Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther (2006) (1 Viewer)

[rettucs]

Godawful

Was the jacks behind the stage?
So you had this constant stream of people pushing past all the time
Could ruin your whole night that place.

yeah, jacks was front-left of stage. A truly poxy venue.

Wasn't the old Red Box the same? Jacks beside the stage .

 

[ann post]

It's growing on me now. Trying to look at it like OK Roscoe is 10/10, but the rest, it has a vibe.

Another few spins and ill give a verdict

 

[GO]

I listened to this a few times..its amazing. What an album. A masterpiece

 

[ann post]

I remember that Village gig differently. I was up near the front and it was fairly sparse up there. Dreadful venue though. Once you were back past the door you were nearly better off staying at home.

The village used to be all one really needs

 

[Lili Marlene]

So here, did this album popularize the bearded lad in a lumberjack shirt playing folky music trope? A year before Bon Iver's Emma album, before that Fleet Foxes album and before Mumford got together. Was anyone else doing it a large enough level to sell out the Village before this?

 

[ann post]

So here, did this album popularize the bearded lad in a lumberjack shirt playing folky music trope? A year before Bon Iver's Emma album, before that Fleet Foxes album and before Mumford got together. Was anyone else doing it a large enough level to sell out the Village before this?

Do grandaddy count? In terms of lads drinking cans and having beards are they not years ahead of this?

 

[rettucs]

So here, did this album popularize the bearded lad in a lumberjack shirt playing folky music trope? A year before Bon Iver's Emma album, before that Fleet Foxes album and before Mumford got together. Was anyone else doing it a large enough level to sell out the Village before this?

nah, all Midlake were responsible for was John Grant. Again, I try not to hold that against them.

 

[Lili Marlene]

Do grandaddy count? In terms of lads drinking cans and having beards are they not years ahead of this?

Hmm, I was certainly aware of them but in my mind they came across as... musicians with beards as opposed to, i dunno, cosplay lifestylers being authentic through the medium of sound. Like you could say Neutral Milk Hotel (who I wasn't aware of at the time but everyone else was) as well but they were identified with a specific scene so they couldn't pretend they emerged from the forest fully formed.

 

[ann post]

Hmm, I was certainly aware of them but in my mind they came across as... musicians with beards as opposed to, i dunno, cosplay lifestylers being authentic through the medium of sound. Like you could say Neutral Milk Hotel (who I wasn't aware of at the time but everyone else was) as well but they were identified with a specific scene so they couldn't pretend they emerged from the forest fully formed.

Yeah I think I get what you are saying - Like I'd put midlake and grandaddy in the proto era but I'm not sure I know the next era well enough.

 

[David Kronenbourg]

They all copied The Band with that style tbh

 

[Lili Marlene]

They all copied The Band with that style tbh

The Band (album) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Sure they're just copying the Dubliners on the cover of that one.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Lumberjack shirts are timeless

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

This is not really my thing, too much singing and the songs go on too long, but it's ok, nice moments

 

[ann post]

ok (possibly prematurely) verdicting this.

I think its a really good album - my general obession with roscoe centres around the vocal and melodic intertwinings that are just sublime, pure alchemy stuff, everything compliments everything. I survived without the rest of the album for years. I could go full rick beato on it but i'm gonig to to cycle to work instead.

Teh album seems to float around the concept of settling down, obvs they are using white people 'finding' america as a foil for being a bunch of men becoming house-bounds. Head home-van occupanther-young bride to me is the best in album flow of things that bookend really really well.

I should probably be approaching it as vynils seeing its 44 mins long, its probably better with a slight break in the middle than going end to end. Side two a little more expansive feeling - which is interesting consideing all teh short songs are on that side. I thought head home was the best in album track and that has moved to young bride now which makes me wonder will this be a floating thing.

Anywhoo giving it a precautios 7.5/10 because I'm not sure if I'll bond with or grow away from side 2 over time.

 

[chris d]

It was too wussy at the time. But now I love it all.

Now I am the wuss.

 

[prefuse]

3 songs in & I've gone from clean shaven to heavy stubble.
This is beard music, make no mistake.

 

[prefuse]

Just finished listening to the album

 

[flashback]

ok (possibly prematurely) verdicting this.
my general obession with roscoe centres around the vocal and melodic intertwinings that are just sublime, pure alchemy stuff, everything compliments everything.

Hopefully this doesn't make anyone too angry:

Roscoe reminds me of Fleetwood Mac. His vocals, that sort of chasing/driving beat, those little tight fills, rhythm guitar all overdrive-ey. Maybe not the intro, but from about 30 seconds in, I dunno man, Fleetwood Mac vibe.

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

Agreed, not a bad thing

 

[ann post]

I read a interview recently that said they were obsessed with rumours and based the whole sound palette on it.