The Mountain Goats Album: “Zopilote Machine”

If you are reading this review, you probably already know how much John Darnielle rocks. A lot, just to clarify. This first album is absolutely no exception, and although it lacks the refinement of songwriting of his later albums, it makes up for it in raw passion. Darnielle plays just about every song on this album like its the last time he will ever touch a guitar. This raw and powerful playing style is accentuated by the fact that this album was literally recorded on a stereo system with a mic plugged in. The songs on this album also exhibit the fantastic lyrics-writing that Darnielle is renowned for from the bitter sweet half-love poems of 'Going to Georgia' and 'Orange Ball of Love,' to the clever historical and literay references in 'Young Caesar 2000' and 'Grendel's Mother.' This is certianly one of the best Mountain Goats albums, and worth having for every fan. Maybe not a good place to start your collection though, if you are looking to get hooked, look to 'The Sunset Tree.'

"Zopilote Machine" is the Mountain Goats' first proper long-playing album, and is, in the words of the liner notes, a "19-song mater ferricrepina magna feocia." Singer/songwriter John Darnielle's frenetic acoustic strumming almost sounds reminiscent of an old forgotten Folkways release on several of the songs, like the opening "Alpha Incipiens" and "Orange Ball of Hate," just to name a couple of examples. Darnielle's songs on this album aren't quite as wordy as some of his later work (like his stuff on "All Hail West Texas") but the songs all have that trademark Darnielle wit about them, and his voice is in fine form, not to mention that the guy is an obscenely great songwriter.

"Sinaloan Milk Snake Song," with its guy/girl harmonies is as irresistable of a pop song as possible. Great music here, enjoy.

I'm pretty sure that this was the first full-length Mountain Goats album to make it onto CD. It's been out of print for awhile which is too bad. Though it's a hit and miss affair and contains less real standouts than later records, it's notable for having what is arguably (says John) the most beloved song among fans, "Going to Georgia," a blissful angry wail of a song that's got more fire in it that you come to expect from the source. When he plays it live the veins bulge in his forehead somethin terrible. The weaker tracks here are weaker than most, though "Georgia," "Alpha Sun Hat," "Young Caesar 2000," "Orange Ball of Hate" and a few others reach classic Goats status.

This is a classic, if your a true blue mountain goats fan, you should own this lp (if you don't already) if you are new to the band and know there newer stuf, then this lp might be a shock to you. Low-fi, scratchy, no production to speak of pure gold.