Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride

  by Daniel Cressey

published: 30 / 1 / 2008

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In the liner notes from his latest album John Darnielle, the songwriter and driving force of the Mountain Goats, sets out the wildly disparate range of topics his is forced to let his intense alt-country songs to roll over. As on all his albums, it does appear to be this way round; Mountain Goats songs always seem to be slightly out of control, even the control of their creators. It is this sense of being slightly out of control that lends such force to Darnielle’s writing. His choice of subjects swerves wildly. Most of the songs here are deceptively simple yet perfectly constructed tales that may chronicle anything from (on this album) H.P. Lovecraft’s time in Brooklyn, the final moments of a lynched heretic, or the death of Prince Far I. While this might seem wilfully eclectic or pretentious the simplicity – both in the construction and the delivery – lends it all a refreshing honesty. Darnielle has also taken some steps sure to please long term fans. Gone are the situations drawn from his own life that have graced recent albums 'The Sunset Tree' and 'Get Lonely'. While the first’s examination of his troubled upbringing and the second’s heartbreaking chronicle of his relationship breakdown were perhaps more poignant than anything he has written before it is nice to see him reverting to his own, doubtless fevered, imagination. Back also is the Bright Mountain Choir who last provided backing vocals for the Mountain Goats a decade ago. Their presence is like the presence of the other musicians here though – their purpose is simply to provide inch perfect backing for Darnielle’s sublime songwriting. His choice of subject material and the hints of wildness bubbling under the surface of his music mean the Mountain Goats are likely to remain a cult phenomenon. The talent of Darnielle though means they will remain the most compelling, exciting and challenging band you are likely to find.

Track Listing:-

1 Sax Rohmer #1
2 San Bernardino
3 Heretic Pride
4 Autoclave
5 New Zion
6 So Desperate
7 In The Craters On The Moon
8 Lovecraft In Brooklyn
9 Tianchi Lake
10 How To Embrace A Swamp Creature
11 Marduk T-Shirt Men's Room Incident
12 Sept 15 1983
13 Michael Myers Resplendent

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/the-Mountain-Goats/17314008126
https://twitter.com/mountain_goats
http://www.mountain-goats.com/
http://www.themountaingoats.net/

Label Links:-

http://www.4ad.com/
https://www.facebook.com/fourad/
https://twitter.com/4AD_Official
https://plus.google.com/explore/4AD

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