I was a huge fan of The Trials of Van Occupanther (outdoing the Decemberists at their own game in the same year, brilliant!). Which is why I was disappointed to hear recent critical intimations of a sophomore drop-off.
The Courage of Others is surely a much weaker narrative than the Van Occupanther, feeling like a regular 'ol hipster prog-folk record instead of an amazing and lush PBS mini-series set to sound. The visions here are more lulling, and the musical accompaniment more heavy-footed (check out the plodding "Small Mountain" if you need evidence). The most captivating presence is the bare-bones "Acts of Man," which carries a patient urgency and epic-ness that Midlake have historically made the norm.
Essential Track:
"Acts of Man"
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