The Courage of Others
Midlake
Sometimes it takes a certain mindset to fully appreciate the charms of an act who, while universally revered and seemingly of no little sonic allure, still leave your critical faculties cold amid intense fanfare.
So it was with Midlake, and this reviewer, around the time of 2006's The Trials of Van Occupanther. All the right reference points were, and still are, there: space-rockers Grandaddy, epoch-definers Radiohead, the various charms of dads' favourites Fleetwood Mac – who have undergone something of a resurgence in popularity of late, at least among journalists – and prog-rock pioneers King Crimson.
While The Courage of Others is no great sea change in stylistic terms, as a body of work it possesses a conviction and power hitherto lacking, or, at least, undetected by these ears. Perhaps finding mass appeal has given Tim Smith and his band-mates the confidence to take their ideas into darker, brooding waters, and further harness the influence of classic British prog-folk. But whatever the motivation, it's a mood that suits.
This is serious music, certainly, but it skilfully avoids that oft-suffered pitfall of po-facedness by marrying virtuosity in playing with a deep sense of feeling in the delivery. When Smith sings, "When the acts of man cause the ground to break open / Oh, let me inside / Let me inside / Not to wait," barely a minute into yearning opener Acts of Man, he's delivering the first of The Courage of Others' many hair-prickling moments. There's barely a track here that doesn't harbour at least one – be it from a soaring flute passage (Acts of Man), twinkling acoustic (Fortune) or fizzing electric solo (Winter Dies).
Midlake won't ever be a 'cool' name to drop. They're the kind of band who'll prompt your parents to tell you about all the fun they had in the 60s, and dig out their Fairport Convention LPs because “If you like this, you'll love that”. It doesn't matter, of course: The Courage of Others is a lovely, lovely record that doesn't sound like it belongs in this age at all. It's all the better for it.
Reviewed by Rob Webb
This has to be my favourite album right now.
Absolutely one of the best albums in years.
wow I want this on vinyl !!!!
a must listen
If I were to buy this album, I guess I'd have to think twice before posting my views on it.
V THIS.
Best album of 2010
v Coming from someone who apparently has only listened to two tracks...
What a decline off of Van Occupanther... I really loved that album. It was so unassuming and humble. This album just smacked me in the face with the "I'm a witch, if you didn't catch it before" vibe. I read a review from before the release where they said they were going for a darker vibe to sound "more mature." I expected more depth, not more trippy sounding repetition masquerading as progression.
Love it! Nice and dark.
I 'love' the majority of the songs off of this album. It's the first I've heard from them, but WOW.. what a good first impression! Fantastic music!
You will not hear a more dense and exquisitely layered album than The Courage of Others. The instruments blanket each other seamlessly, but with close listening you can hear each individual piece being played.
Well it is good! But mastering is slightly muddy to me.
Score.
It's amazing to me how much people dislike this. I don't think I've seen an album with more of a decline in number of listeners since it's release. The best thing they've done.
Masterpiece
http://www.discogs.com/Midlake-The-Courage-Of-Others/master/226375
Incredible album. I`m really glad I discovered this, it`s a serious candidate for the best release of 2010.
Still the best album of 2010.
I hated this band till this album,it's amazing and some people hate it.
i had to love the whole album.
Never, Picea. Never.
hotterthanjuly = legend
die.
And I'm gonna stay a cunt too so shut the fuck up and deal with it.
that hotterthanjuly dude is an total cunt.
o_O Midlake...inspired...hissy...fits...have to say I was not expecting that. But yes, a wonderful album - full of intricate and subtle melodies and layers, emotion, warmth, and a new found melancholy. Ironically considering those two below, a very mature album indeed. Definatly midlake's deepest yet, repeate listens are needed to fully appreciate it, but it's an incredible album - In my opinion this is their finest album yet. But no, it's not a hard-hitting album and there aren't any memorable poppy hooks, so it won't appeal to everyone.
No idea of what's going on here, but I like the album.
thank you Orange-Minz
holy shit...please JUST talk about music here...and please stop flaming each other...The Courage Of Others is a great album and I loved it from the day on I both bought the vinyl and the CD version. But I can see that many will not like it, for the mastering is old school (not bad!) and Midlake is heavily influenced by folk artists from the 60s Folk Revival. So if you like a modern sound and original, maybe even experimental music, this album won't be the right thing for you. But for all lovers of folk rock that draws from the Folk Revival and an elegant but unobtrusive sound this is the real deal.
