Review: “Prove ’Em Wrong” by Midnight Smoke

Midnight Smoke is a Mayville-based band that infuses rock with various different styles, such as punk, blues, and alternative. Their debut album, Prove ’Em Wrong, dropped this summer, showing the world what they have to offer. 

Prove ’Em Wrong brings classic-rock vibes to the 21st century, but I think this album was a little too classic for me. Part of classic rock’s charm comes from the historical context it holds. For a modern, classic-rock-inspired album to impress me, it has to do something creative with the classic ideas of rock. This album didn’t do that. 

Track Review

This is a tough track review to write. For me, many of the songs are forgettable to the point that I don’t remember which one is which, even after listening to them multiple times.

The opening track, “Sunshine Girl,” is a good introduction to the rest of the album as it sets the stage for what’s to come. However, considering the rest of the album isn’t anything special, that’s not saying much. The ascending guitar progression at the end is cool, but it isn’t enough to make the song memorable. 

The only memorable song was the title track, “Prove ’Em Wrong,” and I really only remember its chorus. The backing voices give an anthemic vibe, which solidifies the album as a whole. Because it’s the title track, this song represents the overarching ideas presented in the album. 

Still, one song cannot save the whole album. Coming off of the opening track, I felt disappointed listening to “Down That Road,” which has uninspired lyrics. Songs like “At Least I Try” and “Where This Goes” don’t present any new ideas that would make them stand out from other rock songs. While this album had a few good aspects, most of it left me bored and uninterested. 

Verdict

While this album certainly wasn’t unpleasant to listen to, I wasn’t impressed by any of the songs or the album as a whole. The production was solid, but there was nothing special about this album that made it stand out from the rest. 

I do have to give props to the guitarist of Midnight Smoke, who showed some great talent and stuck out as a fun and interesting part of the album, especially during solos on songs like “Prove ’Em Wrong” and “With My Eyes.”

However, at the end of the day, this album was forgettable. On their Bandcamp page, Midnight Smoke say they’re bringing “a new and exciting take on the rock genre.” I would argue that this album doesn’t achieve anything new or exciting at all. 

If you feel like there simply isn’t enough classic rock music in this world, then you will love this album, especially if you enjoy a good guitar solo. But if you’re like me and you think the rock genre is plenty saturated at this point, this album isn’t really worth the listen.