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Midlake - the trials of van occupanther (music/album)

AhimanBeard

Registered User
Midlake20-20The20Trials20Of20Van20O.jpg


I know that many brethren love nineteenth century american history. Being part of an order which had so many proud moments as our nature struggles, I often feel, as do others, a strange feeling close to nostalgia for those times of faith, struggle, simplicity and growth.

Rarely, I should point out, do I really love Concept Albums. But Midlake, A band of Texans oddly enough (they're from Denton), took up a heavily conceptual album about the american settlers in the 19th century.

If that's all not enough, the first lines from the album are:
Stone-cutters made them from stones
Chosen specially for you and I
Who will live inside
Sounds pretty good right?

The whole record presents the lyrical narrative more in the vein of a diary. Reflective, introverted and honest, it keeps pretension out of the lyrics and gives it a strangely compelling and genuine feel.

Sonically, they're often compared to rock (not heavier rock, sometimes closer to prog) of the 1970s.

Here are some tracks from it and I hope you guys enjoy.
[video=youtube;JDL9bXlwbM4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDL9bXlwbM4&feature=related[/video]
Roscoe

Stone-cutters made them from stones
Chosen specially for you and I
Who will live inside
The mountaineers gathered timber piled high
In which to take along
Travelling many miles knowing they'd get here

When they got here all exhausted
On the roof leaks they got started
And now when the rain comes we can be thankful

When the mountaineers saw that everything fit
They were glad and so they took off

Thought we were due for a change
Or two around this place
When they got back they're all mixed up
With no one to stay with

The village used to be all one really needs
Now it's filled with hundreds and hundreds of chemicals
That mostly surround you, you wish to flee
But it's not like you so listen to me listen to me

Oh and when the morning comes
We will step outside
We will not find another man in sight
We like the newness the newness of all
That has grown in our garden
Struggling for so long

Whenever I was a child
I wonder what if my name had changed
Into something more productive
Like Roscoe been born in 1891
Waiting with my aunt Roslein

Thought we were due for a change
Or two around this place
When they got back they're all mixed up
With no one to stay with

1891 they roamed around and foraged
They made their house from cedars
They made their house from stone
Well they're a little like you
Adn they're a little like me
We have all we need

Thought we were due for a change
Or two around this place
This place
This place

When they got back they're all mixed up
With no one to stay with
When they got back they're all mixed up
With no one to stay with




[video=youtube;Un_55LrZnCo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un_55LrZnCo[/video]
Head Home

No-one seems to be around today
They must've all gone off without me again
I think I'll head home

Maybe I'll find them gathered 'round my doorstep
Oh, to sleep in a comfortable bed
I think I'll head home

No-one seems to be around today
They must've all gone off without me again
I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home

Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied

Bring me the news all about the town
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
During harvest time

But there's someone I'd like to see
She never mentions a word to me
She reads Leviathan

I think I'll head home
I think I'll head home
I think I'll Fead Home

Bring me a day full of honest work
And a roof that never leaks
I'll be satisfied

Bring me the news all about the town
How it struggles to help all the farmers out
During harvest time

But there's someone I'd like to see
She never mentions a word to me
She reads Leviathan

I think I'll head home...

[video=youtube;PnbOEROMb8w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnbOEROMb8w&feature=related[/video]
Bandits (heads up, there's a fairly long piano intro that's not actually on the album. The actual song starts at 1:36 or so)

Did you ever want to be overrun by bandits
To hand over all of your things and start over new?
While we were out hunting for food
Our house was being robbed
I caught an apple and she caught a fox
So I caught a rabbit but she caught an ox
So upon our return, we found everything gone

Which for us was no loss
And we started over
With a rabbit and an ox

So they came down from the north
Carrying all they owned
With a basket full of food and clothes
They were stopped by a weekend raid
Traveling the woods one day
They tried to put up a fight, but lost
So we asked for them to stay
With us on their way
To have a drink and rest
And regain their strength

Did you ever want to run around with bandits;
To see many places and hide in ditches?
It's not always easy, it's not always easy
When the winter comes and the greenery goes
We will make some shelter
When the winter comes and the greenery goes
We will make some shelter
 
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