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Avg: 4.0 (409 ratings)
- Date Released: July 25, 2006
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Indie Rock
- Label: Bella Union / World's Fair
Texans uproot their synth-heavy psychedelia.
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We Say...
Put it down to a delayed reaction to their days in the Stevie Wonder-influenced funk band the, erm, Cornbread All Stars, but Midlake’s second album sees the Texan quintet opt for an altogether more fantastical terrain.
Gone is the synth-heavy psychedelia of their 2004 debut Bamnan and Silvercork — instead we get elegiac laments to giants who walked the earth three hundred years ago (“We Gathered in Spring”), the urge to be ransacked by Zapata moustache-sporting "Bandits" (“Did you ever want to be over-run by bandits/ To hand over all your things and start over new?”) and ruminations on the lives of eighteenth century stonecutters (imperious opener "Roscoe"). At its heart is the tale of Van Occupanther himself, aching for human contact yet determined “not to be too consumed with this world.”
Whilst Tim Smith’s dissatisfaction with the modern world will strike a chord with those who like their songsmiths dark and brooding — he’s gone on record as saying he’s more interested in Renaisance art than MTV — it’s the galloping tunes of songs like “Head Home” (think Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac) which make you feel like jacking in your job and heading for the sunrise.
“I spend a lot of my time worrying about the state of the world,” said Smith recently. “It seems we’ve lost sight of the idea of learning a craft and being happy with it. I just wish there was a little more humility in the world.”
Not waving but drowning? Midlake is the perfect place to do it. -
They Say...
Midlake's second album is a departure from their lo-fi, psychedelic pop-influenced debut. The Trials of Van Occupanther jumps with both feet into the '70s of Laurel Canyon troubadours and soft rock balladeers. It jumps like Bob Beamon right past any other current bands treading similar ground and jumps back into time, becoming one of the best examples of the sound and style you'll ever hear, date of release notwithstanding. The first thing you notice on the album is the stunning vocal harmonies; you might think you dropped in an America disc by mistake. (The best record America ever did, that is.) Tim Smith has the kind of voice you know could be a glass-shattering instrument on par with that of Buckley or Wainwright, but he keeps it dialed down to an intimate scale, which is a wise decision. His vocals bleed melancholy honesty, and the way it combines with Eric Pulido's voice will raise goose bumps. The arrangements provide a perfect bed for the vocals, with cottony layers of acoustic guitars and strings, gentle horns, restrained drums, and lyrical piano combining beautifully. The occasional surprises are effective, especially when they use some of the corniest synth sounds heard since Jan Hammer unstrapped his keytar for the last time, on "We Gathered in Spring" and "It Covers the Hillside." All of which is nice but isn't worth much without songs. Fortunately, Midlake writes unerringly tuneful melodies and thoughtful lyrics about topics other than love and introspection, and lays down plenty of gentle hooks. Nothing that you'll be singing in the shower for days at a time, but each song goes down smoothly and they add up to make The Trials of Van Occupanther a very pleasant, maybe even exciting in a restrained way, listening experience. You'll certainly find yourself reaching for it more often than you might expect; indeed, it has lasting power that many records that sound so good on first listen lack. Midlake might be stuck in the '70s, but they make it sound like the best place on earth.
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| 01. |  |
Roscoe |
4:49 |
|
| 02. | |
Bandits |
4:04 |
|
| 03. | |
Head Home |
5:45 |
|
| 04. | |
Van Occupanther |
3:15 |
|
| 05. | |
Young Bride |
4:56 |
|
| 06. | |
Branches |
5:03 |
|
| 07. | |
In This Camp |
5:44 |
|
| 08. | |
We Gathered in Spring |
3:33 |
|
| 09. | |
It Covers the Hillsides |
3:14 |
|
| 10. | |
Chasing After Deer |
2:42 |
|
| 11. | |
You Never Arrived |
1:40 |
|
11 Total Tracks, 44:45 Total Length
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Credits
- Alan Douches - Mastering // Tim Smith - Guitar (Acoustic) // Tim Smith - Flute // Tim Smith - Piano // Tim Smith - Guitar (Electric) // Tim Smith - Keyboards // Tim Smith - Vocals // Tim Smith - Producer // Tim Smith - Design // Tim Smith - Photography // Tim Smith - Layout Design // Eric Nichelson - Guitar (Acoustic) // Eric Nichelson - Piano // Eric Nichelson - Guitar (Electric) // Eric Nichelson - Keyboards // Eric Nichelson - Guitar (12 String Acoustic) // Eric Pulido - Guitar (Acoustic) // Eric Pulido - Guitar (Electric) // Eric Pulido - Keyboards // Eric Pulido - Vocals (Background) // Eric Pulido - Guitar (12 String Acoustic) // Mckenzie Smith - Percussion // Mckenzie Smith - Drums
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