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Editorial Reviews
The Trials of Van Occupanther channels Tusk-era Fleetwood Mac through Texas' answer to Thom Yorke. With lead track "Roscoe" gaining over 100k downloads within weeks of hitting the blogosphere and tours with the Flaming Lips in both the US & Europe, Midlake are poised for something bigger than flavor-of-the-day indie rock.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Midlake debuted with a sparkling collection of Grandaddy-covers-Flaming-Lipsesque rock, and they grow more into their fuzzy-folk-rock sound in their second full-length album, "The Trials of Van Occupanther, with swirling instrumentals, a rockier sound, and a feeling of pastoral unrest.
It opens with the rippling guitar and mellow vocals of "Roscoe," which sways through on a smooth folk-rocky path. "Stonecutters made them from stones/Chosen specially for you and I/Who will live inside?" sings Tim Smith, as he sings about rain-drenched gardens and cedar houses.
Then it's time for the melodic folk of "Bandits" and the rippling pop-rock of "Head Home." As the album goes on, Midlake tries out all sorts of music -- fluting folk about exhausted scientists, swirling lo-fi rock, exquisite piano ballads, sunny pastoral sounds, and mellow tunes about chasing after deer.
Listening to "The Trials of Van Occupanther" is like being outside on a late spring day, lying on the grass and watching the clouds drift by. Even when they try out some odder stuff, Midlake's second album is full of the beauty and awe of nature, in all sorts of ways. "For myself I must remind/that the woods are usually kind"...
The music is centered on the acoustic and electric guitar, forming swirls of psychedelic indiepop and gentle folk/dance. And there's plenty of solid percussion and sparklin sweeps of analog synth to keep it colorful, while other songs have the piano and a delicate flute behind them. One of the best moments is "Branches," an eerily adoring little ballad that slowly soars up.
And the lyrics are equally strong -- bittersweet and slightly fantastical. Tim Smith's smooth vocals convey everything from post-rain freshness ("We like the newness, the newness of all/That has grown in our garden soaking for so long") to lovers who live up in trees.
Midlake made a triumphant return in their second full-length album, "Trials of Van Occupanther." An exquisite piece of work, and a must-listen for fans of brilliant indie-folk-rock.
It opens with the rippling guitar and mellow vocals of "Roscoe," which sways through on a smooth folk-rocky path. "Stonecutters made them from stones/Chosen specially for you and I/Who will live inside?" sings Tim Smith, as he sings about rain-drenched gardens and cedar houses.
Then it's time for the melodic folk of "Bandits" and the rippling pop-rock of "Head Home." As the album goes on, Midlake tries out all sorts of music -- fluting folk about exhausted scientists, swirling lo-fi rock, exquisite piano ballads, sunny pastoral sounds, and mellow tunes about chasing after deer.
Listening to "The Trials of Van Occupanther" is like being outside on a late spring day, lying on the grass and watching the clouds drift by. Even when they try out some odder stuff, Midlake's second album is full of the beauty and awe of nature, in all sorts of ways. "For myself I must remind/that the woods are usually kind"...
The music is centered on the acoustic and electric guitar, forming swirls of psychedelic indiepop and gentle folk/dance. And there's plenty of solid percussion and sparklin sweeps of analog synth to keep it colorful, while other songs have the piano and a delicate flute behind them. One of the best moments is "Branches," an eerily adoring little ballad that slowly soars up.
And the lyrics are equally strong -- bittersweet and slightly fantastical. Tim Smith's smooth vocals convey everything from post-rain freshness ("We like the newness, the newness of all/That has grown in our garden soaking for so long") to lovers who live up in trees.
Midlake made a triumphant return in their second full-length album, "Trials of Van Occupanther." An exquisite piece of work, and a must-listen for fans of brilliant indie-folk-rock.
38 of 42 people found the following review helpful
By J.C.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Imagine this: Thom Yorke, having just finished Emerson's "Self-Reliance," finds Neil Young (who is carving bars of soap into deer, elk and bear shapes) and they decide to go jam at Blue Oyster Cult's house (I assume Blue Oyster Cult all live in the same house). On the way, they pick up Lindsay Buckingham, who just happens to be out splitting kindling as Thom and Neil, hastily-packed bags slung over their shoulders, a bottle of clear, home-brewed liquid being passed between them, amble by rosy cheeked and smiling. Peeking from the woods on the other side of the (dirt) road is Sufjan Stevens, obscured by trees, who, though unnoticed, tips his hat as if to say, "I ain't mad at'cha."
Yes, Midlake's influences obscure their songs on the first listen, but give this album some time, and it becomes pure Midlake and damn--oh so damn!--good.
Yes, Midlake's influences obscure their songs on the first listen, but give this album some time, and it becomes pure Midlake and damn--oh so damn!--good.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw Midlake at festival recently and had never heard of them. The live set was strong enough to convince me to order some albums and I'm now a solid fan. The opening track, Roscoe, reminds me a bit of Adrian Belew, a bit of XTC and a whole lot of Midlake themselves. It's like suddenly realizing how Coldplay should sound. The music is layered and atmospheric with a bit of an eels feel. Midlake is definitely their own band, for all the influences I'm throwing out. They make the sort of music that feels old, like your favorite album you lost long ago. Try 'Roscoe' or 'Young Bride' for an indication of their style. If you like either of those, you need to buy the album.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely and soothin
I've been listening to this album a lot lately. It's really great when you need something light and soothing. Read more
Published 2 months ago by RHall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb !!!!!!
Great item, missed out on the original vinyl pressing, but this was one of my all time favourite Cd's. Read more
Published on August 5, 2010 by omegaman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Funky Acoustic Meets Indie
I absolutely loved this product. I went to see the band perform live, and they are fabulous. The music is a mix of indie rock with funky acoustic riffs (lots of guitar, piano, and... Read more
Published on February 10, 2010 by Logan Ellett
5.0 out of 5 stars
This one grew on me until I now believe it to be Perfect album
I had this album for about a year until I really gave it a SERIOUS listen. You know what I mean... not a 'oh whats this new band' listen... Read more
Published on August 23, 2009 by C. Prescott
5.0 out of 5 stars
mind/body/mind/body/ numbing bliss
My faves are Roscoe, Van Occupanther, and In This Camp. A record you can listen to indefinitely. In my opinion better than Coldplay and almost as good as Radiohead.
Published on August 20, 2009 by L. Mas Perron
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Past Viewed through the Present's Lens
There are a number of songs from my youth in the 1970s and '80s that are brought to mind by this music -- mostly good stuff. Read more
Published on August 9, 2009 by Pundit 59
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hoodwinked by hit singles, do they not know more than 2 chords?
I was blown away by "Roscoe", then I heard "Head Home" and thought both these songs were quite catchy; provocative intro and verse, melodic chorus, pretty transitions, memorable... Read more
Published on March 1, 2009 by torque
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant....
When I heard "Young Bride" on the local indie station, I was mesmerized---it was gorgeous---and I tracked down the band name and album title and ordered "The Trials of Van... Read more
Published on February 17, 2009 by J. S. Soud
2.0 out of 5 stars
can you make it through?
Be warned. This cd is so boring that I have not yet succeeded in keeping my concentration focussed long enough to get to the far end. Read more
Published on December 28, 2008 by Edward Walsh
3.0 out of 5 stars
Some good, some not so good
Roscoe, Young Bride, Head Home - these tracks are great. I wish that the rest of the record maintained that level. The rest of the record? Read more
Published on October 8, 2008 by Cohaagen
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