New Release: Middle-Aged Love by Sloan Brothers

Athens, GA artist Sloan Simpson, aka Sloan Brothers, has delivered another poppy, tongue-in-cheek joy of a recording. On the title track to his new release Middle-Aged Love, Sloan quips, “Middle-aged love decent credit scores / Middle-aged love go to a big box store / Middle-aged love meet me at the dog park.” He goes on with, “Is there a spark?” on this at once hilarious and and astute observation of being middle-aged in 2025.

Continuing with that theme is “Don’t Read the Comments,” a plea to his mate to ignore all the trappings of social media: “Someone you know just wrote ‘yikes’ / But compare that to the 43 likes / I’m a fool for you and I’m cool to you / They can disagree as is their right.” With former collaborator Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers adding value with guitar and more vocals, the song is a keeper.

Sloan addresses love through the lens of a Generation Xer, including the ups and downs of modern technology, keeping up with the Joneses, and how to acquire and maintain true love. On the album cover art, Jeff T. Owens has expertly showcased the symbiotic relationship between love and your middle-aged aching back (sometimes as painful as turning into a werewolf during a full moon). We’ve all been there, or are gonna be there. Matter of time. Sloan continues with stories of simple love with a visit to the “Big Box Store,” otherwise known as a “date” if you’re from that generation. Those of a certain age can recognize and appreciate the line, “We can have a date on Friday night / I know you like the downtown lights / But Sunday afternoon, a minivan, and you Is all I need to feel just right.”

Finishing out the EP is “In A Movie,” in which the listener may visualize John Cusack from the 1989 film Say Anything, “I’ll hold up a radio / Under your bedroom window / A guy did it in a movie once / To let someone know he cared.” John NeSmith provides additional vocals on “Movie” and Gonzalez is on lead guitar. Kevin Lane plays rhythm and Matt Lane bangs the drums, with Brandon Reynolds on the bass. Otherwise, the remaining tracks feature Sloan as a one man band for the most part, offering up lead and rhythm guitars, synths, bass guitar, and drum programming while doing all that singing.

Sloan can definitely satisfy that sweet tooth, so when you finally run out of Halloween candy, look no further than this record. Come on, buy Middle-Aged Love and taste the rainbow. For more information, visit Sloan Brothers on Bandcamp.

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