The Midway State’s playlist

The Midway State isn’t scared of the pesky curse known as the sophomore slump. In fact, they’re howling in its face.

The foursome feels great about Paris Or India, the followup to their debut album, Holes.

“We’re very confident about it,” drummer Daenen Bramberger said three months before the album was released.

The Midway State has a lot to feel proud about too. Paris Or India is not exactly the album of the year, but it is a milestone when it comes to the band’s musical career.

These boys of Collingwood, Ontario have evolved and all the proof you need is in the music. The lead single “Atlantic” is a solid indication of their growth and maturity.

The Midway State’s desire to join the ranks of Canadian rock royalty has never been more evident. Of course the band needs to push their boundaries a tad further and not rely on their obvious influences as much, but they’re definitely trucking down the right road.

The group also experienced an internal progression. Unlike their debut, Paris Or India is a collective collaboration and not entirely the Nathan Ferraro Show. The frontman shared the creative duties and the outcome is obviously a positive one that will only reinforce their longevity.

Without shaking their new found unity, it’s time to momentarily single out a band member.

“So you wanna know what Daenen from The Midway State is listening to?” the drummer asks pulling his iPhone from his pocket. “Lets go.”

The Stand – Mother Mother

“Bright, really clever lyrics. Mother Mother is a really cool band. I really like them.”

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Lotus Flower – Radiohead

“I like ‘Lotus Flower’ because of the video. Gotta love that music video. Thom Yorke really sold that one. I’ve got the album, King of Limbs, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. They’re great, but I think I like the second half of the record more than the first.”

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I Am Trying To Break Your Heart – Wilco

“Love Wilco, always will love Wilco. This is the first track on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and it’s a great album opener.”

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John Wayne Gacy Jr. – Sufjan Stevens

“I just just discovered Sufjan, believe it or not. I really love his record Illinois and the song ‘John Wayne Gacy Jr.’ Really creepy. Kinda cool. Kinda freaky.”

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Bang Bang Bang (featuring Q-Tip and MNDR) – Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.

“Really good beats. Really cool production. Killer good jam.”

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The Midway State’s sophomore album, Paris Or India, is available now.

Posted by Marc Andrew on Aug 11 2011. Filed under Celebrity Playlist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.