I just picked up a copy of Get Lonely by The Mountain Goats yesterday. After hearing about them for years among circles of fans whose opinions I greatly respect, I felt it was time to get my feet wet.
I went into it expecting some acoustic guitars and god-knows-what attitude. What I got – from this album that is – is reflections from a guy who’s as lost as one can be at this point in time. Musically, the entire album is soft-spoken, the kind of music you’d play with your head hung low. The tunes don’t deviate much in feel or energy, and these aren’t exactly songs you’d play at a party. No party I’ve ever thrown, anyways. What this does for the album, though, is what I imagine John Darnielle wanted it to do: allow the words to get through and speak for themselves before you judge the song for its chords.
The first song that really struck me was “Maybe Sprout Wings.” The first verse and chorus is what I noticed, I guess, take a look:
a bad dream shook me in my sleep and I woke up sweating.
ran through the dark to the shower,
already forgetting.
tried to think good thoughts.
trying to find my way clear.
let the room fill with steam,
traced pictures on the mirror.ghosts and clouds and nameless things.
squint your eyes and hope real hard,
maybe sprout wings.
Outside of the construct of the album, which I’ve read is about heartbreak after a lost lover, this song really stand on its own. It’s dark, bittersweet, and emotional, and comes across clear-headed all at the same time, like those moments you have where everything in your life is utterly depressing, and you get a moment of conciousness in the midst of it.
Perhaps the most readily likeable song is “Woke Up New.” I can’t place where I’ve heard this one before, but it’s worth a listen. I’ve included it below with “Maybe Sprout Wings,” I think they’ll give you the best idea of where the album will take you.
So, fans of The Mountain Goats, how does this album stack up with past releases? Softer? Sadder? Better? Worse? Lemme hear from you, what album should I be looking at next?
MP3: The Mountain Goats – Maybe Sprout Wings
MP3: The Mountain Goats – Woke Up New