Album of the decade?
If this were 2009 rather than 2010, I would be calling Midlake’s The Courage of Others one of the best albums of the decade.
But it is 2010. Four days into the second month of 2010 – or less than one-tenth of one-percent of the upcoming decade to be exact. Which makes the following statement one that may seem a bit precocious and premature:
Midlake’s The Courage of Others is one of the best albums of this decade. Even though we are only 1/120th of the way into it.
Yes, it is a strong statement. But I firmly believe that ten years from now I’ll be typing that it was indeed one of the best albums of the 2010′s. And I’m sure others will as well.
It’s been four years since the last Midlake album. During that time the band toured, recharged and listening to a lot of British folk music.
The resulting album is a beautifully crafted album that is as strong in its musicianship as it is in its lyrical content. Those familiar with the band’s past work will be able to detect the growth and maturation of the band’s sound. It is impossible not to hear the influence British folk throughout the album.
I’ve rarely been one to review on technical merit. There are others much more talented at that aspect of music journalism than I. But the album is melancholy and melodic; complex yet peaceful.
It is what it is – a wonderful album that has rightly laid claim as one of my favorite albums in years. It is a masterpiece worthy of the highest praise.
Editor’s Note: To read the DeadJournalist.com Interview with Midlake in 2006, click here
