Middle America (song)

"Middle America" is a song by American rock band Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. It is the fifth track and first single from their seventh studio album, Sparkle Hard, and was released as a digital single on February 7, 2018 by Matador Records and Domino Records.[1]

"Middle America"
Single by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
from the album Sparkle Hard
ReleasedFebruary 7, 2018
Length3:31
Label
Songwriter(s)Stephen Malkmus
Producer(s)Chris Funk
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks singles chronology
"Middle America"
(2018)		 "Shiggy"
(2018)

Composition and lyrics

Described as an "ode to underdogs everywhere",[2] the song features lyrics concerning the passage of time and aging contrasted with smaller concepts of getting "shitfaced" and blushing the color of Robitussin.[3] The song also features the lyric "Men are scum, I won’t deny", which has been interpreted as a reference to the #MeToo movement.[4][5] Writing for Paste Magazine, Scott Russell compared the song's folksy, sunny sound and existential lyrics to that of "Range Life" by Pavement.[6]

In an interview with Stereogum, Malkmus explained the song's title: "I have no judgments on middle America. That was a working title, I just kinda kept it." Stereogum interpreted the title and the song itself as engaging with the "ennui of the flyover states."[7]

Music video

A music video for an acoustic version of the song was released on March 7, 2018. Directed by Brook Linder, it consists solely of Stephen Malkmus sitting in an alcove in front of a windowpane and surrounded by houseplants, strumming an acoustic guitar and singing. The video's simplicity was praised by Pitchfork, who included it in their list of best music videos of March 2018.[8]

Critical reception

Pitchfork praised "Middle America" and awarded it Best New Track upon its release. Sasha Geffen stated: "Malkmus and the Jicks' new song, “Middle America,” fully exploits their frontman's ability to hook his voice around an irresistible melody, then another, then another. Any of the vocal bars from “Middle America” could be another song's sole refrain, but Malkmus links them all together like he’ll never have to worry about running out of catchy moments—like he produces them effortlessly, in abundance."[9]

Jon Dolan of Rolling Stone called the song the "sweetest moment" of Sparkle Hard, writing, "It’s Malkmus at his most straightforwardly graceful, strumming a folkie melody like a guy in his backyard figuring life out at his own easeful pace, balancing everyday worry (“time gets me and I wonder how to simplify”) with goofy sweet nothings (“kiss yourself metaphorically”), capping it off with a aphoristic #metoo toast: “Men are scum, I can’t deny/May you be shitfaced the day you die.” Words to live by for sure."[10]

Writing for The Guardian, Dave Simpson called the song one of Malkmus' "sweetest melodies".[11]

Year-end lists
Publication Rank List
The Line of Best Fit 44 The Fifty Best Songs of 2018[12]
Pitchfork 24 The 100 Best Songs of 2018[13]
Rolling Stone 7 Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2018[14]

References
  1. Leight, Elias (February 7, 2018). "Hear Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' Upbeat New Song 'Middle America'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  2. Schatz, Lake (February 7, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks reveal "Middle America", first single in four years: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  3. "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks share new song 'Middle America'". Domino Records. February 7, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  4. Wood, Mikael (May 24, 2018). "How to get Stephen Malkmus to open up about life and his new album? Take him to a Lakers game". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  5. Yeh, James (May 9, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus, the Dad of Indie Rock". GQ. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  6. Russell, Scott (February 7, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Share Sunny New Single, "Middle America"". Paste. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  7. Tedder, Michael (May 15, 2018). "Holding Court With Stephen Malkmus". Stereogum. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  8. Dombal, Ryan (April 4, 2018). "The 7 Best Videos of March 2018". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  9. Geffen, Sasha (February 8, 2018). ""Middle America" by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  10. Dolan, Jon (May 17, 2018). "Review: Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks' 'Sparkle Hard' Is Full of Golden Guitars and Warm Vibes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  11. Simpson, Dave (May 18, 2018). "Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks: Sparkle Hard review – fuzzy logic and killer tunes". The Guardian. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
  12. Coney, Brian (December 10, 2018). "The Fifty Best Songs of 2018". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  13. "The 100 Best Songs of 2018". Pitchfork. December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  14. Sheffield, Rob (December 20, 2018). "Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2018". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
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