The Mountain GoatsJenny From ThebesMerge Records [2023] The Mountain Goats’ singer/songwriter John Darnielle must wake up from his dreams every day with a story line and a song lyric or two. A published novelist who released his latest, Devil House last year, the artist and his band have released a new full-length album every year … Read more
The Salt Collective LifePropeller Sound Recordings [2023] It would be easy on an album featuring a so-called “supergroup” collaboration, with so many established indie/rock artists listed as participants, to lose track of the original songwriters and the actual songs themselves. So to begin at the beginning, Salt is a Paris-based trio that includes primary songwriter … Read more
SALT is a Paris-based collaborative music project led by French guitarist and songwriter Stéphane Schück around a core group formed in the 80s with Benoit Lautridou (drums) and Fred Quentin (bass), SALT offers shivering songs based on transcendently melodic guitars and vocals. The Salt Collective released the power pop supergroup’s beautiful mystery LIFE on May … Read more
The Mountain GoatsBleed OutMerge Records [2022] Singer/songwriter John Darnielle and The Mountain Goats have been on a solid run for a while now, and here on their 21st studio outing they’re out for revenge. Well, to be more accurate, just as the band has released concept albums focused around themes like professional wrestling (Beat the … Read more
The Mountain Goats Dark In HereMerge Records [2021] It’s hard off the top of my head to imagine a more prolific and talented songwriter currently working today than John Darnielle, the creative talent at the heart of The Mountain Goats. (Bill Mallonee is the only other contender that comes to mind.) But of course, quantity … Read more
The Mountain Goats Getting Into KnivesMerge Records [2020] The Mountain Goats’ singer/songwriter John Darnielle may be thought of by some as the poet laureate of all things nerdy due to entire albums drawn from the world of wrestling (Beat the Champ), Dungeons & Dragons (In League With Dragons), 80’s post-punk art rock (Goths), and obscure … Read more
The Mountain Goats are Getting Into Knives with the release of their new album on October 23. Already anticipated by TFN, Knives follows other recent Mountain Goats releases like April’s Songs for Pierre Chuvin and 2019’s In League with Dragons, but it has been more than five years since we’ve had a Mountain Goats music video in our lives. That changes with “Get … Read more
The Mountain Goats In League With Dragons Merge Records [2019] Fire Note Says: Mountain Goats’ 17th album, In League With Dragons, takes on the world of Dungeons & Dragons, and various other wizards in singer/songwriter pop/rock that belies the darker stories. Album Review: After addressing the coming of age issues of Transcendental Youth back in … Read more
The Mountain Goats Goths Merge Records [2017] Fire Note Says: John Darnielle tweaks his approach for his 16th proper album. Album Review: As story tellers go, John Darnielle has few peers: Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Sufjan Stevens, maybe a handful of other names, but the league to which he belongs is exclusive indeed. For the … Read more
The Mountain Goats Beat The Champ Merge Records [2015] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats return with a fun, thoughtful themed album. Album Review: The cover of Beat The Champ, the latest album by The Mountain Goats, has a picture of two wrestlers going at it in the ring. John Darnielle’s 15th studio album is … Read more
The Mountain Goats All Hail West Texas Merge Records [2002; 2013] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats’ classic All Hail West Texas gets a remastered reissue with new tracks. Album Review: One of the great things about reissues is having an opportunity to revisit or discover classics that were missed the first time around. The … Read more
The Mountain Goats Transcendental Youth Merge Records [2012] Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats 14th LP Transcendental Youth is as earnest as ever. Album Review: The Mountain Goats is fueled by John Darnielle, who has collaborated with many performers over the years under the band’s moniker. On the band’s 14th album, Transcendental Youth, the quality … Read more