{"id":707,"date":"2007-07-11T09:22:07","date_gmt":"2007-07-11T13:22:07","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2007-07-12T15:19:46","modified_gmt":"2007-07-12T15:19:46","slug":"midlake-s-journey-to-psychic-oblivion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/midlake-s-journey-to-psychic-oblivion\/","title":{"rendered":"Midlake’s Journey to Psychic Oblivion"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/p>\n
Judging a book by its cover<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For some reason, earlier this year, I’d been keeping my eye on a late-2006 release I spotted on eMusic*, The Trials of Van Occupanther<\/strong><\/em>, by a band I’d never heard of called Midlake<\/a><\/strong>. It was probably the thumbnail of the cover that got my attention. It had a Fairport\/Incredible String Band\/Nick Drake look to it that I’m always a sucker for, at least in terms of graphic appeal if not the actual music delivered by these quirky British folk-rockers. So I sampled some songs and then downloaded half the album. I’m digging it.<\/p>\n

There’s some of that British folk-rock in the music, but moreso the half album I downloaded is a journey to Psychic Oblivion<\/strong>. Or so I think. I’m curious to hear what experienced travelers of the roads to Psychic Oblivion think, Townspeople like Mwall and Dr. John. I’m also curious to hear what you think. Check out the following tracks.<\/p>\n

“It Covers the Hillsides”
\n<\/p>\n

Let’s start with “It Covers the Hillsides”<\/a><\/strong>, which features a bizarre and perfectly inappropriate overdubbed instrumental section coming out of a more standard solo. Anyone who’s spent time in a studio with me is probably aware of my penchant for perfectly inappropriate overdubbed instrumental parts. I also dig the fringed mocassin-style bass playing on this and other songs. When I first realized that I was liking this song, I tried to recall whether I liked hearing bands like Firefall<\/strong> on the radio when I was a kid. I don’t think I did, but I do love those mid-70s Jefferson Starship<\/strong> songs like “Miracles”<\/strong>. This song may fit in with that form of Psychic Oblivion.
\n
\n“Roscoe”
\n<\/p>\n

Here’s another one, “Roscoe”<\/a><\/strong>, which kicks off the album with more or less a classic Fleetwood Mac<\/strong> sound. Can’t you hear Stevie Nicks<\/strong> singing on this one with Lindsay Buckingham<\/strong> adding a few more tasty, pointed guitar licks? I can. Again, I feel a bit guilty for liking this, and I wonder where exactly this road to Psychic Oblivion will lead.<\/p>\n

“Van Occupanther”
\n<\/p>\n

Finally, sit back, pour yourself a brandy, let those Legos dudes in today’s All-Star Jam roll you a joint, and enjoy “Van Occupanther”<\/a><\/strong>. “One glass will last you,” the singer reports, “nearly a week.” Dig those fringed, moccasin boot basslines. Hang in there for a most Psychic Oblivion of a coda. Sweet!<\/p>\n

*See Trial Offer on right column!<\/em><\/small><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Judging a book by its cover For some reason, earlier this year, I’d been keeping my eye on a late-2006 release I spotted on eMusic*, The Trials of Van Occupanther, by a band I’d never heard of called Midlake. It was probably the thumbnail of the cover that got my attention. It had a Fairport\/Incredible […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[342],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/707\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}