The Trials of Van Occupanther (10thAnniversary Edition)

Incredible! Paid $32.95, which is getting on the steep side for a record but well worth it. The updated sleeve art is very cool and the pressing sounds great. Additional 7" really sweetens the deal. I will day the 2 songs on the 7" aren't as strong but definitely are great to have as an accompaniment. If you enjoy this album in any way--which if you've heard it, my guess is you do--I would highly recommend the splurge.For those who haven't heard the album before, I recommend a listen first before making a blind buy here. Definitely reminiscent of Jimmie Spheeris's Isle of View.

After hearing a number of tracks from "The Trials of Van Occupanther," my interest was piqued by how Midlake used lush harmonies, crisp production, and interesting counterpoints from the interplay of strings, voices, violin, keyboards, woodwinds, acoustic and electric guitars, drums, and the odd bits of percussion. Quite a few folks invoke comparisons to Fleetwood Mac's mid-70s line up with Buckingham and Nicks, but I think the better comparison is with the "Future Games" and "Bare Trees" albums featuring Danny Kirwan and Bob Welch. (It's hard not to think of Kirwan when listening to Head Home.)All of this melding works well on tracks such as Roscoe, Head Home, Young Bride, and the title track but towards the end of the CD, I start growing restless, as tracks such as It Covers the Hillside or Chasing Dear lack any surprises or development from what has gone before. Some suggest this recording is a concept album, and it may well be, but I'm not sure I can follow the threads and connections. Regardless, this is a compelling recording, full of fleeting glimpses, unfulfilled longing, and stray adventures.

...but I was immediately reminded of "Future Games" era Fleetwood Mac. In a good way. Midlake, comprising graduates of Austin, TX's prestigious North Texas State University jazz program, mostly hold their playing chops at bay in this alt rock configuration, although their composition skills are definitely on display throughout. The sound has the muffled, close-in sound of the Band, or Tull, or even Blind Faith, and like those bands, Midlake evokes a time out of mind. Their characters--wanderers in the snow, hunters, stone cutters--hark back to a pre-industrial world and give the songs of Trials of Van Occupanther a mythic depth and beauty.

It's just comforting to know that after 39 years on the planet there are still great recordings one can discover--if you are receptive, lucky and searching.I wish I could commandeer some big-market station to shout the praises of this band. Well, I first heard them on the mid-market WFUV in the Bronx as the band played some of this live-in-studio. What humble guys and, no, they didn't shed much light on the lyrics, save to say Van Occupanther is a made up name, and it IS a thematic group of songs about this scientist's life in the 19th century.**Warning** My favorite band of the last 15 yrs. is Radiohead. All phases.This recording is very influenced by the mellow-sided Radiohead, but more rooted in the past and earthier-sounding. I'm listening to Track 7 right now ("In This Camp") and it sounds like a lost HAIL TO THE THIEF song. It--like this whole album--is done so well, with such care for structure, melody, clever harmonies and that quirkiness both bands share, that I hardly mind the rip-off. And there are others. But Mr. Smith is no Thom Yorke; he sounds earthier, like Ron Sexsmith and the lead singer of Bread (as do some songs). The similarity to Fleetwood Mac has been overstated. Imagine Bread and ELO getting together to play Radiohead. But that really sells this CD short, because they really have their own thing--and it's beautiful.Two drawbacks: the lead guitarist should never play a solo. And the CD closes weakly.Highly recommended!

It's only their second project, but the Trials of Van Occupanther makes Midlake stand out of the crowd and takes them to the next level. At first, the tracks seem to run together and no single song stands out, but once you listen to the intricacies of each track the album reveals hit after hit. The first track 'Roscoe' was the reason I bought the album, but it has dropped to fourth place of my favorites on the album. Track three 'Head Home' takes the cake, track eight 'We Gathered in Spring' comes in second, track 5 'Young Bride' slides in at third. Be mindful not to over look 'Bandits' (track two) and the album's namesake track 'Van Occupanther', both catchy tunes. The harmonizing is incredible, and the array of instruments will put their contemporaries to shame. If you are curious whether they can pull off these delicate nuances live, the answer is an emphatic 'YES'! The live performance was captivating and they held their vocals and compliment of instrument sounds as tight as the studio recording, with some entertaining banter between songs. Go and get this album today! Vince Minneapolis, MN

Listening to the whole CD feels like being part of some pagan alternative society (It always reminds me of "The Whicker Man" but obviously more benign than that). Generally this album seems to be about a community trying to live out an alternative, simpler existence. Or perhaps just groups of disparate people living on the edges of society. Van Occupanther seems to be the community eccentric "scientist" working on something which we never get details of but which is obviously very important to him and is subject to the ridicule of those around him. This is perhaps significant in that the characters in all the songs of the album would suffer similar ridicule by members of our society and therefore it forms an intrinsic part of that bigger picture. The above makes The Trials sound like a concept album which I suppose in a way it is, although each track has its own identity.

Thank you 6Music for playing an un-remembered Midlake track on a wet Saturday afternoon and then describing it at 'jauntily sombre' - I had to buy into Midlake and I is now hooked. They're refreshing, different, and accomplished. To describe their sound I'd add Bread to the list of variants mentioned by other reviewers, but although one described it as indie/folk, don't let the folk part of that turn you off. Four stars because they're full of promise. I only hope I don't tire of listening.

Bought this album on a whim. Glad I did.

This is their finest work I feel. A great collection of thoughtful, haunting pieces in a most original style - there is no other band quite like Midlake.

I like albums with light and shade, with plenty going on -like a stir fry -lots of different flavours. The Midlake album "The trials of Van Occupanther" has lots of harmonies and grows on me each time I play it. I saw them on the Later with Jools Holland program and was struck by their harmonies and mellow music. I love this album