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May 01, 2018 Issue #63 - Courtney Barnett By Max Freedman

Australian rock trio Middle Kids has serious promise to live up to. The two best songs on Its self-titled 2017 EP, “Edge of Town” and “Never Start,” offered surprisingly idiosyncratic, energetic takes on alt-country, indie rock, and pop. These songs remain just as exciting in their appearances on the band’s debut album Lost Friends, but their immediacy on the LP is, unfortunately, the result of some sameness among the newer songs.

To be certain, plenty of Lost Friends tracks loudly testify to the charm that earned Middle Kids a record deal in the first place. Opener “Bought It,” with its unusual blend of solemn alt-rock and rustic harmonies, is likely to intrigue any first time Middle Kids listener. Lead single “Mistake” comes armed with an empowering chorus that resembles Fleetwood Mac on arena rock, and that’s before overdriven guitars cut in like a scalpel to really nail the arena rock vibe. Deep cut “Don’t Be Hiding” gently saddles a stirring line between country and indie pop.

More often, though, Lost Friends lacks the risk of “Edge of Town” and “Never Start.” To be certain, though, Middle Kids’ natural songwriting talents still rear their heads; isolating any one song on Lost Friends reaps solid rewards. The title track is an incredibly heartbreaking, hardened ballad that, sadly, gets lost in the album’s dizzying flow. “On My Knees” is just as unlikely to stand out on a standard Lost Friends run-through, but on its own, its chorus pierces and its verses’ double-time feel rattles. Middle Kids’ spark is certainly present throughout Lost Friends, but it can take a blade as sharp as the tempo changes on “Edge of Town” or the upsurge that marks the chorus of “Never Start” to find it. (www.middlekidsmusic.com)

Author rating: 6/10