Review:

on 2012-12-19 nlathy Said:

The Mountain Goats, John Darnielle's band, latest offering is a very consistent album, which includes the addition of horns this time around. Darnielle isn't someone limited to folk rock. Despite being a one-man band at times, he can put out a fast rock track such as "The Diaz Brothers."
The tempo slows down a bit on the next track, "Counterfeit Florida Plates," which, like the other songs, speaks to the difficulties faced by many in life.
The songs don't paint a bright picture. The title cut offers little hope of someone getting better. But the horns and Darnielle's singing keep you listening.
"Harlem Roulette" is the best song on the album. It looks back on the past and talks about the dreams people have regardless of how bad things are. The guitar work makes this song catchy, and you can almost forget for a moment about the loneliness mentioned in the song.
The urgency is there in Darnielle's voice throughout. He tells riveting tales about survival (check out "Night Light"). Much of the events on the album take place in Washington state. But all parts of the country can relate to the anxietes faced by the people in the songs.


Rating: 9/10