We rarely conduct interviews at Stereogum. Bands inevitably answer the same questions over and over again, and that's no fun for anyone. But if we could catch our favorite musicians between album promo cycles, they might have new insights to share, whether they're in creative mode or just taking a breather. With that in mind, we asked Jessica Suarez to put on her reporter's hat and pen this new recurring feature.

Twice a week, Jessica Suarez's Progress Report updates you on what your favorite bands have been doing. Or not doing. Today we check in with the Denton folk-rockers behind one of the best albums of 2006.

NAME: Midlake
PROGRESS REPORT: Writing and recording Courage Of Others, their followup to 2006's Trials Of Van Occupanther (Bella Union).

Remember the band that did "Roscoe" and "Head Home," and now you think of them as the band that did "Roscoe" and "Head Home" and you've been waiting for them to do another "Roscoe" and "Head Home"? That's part of the reason why Midlake haven't finished their new record yet. "We didn't know exactly what we wanted, but we know we didn't want to make the same album as last time. We could have made 10 albums with the amount of time we've spent, but that doesn't mean they'd be saying anything great," says McKenzie Smith. Guitarist (and coffee entrepreneur) Eric Pulido agrees. "You try and you think, "This isn't 'Roscoe,' this isn't 'Head Home.'" Those are songs people liked on the last album and this isn't those. Will people now desire those songs and not be fulfilled with the songs we're putting on this album?" - Source