I avoided this one because of the god stuff I'm afraid to say, but I really shouldn't have. It's got some beauties on it, and some crushing bits:
- Matthew 25:21
Dunno why exactly, but that bit punched me in the gut. Struggle to listen to that song.
Oh yeah, that's a good un. It's about his mother in law dying. I saw him live just after that album came out, and he struggled to get through that song. Took him a few goes.
I've been a Mountain Goats fan since I happened upon Tallahassee in 2002. Don't remember the circumstances now. I think I was just randomly searching the internet for new bands using my favourite genre at the time, the rather vague 'lo fi'. Nested between your Barlows and your Pavements, up pops the Mountain Goats. I downloaded their most recent album, Tallahassee, slapped it onto mini disc (heady days indeed), and the rest is history.
Seen them live probably 5/6 times since, and spoke to Jon after a show once. Nice fella, unsurprisingly.
I always seek out their latest album, but while I see records like Tallahassee, All Hail West Texas, and We Shall All Be Healed as essential, I've struggled to get into the albums from the last couple of years. Goths, Transcendental Youths and the latest one are albums I can put on, enjoy, but then not recall much about them. Beat the Champ got its hooks in me though.
I don't think they're bad albums, I just think its tough to beat the first few Mountain Goats albums you hear. Hard to replicate that feeling.
I also thought the I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats podcast would be right up my street, but it's too much of a peek behind the curtain for me. I'd recommend John's WTF interview with Marc Maron though, that's a good listen.
Anyway, as you were.