The Mountain Goats Album: “Coroner's Gambit”

For new listeners to the Mountain Goats, an important thing to understand is that there are two distinct Mountain Goat eras. The first is often called "lo-fi." These include such albums as Sweden, All Hail West Texas, Zipolte Machine, and collections like Ghana. Most of these albums are recorded on a boom box, with John Darnielle solo on vocal and guitar, and the occasional accompaniment of one or two other artists. The second era is the studio era initiated with Tallahassee, growing in complexity with We Shall All Be Healed, and reaching its artistic pinnacle with The Sunset Tree. Straddling these two eras stands "The Coroner's Gambit."

On Gambit, John has reached full maturity as a lyricist. Songs such as The Alphonse Mambo, Baboon, and Family Happiness show a depth of imagery and complexity of emotions that rival those of the Sunset Tree. And, it's difficult to listen to Trick Mirror without concluding that this song is as much about his abusive childhood as the Sunset Tree song Up The Wolves.

Musically, the stark folk sound of his early albums is giving way to the rock tracks of later works. Jaipur, the lead track, is full of punk rock energy, yet full of religious images that raise it above standard pop fair into the realm of the profound. Yet, most of the tracks on this album are recorded on a boom box, and the raw, low-fi sound gives this album an urgency and immediacy that his later, more polished work never quite captures.

For a glimpse of the best of both Mountain Goat eras, and as a fine, stand alone work dealing with death and loss, Coroner's Gambit is, I think, the essential Mountain Goats album.

The Mountain Goats have put out an overwhelming amount of material, but I think this album shows all the strengths better than any of the others I've heard. Excellent songwriting and lo-fi production that is still clear enough not to be distracting. Anyone curious about this band would do well to start right here.

The triumphant return of the man, the myth, the cottage industry. But seriously folks, after three years, the Mountain Goats bust back with what fans and critics are calling their (his) best album ever or, at the very least, the most consistent. Recorded both at home in Iowa and in Nebraska with Simon Joyner and his band. Includes the subtle "Onions" and the furious "There Will Be No Divorce." - Absolutely Kosher Records

My first taste of TMG ie. John Darnielle, I can't stop listening to this. John and his often manic acoustic guitar alone, very occasional sweet fiddle and little else. If Sinatra had put as much anger, love, longing and living into his performances he would have made it big. Lo-fi, recorded on a worn out boombox, there are moments here that are absolutely transcendant, a few times when John's (already broken) voice breaks I'm sure that he is weeping. Songs that are explosive, songs that are bitterly tender. Great song-writing and gutshot execution, this is a man with a muse. Tired of over-produced? Try unproduced.

I would disagree with the sentiment that "The Coroner's Gambit" is, in any way, shape, or form, a masterpiece. With that out of the way, the tracks on this offering are pretty good, and I would highly recommend the album to any up-and-coming Darnielle enthusiast. However, I would point elsewhere for beginners; "Ghana" or "Nine Black Poppies", perhaps. "All Hail West Texas" is probably the most accessible across his discography (recent studio recordings included), but it's light on the lyrical charm so prevalent in Darnielle's earlier material.

And, with that in mind, so is "The Coroner's Gambit": I found myself occasionally rolling my eyes at some of the overly-sentimental lyrics (see: "Elijah"). I would retort the concept that such sentimentality comes with the subject matter, as Darnielle handles "Bluejays and Cardinals" - a love song bordering on worship - with much more effectiveness. You, the reader, are entitled to disagree with these assertions, but "The Coroner's Gambit" falls short of lyrical excellence in my book.

That aside, I wish to reiterate that this is a welcome addition to Darnielle's discography. Some songs, such as "Jaipur" or "Alphonse Mambo", are notoriously enjoyable; by no means is this a ho-hum release. "The Coroner's Gambit" will likely spend another week or so in my stereo, and I will likely sing along.