They Left Me with the Sword

Paris Texas is one of those groups that thrives in chaos. Their sound is loud, messy, sometimes all over the place, but it works because they make it feel effortless. When MID AIR dropped last year, it felt like they’d finally cracked the code—grimy, high-energy production mixed with a punky, IDGAF attitude that somehow still came across as polished. It had a rawness that didn’t feel unfinished, just intentionally reckless.

So when they announced They Left Me with the Sword, I was hyped. But after a few listens, I gotta be real—it feels like they rushed this one. It’s still very Paris Texas, meaning there’s a lot of fun to be had here, but it also feels more like a collection of leftovers than a fully realized project. Some tracks bang, some tracks drag, and two interludes on a sub-20-minute EP? Yeah, probably could’ve done without those.

That said, I don’t hate this record. Tracks like Dogma 25 and Tantrum go hard in that grimy, distorted way Paris Texas does best. The production is still crisp, the energy is still there, but overall, it lacks the cohesion and sense of purpose MID AIR had. A few songs feel like they could’ve been cut, and while nothing here is bad, not much feels essential either.

Bottom line: If you liked MID AIR, you’ll probably have fun with this. If you didn’t, this won’t change your mind. It’s cool, but not mind-blowing.

PARIS TEXAS - THEY LEFT ME WITH THE SWORD
RATING - 7.8/10

FAVORITE TRACKS - Dogma 25, Tantrum

GENRE - Rap, Hip-Hop, Alt/Indie, Rock