Formed in 1991, California’s The Mountain Goats have carved a strong niche for themselves over the past twenty years or so.
Especially in this day and age, with the musical equivalent of empty vessels that talk loud and say nothing, this is a band that truly stands apart. The main reason for this is the brilliant songwriting skills of main man John Darnielle.
On a lyrical front, Darnielle has an incredibly honest, unpretentious, and unsparing ability to talk about aspects and experiences of human nature and existence that are universal that really manage to strike a chord with listeners.
On their latest release, Transcendental Youth – the band’s fourteenth – they have lost none of their energy or fire in relation to their straight up, no bullshit approach on a lyrical level.
The album marks something of a step forward for the band, with the subtle use of string arrangements, moving away somwhat from the lo-fi style and sound they are known for.
Recent fatherhood hasn’t dulled Darnielle’s vision and skills one bit. Kicking off with “Amy (AKA Spent Gladiator I)”, the tracks on this latest release traverse some dark waters, such as abuse at the hands of religion on “Cry For Judas” and life at the edge on “The Diaz Brothers”.
However, the genius of The Mountain Goats is that there always exists hope and a sense of impending redemption in the evocative tales they tell, and a heartening absence of self-pity or wallowing.
This is another strong release from the band, and marks an ideal entry point for newcomers to The Mountain Goats.