Anyway, this is finally starting to become a yawnfest. It was fun until someone had to be self-righteous and take a cheap shot without looking at themselves in the mirror first. And Acquiescence, maybe one day you'll wake up and love this album the way it should be loved.
Your page? Since when do you own stock in Last.fm? And ha, at least I have a face to put my twat on. When it comes to you, I can put a better face to the fucking Headless Horseman. And petitdejeuner74 doesn't intimidate me although she'd like to think she does. I don't take back what I said. It's a bitch move to try to report someone when you are the one who initiated the conflict. Trust me, if I go down, I'm dragging people with me. And Acquiescence, you went from one shit avatar to another. Well done, sir.
And Gary, don't post your drivel on my page. You can post wherever you want, but my page is out of bounds, so fuck off out of it.
At least her twat is where it's supposed to be and not on her face. Congrats petitdejeuner74, you dish out good advice. Shame he's too much of a pig-headed ignoramus to take heed of it.
Go shove a jackhammer up your twat. How's that for manners?
Real fan, bitch? Really?? What the fuck gives you license to determine if I'm a real fan or not? petitdejeuner74, according to your charts, you've played NO tracks from any Midlake album so you've got a lot of fucking nerve. Go listen to some more Nicki Minaj, you Barbie ass bitch, and shut the fuck up talking to me.
Oh FFS, give it a rest hotter, you're making yourself look like a wanker and spoiling things for all real Midlake fans. Go away and learn some manners please. Thank you.
Your schtick is getting old. It's about time for you to be a man and take the paper bag off of your head.
Bitch, you're trying to give me poison, not "medicine," and that's why I keep spitting it out in your face. You do realize it's quite unhealthy to be so obsessed with my beauty, right? You can think The Courage of Others is poor all you want. It's not and never will be so fuck you and anyone else who thinks differently. Keep your "opinion." It's bullshit. I changed my picture, not because I let you get to me. Again, you have no control over me and you STILL continue to hide behind your precious computer because you lack the audacity to back up ALL the shit you've been talking. I'm going to keep talking as long as I damn well please. So just cut that hero shit out and stop trying to save the masses from my "constant digs and negative vibes."
Yes, I can respect other opinions without resorting to name-calling. You can’t, which is why I’m giving you a dose of your own medicine. I wouldn’t do this to anyone else on Last.fm because no one else here acts like a spoilt fucking brat whenever someone, shock, voices a different opinion! By this point, what I want is to fill the page up with this ongoing flame war so that everyone can see how your constant digs and negative vibes sour everything. Instead of comments focusing on how good the album is (which is standard for album pages on Last.fm) all everyone will see is Gary Coleman throwing his toys out of the pram. And the best part is that it’s your fault, the so-called “fan”, so give yourself a pat on the back for that one. Doesn’t bother me remotely ‘cos I think the album is poor. “Keep laughing”, oh I will, thanks. Just keep providing fodder like “I’m the one with the power.”
Oooh check it out, Gary’s gone gangsta! Glad to see you’ve taken my criticisms to heart as that hat does a good job of covering up your ginormo-skull. And congratulations, it looks like you’re finally working with something that doesn’t rely on random guessing. I mean, you’re only flaming me for something as nonsensical as a name, but hey…it’s a start! If my mum should be slapped for something as minor as naming me, then I hate what to think what should be done to your parents for bringing someone into the world who looks like he has a black hole in the middle of his head that’s sucking his face in. The electric chair springs to mind.
Bitch, you can call it what you want, Mr. High N' Mighty, but you "plunging into my depths" is doing the exact same shit you keep scoffing me for. And again, motherfucker, until I can see you, you telling me how "ugly" (ha!) I am is VOID. It must be hard to provide a face shot when your head is so far up your ass. No wonder you talk so much shit. Keep laughing and entertaining yourself. Keep tossing out lame ass UK pop culture references to an American. And what kind of name is Sean-Francis? Someone should have slapped the shit out of your mom (or whomever) for you giving you such a fucked up name? Oh, so you CAN respect other opinions without resorting to childish name-calling. That explains why you called me (out of spite) a beady-eyed, prune-faced piece of trash, right?? You are so fucking mental. By the way, I'm not letting you have the last word because by this point, I know that's exactly what you want.
“I look nothing like Gary Coleman, who isn't even ugly.” AHHHHAHAHAHA!!! So Ant & Dec are attractive and Gary Coleman isn’t even ugly; you must let any hairy-ass, maggot eating piece of shit fuck you in the ass huh. Well, if I can be wrong about something as subjective as the quality of an album, then by that logic I can be right about something as subjective as a person’s physical appearance. So regardless of your opinion, you are wrong as can be when you state that you aren’t a beady-eyed, prune-faced piece of trash. But this shouldn’t be a surprise for someone of such infantile demeanour and low standards.
