The Sonic Ranch

Editors’ Notes Before Midland became a household name in country music, the Texas-based trio were just three friends writing music and playing small gigs for fun. The documentary Midland: The Sonic Ranch chronicles those early years, using footage from one of the band’s first recording sessions at the famed Texas studio. This accompanying soundtrack pulls together 12 songs from across the band’s career, including an alternate version of the Let It Roll track “Fourteen Gears” and unreleased fan favorites like “Texas Is the Last Stop” and “Champagne for the Pain.” Other gems include two versions of the band’s original tune “Cowgirl Blues,” the latter of which features guitarist Jess Carson on lead vocal. While The Sonic Ranch may lack the cohesion and road-tested chops of Midland’s two proper studio releases, it’s a fun and fascinating portrait of a young band just on the cusp of striking gold.