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.
The Wife The Kids and The White Picket Fence
Fair to Midland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had the ways and means to breach,
The borders of easy street,
And to blend right in,
We all surrounded them in a white picket fence,
Now both ends meet,
So I wait,
For the tug-of-war and who you'll pull for,
While between you and me from point A to point be is a fine line,
That burns at both our good ends,
Two peas in a pod, a battle axe, and a bastard child,
Took one step more and went straight to the source,
And to blend right in,
They opened fire with their rain checks spent to make ends meet,
Sufficed to say there's a time and a place,
So I wait,
For the tug-of-war and who you'll pull for,
While between you and me from point A to point be is a fine line,
That burns at both our good ends,
Go on, paint the whole town red,
I'd rather follow who cleans up the mess,
And so I wait,
Sufficed to say there's a time and a place,
So I wait,
For the tug-of-war and who you'll pull for,
While between you and me from point A to point be is a fine line,
That burns at both our good ends.
The lyrics to Fair to Midland's song "The Wife The Kids and The White Picket Fence" explore the complexities of societal norms and expectations surrounding relationships and family life. The song begins by referencing traditional notions of success and happiness, with lines like "Mail order brides, turtlenecks, and trophy wives had the ways and means to breach the borders of easy street, and to blend right in." These lyrics seem to suggest that there is a prescribed path to contentment that involves material success and a certain level of conformity. The "white picket fence" symbolizes the ideal of a wholesome, happy family life.
However, the song's narrator is more contemplative about this notion, acknowledging that "both ends meet," but that there is a "fine line" that divides different perspectives. The lyrics allude to the tension that exists between individual desires and societal expectations, suggesting that conforming to the latter can often mean sacrificing the former. As the song progresses, the singer seems to recognize that there is no easy solution to these conflicts. They wait for the "tug-of-war" between different perspectives, acknowledging that there is a "time and a place" for each point of view.
The lyrics to Fair to Midland's "The Wife The Kids and The White Picket Fence" demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the complexities of relationships and family life. By exploring the tension between individual desires and societal expectations, the song highlights the importance of navigating these conflicts with empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Mail order brides, turtlenecks, and trophy wives,
Women of different backgrounds and aspirations have found ways to infiltrate the upper-class society and be surrounded by luxuries.
Had the ways and means to breach,
They have the resources and cleverness to break through social boundaries.
The borders of easy street,
Refers to the privileged lifestyle of the wealthy and well-off.
And to blend right in,
They have mastered the art of fitting in with the affluent class.
We all surrounded them in a white picket fence,
Society has accepted them and created a idyllic image of their lives.
Now both ends meet,
The two different worlds are now synchronized and functioning together.
Sufficed to say there's a time and a place,
There are specific instances suitable for actions to be taken.
So I wait,
The artist is patient and observant.
For the tug-of-war and who you'll pull for,
The competition and opposing forces in the situation will determine who will emerge victorious.
While between you and me from point A to point be is a fine line,
There is a delicate balance between success and failure.
That burns at both our good ends,
Both parties will experience the repercussions of the situation.
Two peas in a pod, a battle axe, and a bastard child,
People of different backgrounds have come together to confront the issue at hand.
Took one step more and went straight to the source,
They are determined to address the root of the problem.
They opened fire with their rain checks spent to make ends meet,
They launched an attack using their limited resources.
Go on, paint the whole town red,
You can cause commotion and excitement if you want, but I'll remain neutral.
I'd rather follow who cleans up the mess,
The artist prefers to support those who are assigned to restore order and fix the issues.
And so I wait,
The artist is still patiently and attentively waiting for the resolution.
Sufficed to say there's a time and a place,
Reiterates that there are situational protocols that must be followed.
For the tug-of-war and who you'll pull for,
The battle continues and the outcome is still uncertain.
While between you and me from point A to point be is a fine line,
The situation still hangs in the balance and can easily go one way or the other.
That burns at both our good ends.
The dire situation will impact both parties negatively regardless of the outcome.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SUDDERTH, BRETT STOWERS, CLIFFORD CAMPBELL, JOHN MATTHEW LANGLEY, JON DICKEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fuzia
Sadly this band has gone through some rough times. Major debts, no publicity (Even despite being labeled by Serj Tankian himself), bus tour crashes etcetc. It's really unfortunate, 'cause they're actually really fucking amazing.
J Freed
One of the best bands ever...lyrical genius, amazing voice and fantastic musicians. Please come back !
Tyler Menon
"For the tug of war, and who you'll pull for." That part gives me chills. He sings it incredibly.
Margaret Armstrong
This is my all time favorite song
Creed Bratton
The world is not fair. Fantastic voice, fantastic lyrics, really good song arrangements. What more do people want. Why isn't this band famous at all? This is bullshit.
Māl Akāi
Four years later and I just discovered them. I only found this band through Rishloo, another similar extremely underrated band that sadly also fizzled out. This world is not fair.
DevilzDance81
The masses can’t handle this type of genius and creativity in their music. Most listen for random noise in the background while they drive and not for musicianship or lyricism
progdog
this comment is 3 years old but man i feel this so hard. it depresses me so much that these guys didn't get the recognition they deserved. i can only hope one day soon we hear back from them but i won't hold my breath. this is easily one of my favorite songs of all time, regardless of band. im just so bummed about these guys.
Zenz0ha
I've been listening to Fair to Midland for ten years. I lived and breathed this album while working, and I still have not gotten sick of it. The fact that they hadn't been given the love they so very much deserved sickens me. It's just frightening to know that hardly anyone appreciates true talent anymore. I love Dubstep and Electronic, but I couldn't live without bands like Fair to Midland..
Ryan Forsyth
This has to be one of their all time best song for me Remember the first time back in 2007 when I first heard this band and loved it instantly