“The Great American Midrange” by The Elms (Rambling Ever On Revisits)
Editor’s Note: This review was originally written and published in 2009, shortly after the release of “The Great American Midrange” by The Elms. The review has been modified slightly but essentially remains the same. We are publishing it for the first time on Rambling Ever On because we believe in shining on light on things that are good and true and worthy of praise. And yes, that includes rock and roll albums. Enjoy this review and thanks for reading!
The Elms presents The Great American Midrange
2006 was an important year for The Elms: After four years of touring and maturing as musicians, they released their critically acclaimed third album, The Chess Hotel. In their words, it was “loose”. Check. And “loud”. Big check. In other words: It was no frills rock and roll and not for the faint of heart or anyone with an affinity for the pop stylings found on most hit radio stations. And even though it wouldn’t find a home on most radios, it was welcomed with open arms by those who appreciate no-holds-barred, kick-your-teeth-in, make-you-want-to-punch-something, ROCK AND ROLL.
But as they say, that was then. In 2009, The Elms released their fourth album and final album, The Great American Midrange, and while it is cut from the same cloth as The Chess Hotel, the melodic sensibilities that guided them on their second album, Truth, Soul, Rock and Roll, shine through as well. The band has never sounded more comfortable, alternating between blistering bar room bravado, and delicate, earnest ballads. Songwriter and lead singer Owen Thomas once again digs into the ideas that formed the thematic backbone of The Chess Hotel and finds new faces and places to bring into the light.
The Elms present a vibe that is absolutely small-town U.S.A. and every song, in one way or another, paints a portrait of the good and bad that most Americans fully understand. It’s happy, sad, angry, lonely, but most of all, hopeful. But hope isn’t easy, and the band is quick to point out that whatever hope there is, it’s a fragile thing, ready to collapse if not held on to with all our might. The great thing about The Great American Midrange is that most people won’t even notice the little truth bombs that are planted all over the album, they will just enjoy the great music.
And the band provides plenty of that with in-your-face rockers like the brash and catchy opener, “Strut”, and the toe tapping number “The Shake”, which transports you to some dirty roadhouse in the rough part of town. There are plenty of melodic rockers that are instantly accessible. I dare you to not hum along with tracks like the country rock-tinged “County Fair”, or the fervent “Back to Indiana”. The band even shows they have the ability to slow things down and take the music to a very personal and intimate place with the songs “The Wildest Heart” and the heartbreaking “The Little Ways”.
The second half of the album is stronger than the first, with the epic “This is How the World Will End”, the upbeat and defiant “Thunderhead”, and the subdued and bluesy closer “A Place in the Sun”. The only song that didn’t work for me was “The Good Guys”, and the intervening years hasn’t really changed my initial response.
The band gives everything they have on every song. Each member handles their respective duties. They are greater than the sum of their parts, yet their parts are incredible. Drummer Chris Thomas plays with intensity and passion, pounding out the rhythmic backbone like a man on a mission. Nathan Bennett’s bass playing perfectly complements that sound, and acts as a stabilizing force for the album, and when he needs to shine, he does.
Thom Daughtery, who is one of the best guitarists that I have heard, tackles each track like a new problem to solve. Each song has a different sound, and he shows an impressive range in playing styles. Owen’s vocals sound good regardless of what style he is singing, whether it be aggressive rock and roll or a stripped-down ballad. He brings grit and an edge to a song if it is warranted, but he can smooth things out with a clear falsetto when something more contemplative is called for.
For some that won’t be enough since The Elms doesn’t really break any new ground. If you are familiar with their style and the kind of music they craft then you have a good idea how this album will sound. Perhaps that is a negative. I’m not so sure. I won’t penalize them for doing what they do best. They stretch themselves as musicians on each album and they create music that is fun to listen to yet still leaves you with a better perspective of the world. They borrow from a variety of influences, but they make the music their own, with their unique style and interpretation.
Long live The Elms! Love live Rock and Roll!
The Elms called it quits nearly 15 years ago after a 4-album run. I consider 3 of those albums personal favorites. The Elms never got the acclaim they deserved. They were a hard-working band who hustled and toured relentlessly, entertaining audiences all over the country. They made music that was accessible yet never pandering. And they worked in a sonic landscape that seems to have been all but abandoned in 2025, and that makes me sad. Maybe this article will encourage even just one person to discover this great band.
And if you are like me and you miss real, down to earth, rock bands, then look no further. The Elms are what you were missing all along.
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