Midlake began in 1999 by a group of jazz students at the University of North Texas. The original lineup consisted of Tim Smith (vocals, guitars, keyboards), McKenzie Smith (drums), Paul Alexander (bass), Eric Nichelson (guitar), and Evan Jacobs (keyboards). Their initial work (under the working name The Cornbread All-Stars) consisted of funk/jazz explorations heavily influenced by Herbie Hancock.
Later the band began to lean more toward an indie rock sound. Tim Smith quit playing saxophone and began writing songs that were heavily influenced by bands such as Jethro Tull, Radiohead, Travis, and Grandaddy. Smith says about that: "We don't want to get called a Radiohead rip-off band. I think Radiohead is a lot closer to my natural tendencies as a songwriter than a band like, um, Jethro Tull. I listen to way more Jethro Tull than I do Radiohead these days, but I could write 10 Radiohead songs before I could write one Jethro Tull song. I want to sound more like Jethro Tull, but I just can't. That's a big struggle."
Jacobs left the band and Eric Nichelson took over on keyboard. Jason Upshaw joined the band as a guitarist. Live recordings from this period, recorded at Denton's Panhandle House studio, were never released as the band felt they had moved beyond the material.
Soon before their debut EP, Milkmaid Grand Army, was recorded, Upshaw was replaced on guitars by Eric Pulido, a longtime friend of drummer Smith, to form the current lineup. Their debut full-length album, 2004's Bamnan and Slivercork, was recorded at home in Denton, Texas and mastered at Abbey Road Studios. It showed a move in the direction of lo-fi psychedelic electronica, embracing influences such as Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips. The album even caught the ear of skateboarder-turned-actor Jason Lee, who produced and directed the music video for the song 'Balloon Maker', and who continues to support and promote the band.
In 2006, after nearly a year and a half of recording and re-recording, they completed their second release for Bella Union – The Trials of Van Occupanther. The album was met with generally positive reviews.
The 3rd album release by the band is called The Courage of Others. It was released on February 1, 2010. The album sleeve pays homage to Andrei Rublev, a 1966 film by Russian writer and director Andrei Tarkovsky.
In this album Smith focusing on the human condition, death, courage (as per the album’s title), and nature. The band put aside the wonderfully corny synthesizers they used on the last record in favor of a 100-percent organic approach that fits their bearded poets of the mountain image. The album received overwhelmingly positive review.
www.midlake.net
these days
Midlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't do too much talking these days
These days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had
A chance to
I don't do too much gambling these days
These days
These days I seem to think about
How all these changes came about my ways
And I wonder if I'd see another
Highway
I had a lover
I don't think I'd risk another these days
These days
And if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing
So long
La, la, la, la, la
La, la
I've stopped my dreaming
I won't do too much scheming these days
These days
These days I sit on cornerstones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten
Please don't confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them
In Midlake's song "These Days," the singer reflects on his current state of mind and the changes that have occurred in his life. He begins by stating that he spends a lot of time walking and thinking about the things he didn't do, and the missed opportunities he had in the past. He then moves on to discuss how he has stopped rambling and gambling, and rather than dreaming and scheming, he now spends his time sitting and counting the passing moments. The singer seems to be reflecting upon a life full of regrets, and the feeling that he has lost too much, that he has been losing for so long that it's become a pattern, and that he can't take any more risks, hence no more gambling or risking another lover.
The singer's use of the phrase "these days" throughout the song highlights the fact that the current state of his life is in stark contrast to what he has experienced in the past. The fact that he no longer takes risks or gambles, and that he spends his days lost in thought, implies that he has experienced some form of pain or loss that has led him to live a more cautious life. The repeated use of "these days" also highlights the singer's sense of time passing and the feelings of regret that he experiences while looking back upon his life.
Overall, "These Days" is a melancholic reflection on the singer's past. Through the use of repetitive musical phrasing and poetic lyrics, the song paints a poignant picture of a life full of missed opportunities and lost love, and the accompanying feelings of regret that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been out walking
I spend a lot of time walking alone
I don't do too much talking these days
I don't communicate much with people anymore
These days
Recently
These days I seem to think a lot
I've been doing more reflecting lately
About the things that I forgot to do
I dwell on the opportunities I missed
And all the times I had
The memories I made
A chance to
Opportunities that presented themselves
I've stopped my rambling
I don't wander aimlessly anymore
I don't do too much gambling these days
I'm more careful with my choices now
These days I seem to think about
I reflect on
How all these changes came about my ways
How I ended up where I am now
And I wonder if I'd see another
I question whether I'll have more chances
Highway
Opportunities for adventure and change
I had a lover
I used to have a romantic partner
I don't think I'd risk another these days
I don't know if I'm ready for another relationship
And if I seem to be afraid
If I appear to have fear
To live the life that I have made in song
To live the life I've created for myself
It's just that I've been losing
I've experienced a lot of failure
So long
For a long time
I've stopped my dreaming
I don't have big dreams anymore
I won't do too much scheming these days
I don't plot and plan much anymore
These days
Recently
These days I sit on cornerstones
I spend a lot of time sitting in one place
And count the time in quarter tones to ten
I measure time in small increments
Please don't confront me with my failures
Please don't make me face my past mistakes
I had not forgotten them
I still remember them clearly
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jackson Browne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind