The Mountain Goats Album: “Life of the World to Come”

For any and all fans of the Mountain Goats,

After listening to this album all morning, I can honestly say that this has quickly become one of my favorite tMG's albums. I do not think I enjoy is more than "We Shall Be Healed" or "All Hail West Texas", but it has already surpassed "Get Lonely" and "Heretic Pride", both albums that I love. As for its place with "Tallahassee" and "The Sunset Tree", I just think that I cannot decide yet.

The album opens slowly, not quite as understated as "Wild Sage" is for an album opener, but still soft and cool. Then we move quickly into "Psalms" which hits nicely, heavier, and still with the lyrics of John Darnielle which always echo towards a quite desperation, an overall voice of hope in a time of confusion and let-down. The album continues this pattern of softer songs, some solo type works with just John and the piano or guitar, and a few full band rockers, but nothing nearly as hard-hitting as "Lovecraft in Brooklyn" or anything along those lines.

High Points for me:

"1 John 4:16" is simply amazing. This songs sang directly to me. I could not think of anything except past loves and desires, not to mention trying to look forward in these scary times of stress and loss. Whenever John sings "I know that you thinking of me because it's just about to rain" I almost break down. I have now listen to the track at least six times and cannot get over it.

Low Point:

So if you buy from here, you get a bonus track, but also check on the apple site because they have a different bonus track that you can download as a single. I recommend spending the buck on that, but it is a low point because I hate to give apple my money at all and I hate when the record companies release songs like this, forcing you to go to a certain company that you may not like when all you want to do is listen to someone that you like.

Also, as for the album, I can see someone finding it a bit boring. It reminds me in a way of "Get Lonely" in that sense. It is slow and understating, which may turn some people away. Give it a chance and listen to it a few times. It might take a few passes to really start catching those John Darnielle lines. I know every fan of tMGs has certain lines that speak to them, so give it a shot, but as for a pop album, it can be kind of slow and lacking in dynamics.

To sum up everything here: This is a 5 star album, no doubt about it, but is it for everyone? No. This is not an album that just anyone will enjoy, but that is the same for all of the albums from The Mountain Goats. Also, give it a few passes before you place judgment. If you are a fan of the lo-fi folk style, you are not going to get any of that. If you are a fan of the "Get Lonely"/"The Sunset Tree" style, then I think you will enjoy this one for sure. With all of the piano work on this album (by far the most of any album so far by John), a lot of the songs are in the style of the tracks from "Satanic Messiah" and "Black Pear Tree".

I hope I covered the album well enough for everyone here. I know if you are new to tMGs, then all of these references will go right over you, but if you like what you have heard so far, trust me, you will soon know all of these songs and albums very well. This is just another stellar piece of artwork in a long string of brilliant albums. Get it!

I was almost reluctant to buy this as (except for Lovecraft in Brooklyn) I was not too wild about Heretic Pride. Life of the World to Come took me totally and pleasantly by surprise. No one goes straight to the heart like John Darnielle and I'm not talking in a sentimental or sickly sweet way. The songwriting indicates someone who took his talent and became it's master. The arrangements are perfect and some have a jazzy, Joni Mitchell feel to them that works very well. 1 John 4;16 (?) and Matthew 21;24 (tracks 8 and 9) are some of the most sublimely beautiful songs that Darnielle has ever written. Who else could write such a beautiful song about watching someone you love die as the Matthew 21;24 song proves. Hard to call one MGs album my favorite but this is up there wityh We Shall All Be Healed, The Sunset Tree and All Hail West Texas for me. This may surpass The Aeroplane Over The Sea as my favorite record of all time.