adept approach to art rock infused prog-metal to international attention.
There are a few of their by now trademarked tongue-in-cheek dalliances to be sure but for the most part Arrows and Anchors is Fair to Midland’s most cynical offering. By the same turn, it’s a performance album with a laser-like focus on the raw passion and intensity. In an age of overly processed heavy music, the band partnered with producer Joe Barresi (Queens of the Stone Age, Coheed and Cambria, Melvins) who sequestered them into his self-appointed House of Compression in Pasadena, California and wrenched out top-tier performances.
The recording captures an authenticity and a sincerity that’s lacking in most modern records. “We always want to work with someone who is interested and enthusiastic to work with us,” Sudderth explains. “Because at the end of the day they’re going to spend that much more time wanting to make the record their own, as well. We didn’t want to worry about everything being immaculate, pristine and polished. This is absolutely a performance-driven record.”
Arrows & Anchors is also a testament to Fair to Midland’s personal chemistry and unique collaborative perspective. Some songs were written together. Others were demoed out by a particular member – say keyboardist Matt Langley or his six string cohort, Cliff Campbell – right down to the programmed drums. “Or maybe I brought a completed song where I programmed whatever instruments I can’t play,” Sudderth elaborates. It was a very open process.
The bizarrely creative and inspired vocals and guitar work in Fair to Midland play against the counterintuitive and monstrously rhythmic backbeat of drummer Brett Stowers and bassist Jon Dicken. Matt Langley’s ethereal electronics enhance everything else. The group’s canvas is as expansive and breathtaking as the state of Texas itself.
Fair to Midland is one of the rare bands who expertly walk the fine line between accessibility and integrity, between open lines of communication and introverted psychic exploration. “We’re not gifted songwriters,” Sudderth says with genuine self-effacing humility. “So we have to be really resourceful and that’s a talent in and of itself. We do our best.”
Fair to Midland's current lineup consists of Darroh Sudderth (vocals, banjo, mandolin, bass), Cliff Campbell (guitar), Matt Langley (keys), Ryan Collier (bass), and Logan Kennedy (drums).
In November 2011, the band released their first DVD, Welcome to the Dirt, consisting mainly of band shots and fan footage of live shows. The DVD is distributed exclusively through their own merchandise site. The profit from this release helped fund a professional video recording of the band's show at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan on December 17. This footage will be released worldwide on DVD on March 27, 2012. Arrows & Anchors will was released on double vinyl on March 26, limited to 250 copies.
Say When
Fair to Midland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't keep from dragging his feet and when he tries,
I try,
They twist his arms to get a head start,
Tycoons love hitting the jackpot,
To get back what they've lost,
He'd have to raise the bar,
The desert heat left us all in the dark,
They buried the sun so I carried the torch,
Head over heels with eyes on the prize,
I settled for less and it's more than enough,
Just say when,
Truth be told,
I'd rather be sold than juggle stepping stones,
But when he tries,
I try,
They all take part to get a head start,
Big wigs love hitting the jackpot,
Taking all the cheap shots,
The referee was wrong,
The way they left us all in the dark,
They buried the sun so I carried the torch,
The way they left their eyes on the prize,
I've settled for less and it's more than enough,
Just say when.
The way they left us all in the dark,
Head over heels, but it's never enough,
Just say when.
The lyrics to Fair to Midland's "Say When" are quite cryptic, and lend themselves to multiple interpretations. One possible interpretation is that the song is about someone who is struggling to keep up with the demands of a ruthless, cutthroat world. The "sideways man" might represent someone who is struggling to adapt to the harsh realities of the world, constantly dragging his feet as he tries to keep up. Meanwhile, the "tycoons" are depicted as being ruthless, willing to twist arms and take cheap shots to get ahead. The singer seems to be sympathetic to the sideways man, but also somewhat resigned to the unfairness of it all. The repeated line "just say when" might be a plea for someone to step in and put an end to the madness.
Another possible interpretation is that the song is about the compromises we make in life. The "head over heels with eyes on the prize" line suggests that the singer has been pursuing a goal with single-minded determination, but has ultimately settled for less than what they had hoped for. The repeated line "just say when" could be a way of acknowledging that the singer has made peace with their situation, and is now content with what they have.
Overall, "Say When" is a thought-provoking song that invites listeners to reflect on the complexities of life.
Line by Line Meaning
The sideways man walks on his hands
A man with an unconventional way of getting around
Can't keep from dragging his feet
Despite his unique approach, he still struggles
And when he tries
I try
Empathy for someone going through a difficult time
They twist his arms to get a head start
People will do whatever it takes to stay ahead
Tycoons love hitting the jackpot
Successful people enjoy their wealth and success
To get back what they've lost
He'd have to raise the bar
The stakes are high and it takes a lot to recover from failure
The desert heat left us all in the dark
A difficult situation that left everyone confused and uncertain
Buried the sun so I carried the torch
Taking on the responsibility of leading others through hard times
Head over heels with eyes on the prize
I settled for less and it's more than enough
Initially ambitious, but ultimately content with less
Just say when
Indicating a willingness to stop or change direction
Truth be told, I'd rather be sold
Than juggle stepping stones
Rather take an easier but less fulfilling path than struggle to achieve greatness
They all take part to get a head start
Everyone is competing for success
Big whigs love hitting the jackpot
Successful people enjoy their wealth and success
He's taking all the cheap shots
The referee was wrong
Feeling unfairly targeted and unsupported
The way they left us all in the dark
They buried the sun so I carried the torch
The way they left our eyes on the prize
I've settled for less and it's more than enough
Just say when
Despite setbacks, finding contentment with one's current situation
The way they left us all in the dark
Head over heels just say enough
Just say when
Expressing a desire to move on from a difficult situation
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, TuneCore Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SUDDERTH, BRETT STOWERS, CLIFFORD CAMPBELL, JOHN MATTHEW LANGLEY, JON DICKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind