Justin Lamoureux and his folk orchestra unearth deep-rooted layers of sound and storytelling in Midwest Dilemma’s Searching for the Cure of Loneliness, transforming folk tradition into something modern and intimate. The band creates a piece that’s both expansive and personal, blending big sound with moments where the music falls away, leaving just Justin’s voice –spotlighting his vocal performance and the words he shares.
The album’s main theme explores the tension between comfort and adventure. Home is easy and cosy, yet it’s haunted by the knowledge that more awaits beyond it. Leaving everything behind is exciting and fills you with adrenaline, but the pull to return remains. What about the people you left? The memories you made? Midwest Dilemma plays with this concept, exploring both sides of the coin.
The track “The 49’r” explores themes of isolation, regret, and the emotional toll of a wandering life. A feeling of exhaustion unfolds in lines like, “when your wheels stop turning” both literally–when the journey ends–and figuratively, surrendering to the strain. While initially there was a need for freedom, it shifts to a need to face our choices and reflect on whether we made the right one. It asks what the emotional costs are for this kind of lifestyle.
“Dreaming of the Coast” features the same feelings of wanting to flee but this time with a companion who’s short on time. Together, they dream of a place they may never reach, with both physical and emotional challenges standing against them. An unspoken fear burdens both of them though they try to hide it from each other. It’s a song that captures the desperation of love and the fight you’ll put in to keep it. Justin’s lyrics create vivid scenes containing themes of yearning, doubt, and regret. They bring you along for the ride.
There’s a tactile quality to the instrumentation, as if each string pluck or bow sweep is a heartbeat on the road, placing listeners in the moment. The emotional backbone of the album comes from the songwriting, each line and note written with authenticity. Writing on such heavy topics often risks sounding contrived, but Justin and his Midwest Dilemma orchestra deliver with sincerity—their hearts are right there with you. Searching for the Cure for Loneliness leaves us with a sense that the journey isn’t over yet. With so much still to explore, maybe we don’t know all the answers yet. The question of whether it’s better to stay home or hit the road is unanswerable–it’s up to you.
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