Heretic Pride - The Mountain Goats (2008)
When I was younger I was more of a “lyrics guy.” A clever turn of phrase or a sublimely poetic couplet was my catnip. As I’ve aged, I’ve changed to more of an “atmosphere guy.” The lyrics (if there even are lyrics) could be about most anything as long as the music is interesting and well-put-together, and the higher the production value the better.
I think losing a fair amount of hearing has played into that some, as well as the expansion of my interests far beyond pop song lyrics. But of course there are still lots of songwriters whose lyrics I love, and possibly none more than Mountain Goats mastermind John Darnielle.
The name Mountain Goats was originally Darnielle’s solo monicker for his many lo-fi home recordings. He used those early releases to mature as a songwriter, as well as putting together the core of a regular working band. Both grew into much more mature and professional music until the run of early-aughts records for 4AD solidified the band members and the sound and really launched the brand.
This is the fifth of those 4AD records. It’s maybe not as quite as perfectly put together as the earlier Tallahassee and The Sunset Tree–two albums that will be among the band’s best no matter how many they end up making. But there’s still os much to like.
Tracks I Liked
San Bernardino - a beautiful, apocalyptic idyll
Heretic Pride - There’s a thread through many of Darnielle’s songs that takes sort of a punk attitude towards the long western civ heritage of guilt and judgement and says “bring it on”
In The Craters On The Moon - The stark and affecting immediacy Darnielle can pack into his songs will never cease to amaze me
Lovecraft In Brooklyn - a change of pace scorcher that rocks as hard as anything the band has done
