| Author | Message | ||
     Wilson Davey Member Username: Wilson Post Number: 73 Registered: 05-2005 |
...My brother-in-law has impeccable taste and is responsible for introducing me to many bands and artists over the years that get revered on this site. But what is this he has lent me ? I've approached this with scant info which is always a bit scary; Eagles ? Fleetwood Mac ? CSNY ? I'm really not sure if this is really good or not. I've sort of fallen for it's 12 string and woodwind charms, lyrically it's very compelling and heading Stipewards...I need a compass for this one guys, any thoughts ? It sounds great in the car but then suddenly I'm reminded exactly why I needed to play The Members Sound of the suburbs turned up to 11 on me Dads "Hi-Fi" back in 1979. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1681 Registered: 05-2005 |
Loads of Midlake posts on here last year Wilson, if I recall this band split the board 2 ways, some loved them, others hated them. I was a lover, although to be honest havent had the urge to play it for a while. Definete 70s California vibes, but not as bland as the bands you mention above. Funnily enough the last time I heard the vocalist was a track on the new Chemical Bros album, and in isolation like that he has a very distinctive voice. The Bros have a history of linking up with band like this, there was a vocal by Jonathan Donahue on one of their albums wasnt there? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 1271 Registered: 03-2005 |
It makes a fine coaster. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2072 Registered: 03-2006 |
Also, it makes a fine pigeon for skeet shooting! (Actually, I like it - why oh why cain't we all get along?) | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 469 Registered: 04-2006 |
listened to the album a few days ago and it reminded my on the american band 'america'. really. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 723 Registered: 08-2006 |
I really like that "Roscoe" song but I gotta admit I haven't played the rest of the tunes much since I bought it. There's some nice stuff going on but I really wish I knew what the hell they were singing about. I'll except obtuse word games from Pavement or Beefheart or Thurston an' Kim, but if you're gonna play on Fleetwood Mac's (or, very nice, Andreas, America's) ballcourt you gotta play by their rules. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 724 Registered: 08-2006 |
Of course, "except" should be "accept." Oops. | ||
| Austin McLean Member Username: Bruegelpie Post Number: 43 Registered: 09-2004 |
i know fellow boarder Michael Bachman really like the CD. Maybe you have to live in Michigan like Michael and i do to like it??? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 726 Registered: 08-2006 |
That's a plausible theory, Austin. As a fellow Midwesterner, I can only guess that the Midlake love gets stopped at the Indiana/Michigan border and doesn't make it to Illinois. (I'd insert a smiley face here if I wasn't such a simp.) | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 2076 Registered: 03-2006 |
But hey, if they evoke America and coke crazy era Fleetwood Mac, that's a So Cal sound! And, whattaya know, they work for me. Even if I'm a transplant and don't do that much coke. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1625 Registered: 05-2005 |
I've been thinking about this. My conclusion is that i'm not so sure Midlake are heading out west to sund like America or Fleetwood or The Eagles, I think its the way they have recorded their instuments. I think the production has gotta lot to do with it. There's no compression on anything, its abig, fat wide wound, similar, only similar to what Mac had in the 70's, which is down to the level of technology at that time. They have had their sound stripped down, ther's no effects there or aqnything, its straight. Also, not all of the songs on Van, are rockers, there's a lot of folk(y), considered, unique soundoing stuff there if you look for it. Its pretty unique, lyric wise especially. I can see more Radiojhead and The Handsome Family than Mac and America. My opinion, food for thought...? | ||
| Catherine Vaughan Member Username: Catherine Post Number: 54 Registered: 05-2005 |
If anyone needs a coaster, or is doing some CD skeet shooting, I've got a copy of The Good The Bad and The Queen if anyone wants it!! | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 681 Registered: 01-2005 |
Midlake's drummer really has the Mick Fleetwood style down to a tee. I thought they recreated the Van album very well live, so I'll echo what Spence said about the sound being stripped down with no effects. Everyone at the concert Austin and I went to appreciated the fact that Midlake even played, given the blinding snow storm that started in the afternoon and lasted until the following day. | ||
| andreas Member Username: Andreas Post Number: 474 Registered: 04-2006 |
no doubt midlake are good. i like their album. what my reminded on america was the harmony singing. a day before i leistened to 'van' i herad america with one of their songs on the radio. with that song on my mind i felt that a lot of parts on the album sounded 'similar' to america. reading spence's posting i can not agree withthe handsome family comparison , but spence brought radiohead on the table and thinking about that i have to say that there is really a similarity - but for me too much more on the kind of singing than on the sound. but isn't it not great that so many different thoughts arising out of listening to one band? i take it as a good sign and there is someting special with taht album. cheers andreas | ||
| Wilson Davey Member Username: Wilson Post Number: 74 Registered: 05-2005 |
I'm in the West too, just west of Bristol England in town called Portishead (Yep that one !). I think the song "bandits" probably sets the tone for me with a very warm 12 string, I'm no techno expert but is it the lack of compression (Spence ?) that give that. I love it when you lose time in a song, when you drift to somewhere else, we all know that cattle & cane does that and I find that Bandits does it too. I can hear Radiohead in there and some how an organic Fables era REM sound but with a warmer production. I'm still a bit mesmerised by it after loads of plays... | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 1630 Registered: 05-2005 |
yeah andreas the harmony is a bit lime america, its very american! too! but you are right. also, drums are like fleetwood ain't they michael, bnnever thought of that. |