The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
4AD, 2008
OK, now I might not be the best person to review this album, but I do own it and that’s qualification enough in this newfangled world of blogulated reviews!
We have the usual tracks of Darnielle and his guitar proving everyone who thinks Conner Oberst is the next Dylan utterly wrong. Even though he’s been established for a while longer than Mr. Oberst, and has a bit of a loyal following comparable to his as well.
What struck me with this album more than other stuff I’ve heard is how well he controls his warbling melancholic voice with such finesse, and the good sense of instrumental sparseness. Of course, this might just be because I haven’t sat through all of The Sunset Tree.
Favorite tracks are: Craters on the Moon (excellent dramatic build-up), Lovecraft in Brooklyn(pretty rockin if i do say so), Tianchi Lake (eat your heart out Jack Johnson), Marduk T-Shit Mens Room Incident (I want to know more about the lyrics, nice backup singing too), and the title track which reminds me of the last track on The Sunset Tree.
A very solid album from perhaps one of the most consistent (quality wise) artists I can think of. Did I mention the Sunset Tree is Awesome?
The only problem might be the song arrangement in places or if it just ain’t your cup of tea (coupla buddies think he sounds like a mountain goat). It also gets a bit too sappy in places. San Bernardino has touching subject material but… it’s TOO saccharine.
A 4.5/5
Review by Squishy
Track Listing:
1 Sax Rohmer #1
2 San Bernadino
3 Heretic Pride
4 Autoclave
5 New Zion
6 So Desperate
7 In The Craters On The Moon
8 Lovecraft In Brooklyn
9 Tianchi Lake
10 How To Embrace A Swamp Creature
11 Marduk T-Shirt Men’s Room Incident
12 Sept 15 1983
13 Michael Myers Resplendent