Firstly, I’m indulging in an argument that you started, and merely responding in a manner suitable for what you brought to the page. Secondly, I’m not the one clogging up pages with this shit all over Last.fm just because I’m a loser with enough free time to bitch whenever someone presents an opinion I don’t agree with. If that makes me Holier-Than-Thou…fine by me. At least I can respect other people’s opinions without resorting to childish name-calling.
Indulging in more juvenile arguing? So what the fuck do you think you're doing, Mr. Holier-Than-Thou? And AGAIN, you can't even show your face. You are presumably ugly. But unlike you, I can be HONEST and not just puff hot smoke out of my ass so I can have something to say. If you were to put up your pic (which your cowardly ass won't do), and you're a good looking guy, I'll say it. YOU will convince yourself I'm ugly when you know DAMN WELL I'm not. I am very handsome and I look nothing like Gary Coleman, who isn't even ugly. So maybe you need to check your so-called bullshit "facts." No matter what you say in return, you can never take that away from me. NEVER. So just give up in trying. Don't try to scold me like you think you're above me when your hypocrite ass is doing the same fucking thing. My point is, when it comes to this album, regardless of your opinion, you are as WRONG as they can be. But this shouldn't be a surprise for someone of such substandard taste and judgment.
Anyway, it’s kind of funny that when people visit this page, all they’ll see is a flame war. Very deserving for an album of such substandard quality.
Correction (I seem to be doing a lot of correcting lately), I went to the Scott-Heron page because I saw a music video of his and wanted to find out more. Surprise surprise, what do I see? You, indulging in yet more juvenile arguing. I guess with all your free time you can cover a lot of ground. Was that guy pale? I thought it was just due to the lighting that he looked like that, but maybe that’s just a bullshit excuse, akin to how sometimes people say a cropped pic creates the illusion that they have a forehead like stonehenge. And please, you’re about as fascinating as the common chav, and only slightly less social (at least they get fresh air when vandalising bus shelters). “I’m the one with the power”…oh god, now that is the most cringe-worthy claim I have ever read on the internet, given the context. It’s the fucking internet you loon, not an episode of He-Man!
You have no right to call me offensive names based solely on a differing opinion of an album, but you do anyway. So what’s stopping me from calling you a rancid-faced motherfucker in return. Ahh, it does strike me as very amusing that you can only retaliate with blind assumptions that mean absolutely nothing. You can keep flinging random shit and hope that some of it sticks, but essentially you know nothing about me so you’ve got nothing to work with. However, I know for a FACT that you’re a Gary Coleman doppelganger who, rather pathetically, spends his life online, and not even in a productive way. Does that make me wish I was you? No, it just makes me feel sorry for you; I’m glad my life doesn’t revolve solely around the internet and trolling. Anyway, self-confidence is the key to braving the big world out there, so you keep telling yourself you’re not ugly. Who knows, you might just convince somebody.
Face it, Acquiescence, you love me. You can't get enough of me. You go in all of the shoutboxes I'm in JUST to read what I say. Why ELSE do you keep coming back for more? I am very attractive, and not just physically, but insecure, self-hating, jealous motherfuckers like you just wish you could be me. And that's why your ass keeps on coming back. I know, son, I know. I bet you can't resist replying to me. You don't have it in you. I make you feel like shit about yourself and you should probably ask yourself who's problem that really is. Because it sure as hell isn't mine. Ah, I love my haters. They give me a reason to love myself just that much more than I already do. Thanks for letting me know you've got me under your skin. I'm the one with the power, not you. So keep huffin' and puffin'. You can't blow this house down. <3
He was a pale ass piece of shit. I could probably level the same criticism at you. Oh but I can't because you're too fucking scared to post a pic up. Again, you have NO right whatsoever to (wrongly) judge me for my looks when you refuse to show me what you look like. Keep avoiding it with those defensive mechanisms. I see right through that shit. I am NOWHERE NEAR ugly and regardless of what bluffed bullshit you'll try to feed me, you and I both know this. So just accept it. Stop feeling like shit about yourself and hating on me for things you might not have. You just keep sitting there hiding behind your computer, talking all of this shit like you're big and bad, yet not backing up a single fucking thing you've said thus far. No one is intimidated by you. Who the fuck do you think you are, The Wizard of Oz???