Rich(ard) Dawson – End Of The Middle

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Today I am excited to be sharing my review of “End Of The Middle” by Richard Dawson.

Rich(ard) Dawson – End Of The Middle Album Review

In this review, I delve into my favourite parts of this album. For me personally, I really enjoy it for multiple reasons; it’s tone, sound as well as musicianship. That may encompass everything on the album, yes, but individually I think they are all so different in so many ways.

For example, Richard has a tone that I think most people don’t. He is creative, inspired and always tries to sound like himself, which seems to me, effortlessly. This brutal honesty, perhaps? really works well on this album, because of it’s homely feel. Like on songs like Gondola – referencing TV shows! A Place In The Sun, Cash In The Attic… genius.

As well as this, we find humourous lyrics, that aren’t ment to be. For example? Bolt. “Dad’s in the bathtub, singing”. Things like that make this album feel so real. More than real. Just like the song “More than real”, where it describes such incredible, unfathomable things, that apply not only to family situations (or more generations, to be correct while regarding this album), but to modern life, in most, if not all situations.

I think what really impacts me regarding Dawson, is his openness. His ability to make difficult experiences (e.g. Bullies, The question), into beautiful, meaningful aspects of life to be embraced – like on Bullies – a bullied kid grows up to have a kid who gets involves in scraps. The final lyric? “I know you have, a good heart”. Woah. What an impactful statement. Rich is a master of not only the language, but also the sound of this magnificent, imperfect, homely, sad, happy, moody, optimistic album. It’s a lot. I hope you like it.

Check his music out live when he comes to Ireland! (link down below, as of November 2025)