For their second album, "The Trials of Van Occupanther," Texas rockers Midlake have dropped their former quirked-out '60s psych-pop shtick and started on some '70s revivalism, a project that seems distinctly opposed to the current indie zeitgeist, but carried off with such conviction and perfectionist craftsmanship that, who knows, they might change the prevailing trends. Opening track "Roscoe," a catchy rock song swelling with gorgeous vocal harmonies, sounds like Neil Young minus the sloppiness and the ache, all cleaned up for company.
-- T.B.
Shares