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The Mountain Goats
OK, so the Mountain Goats. It's all about this one guy, on an acoustic guitar, and some harrowing tales to tell, but John Darnielle is unlike any sensitive male singer-songwriter you've ever heard. In the flesh, he seems a little deranged but still witty and funny, if not a little rambling. Darnielle's voice has a peculiar intimate cadence, a certain nasal "ordinary guy"-ness and he speaks excitedly in stops and starts, fumbling over words and phrases. And who are all of these people around him, who are clued into the various pieces of Mountain Goats ephemera, whether it be obscure cassette-only b-sides or a grand theory of the mysterious trials of the Alpha couple, or savant-like recall of the infamous "Going To" series of songs? These fans, hanging on every word, are waiting for release (exhibit A: "No Children" singalong videos on Youtube). They are listening, hushed and respectful, because they are worshiping in the church of the Mountain Goats.
The Mountain Goats grew from humble beginnings, stark songs sung on an acoustic guitar into a shitty boombox, recorded in lo-fi glory, sometimes in one take. Today, Darnielle is backed by a steady, stalwart orchestra, supported by sidekick Peter Peter Hughes' solid bass work, and the addition of Erik Friedlander's versatile cellos, emotional and sincere playing which pierces even the most jaded listener's heart (exhibit B: Get Lonely). Whatever shields you have built up around yourself are useless, silly mortal, the Mountain Goats seem to say.
But among the newly-found lushness, the words are always in the forefront, words that are eloquent, memorable, and penetrating. Darnielle has got a way with words that pierces the heart of any disbeliever. Like on We Shall All Be Healed, an album that paints a portrait of tweakers with surprising humanity and gentleness. It's the kind of storytelling that catches you by the throat, and refuses to let go, white knuckles and all. The Mountain Goats' songs are all about the ups, the downs, angry mobs, glasses shattering against the wall, the hospital waiting rooms, the orange jumpsuits, burning houses, and, yes, the light at the end of the tunnel.
But Darnielle isn't taking the easy route. These are masterworks that honestly and accurately depicting just how complicated life can be, whether they're about drug addiction, physical abuse, a cast of motley characters in West Texas, or a single person fighting the demons of loneliness. Any other songwriter would be busy pulling at our heartstrings, but rather you can almost see Darnielle gently caressing scars from long ago, wincing as the skin is still sensitive to the touch (exhibit C: The Sunset Tree). Sometimes Darnielle sings in an intense whisper, as if he can't wait to tell you what happens next; actually, to describe it as "intense" almost downplays the emotional potency. To me, when this happens, it seems sacrilegious to even breathe too loudly. But with any other Mountain Goats moment, you know release is coming, just not in what form, and you keep watching Darnielle for his next, unpredictable, affecting movement. Just as it should be.
The Mountain Goats - Woke Up New
The Mountain Goats - Cubs in Five
The Mountain Goats - Shadow Song
The Mountain Goats - No Children
The Mountain Goats - Love Love Love
The Mountain Goats - Up the Wolves
Visit the Mountain Goats official site. Buy Get Lonely from Amazon or iTunes.
Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 03.06.07 at 10:02 AM
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