Is the new Mountain Goats: "The Sunset Tree" going to be the album that finally gets me into them?

it's out April 26.

I think the new one is coming out today or tomorrow. Real soon anyway.

(John, if you read this, can you avoid the 21+ venues in St. Louis? It makes me a sad Steve when I miss MG shows because of my age.)

I think in general i'm still hung up on the home-recorded stuff, but i really like the myriad hifi hisses and buzzes that are left on the newer recordings. I can't wait to hear the home recorded versions, though since there's only 1000 copies or something i'll probably have to.

to answer the question: no.
i don't know which albums you've tried, but if you tried any of the last 3 and you didn't liked the Goats then, you won't now.
(We shall all be healed, for example, is a lot better than this new one)

Because strumming guitars is so inherently interesting, right? Let's see, it's sincere, sexy, traditional, passionate, phallic, direct, unmediated, folkloristic, tummy-friendly, Billybraggesque, protestsingerish, familiar, hallowed, bethyname, thykingdomcome, thywillbedone, inheavenasitisonearth, forthineisthekingdom, thepowerandtheglory, foreverandever, amen.

http://www.mungbeing.com/media/the_congress_jungle_mercies.mp3

John is versatile and multi-talented. Is there one release that does it for any one person? There's something on each recording that I like which, spread out, make up a great catalogue.

I love the imagery of Up The Wolves, and it took my a couple of listens to hear the line about "ever since we founded Rome" and realize that "The wolf" wasn't the step-dad. Though I'm still not sure who it is. I guess it's just hope for some surrogate or better mother.

It is a really fucking good album, indeed.

There was a girl at this BBQ I went to yesterday who was wearing a Mountain Goats 2005 Tour t-shirt. I complimented her on it, and she said, "Did you see the show? Don't you love them?" And I had to go, "er, I'm not really into the music ... BUT I think John is a totally awesome person and I love his writing!!"

(x-post)

Part of what really affects me about The Sunset Tree is how it risks cliche in the pursuit of expressing the story, despite its familiar archetypes, as well as possible. I can actually understand why some wouldn't enjoy it - one negative take I heard was "Dilaudid? WTF I already saw Drugstore Cowboy." But if you aren't opposed to troubled adolescent memoir on principle I think this is one of the strongest I've ever heard.

And are we actually rating sincerity now? leighm ... I mean, I guess I can understand people "identifying" with songs, but just please attach a disclaimer if you do it.

I really can’t see how this album disappoints lyrically; any disappointments I have with it are small – because it’s great - and strictly musical. It’s not the ‘hifi’ production as such, but the loss of immediacy that it entails.

It’s interesting that it is the newer, better/more typically produced records that are actually confessional…

Anyway, I gave the album another listening last night after reading this thread, and it's not really as bad as I remember. I think that, aside from the change in lyrical style, it's the fact that it sounds like "just another indie rock album."

If JD is lurking any time soon, maybe he could (anonymously) tell us when he first started collaborating w/ John Vanderslice in the studio (it's been for a couple albums, right?).

I know what you mean – weak vocals, acoustic strumming, yawn. But the clarity of the songwriting and the ingenious arrangements are way out of Conor Oberst's league.

* Still Working on Opinion *

x-post yeah, if you don't like confessional you won't like this.

Well, you all have gone and done it - I'm giving it *sigh* another listening to right now. Really, there are just little phrases here and there that make me cringe (just started listening ... "peddle to the floor," ... "17 years young ...," knuckles don't punch the machine, etc.). I don't know ...

x-post yeah I was totally using it as shorthand there. It's autobiographical nature isn't particularly relevant, but its been brought up by John and lots other perople.

It kind of emphasizes youth in kind of an explicit way. What's wrong w/ being explicit? Not much, but it's not adding much here.

http://www.themountaingoats.net/pics/john_oldstyle.gif

It wasn't your use of "confessional" that made cringe; it's the genre itself ("confessional rock") that makes me cringe. Wasn't sure if that was clear.

Mickey - You'd have a point, but there is a confessional tone THEMATICALLY, not just "Nice to meet you; I'm John. I'm confessing." As you can find in some confessional poetry, "confessional" doesn't necessarily mean 1st P Narrator and gloomy subjects. It's a genre w/ limitations, but not as many as people like to believe.

That being said, I can hear what I DON'T like about it in this album.

The real Bartles & Jaymes.

Agree with the above opinion of "Love Love Love," though I hadn't quite placed it in the album's overall theme until mentioned. What's interesting is that after reflecting on the things *others* do for love, we get "Pale Green Things," which fast-forwards to the abusive father's death. The son was beaten and bullied as a youth, but his first thought is fondness of what few good times they had. For those of us who've lost a parent - particularly when our relationship with that parent was difficult - it's a rare glimpse into the oddly mixed emotions we feel.

I really can't say enough about this album. I can't stop listening to it.

i really like The Sunset Tree, significantly more than Talahassee and perhaps a bit more than We Shall All be Healed.

nothing really has the same impact that the earliest stuff did though. i don't know if that has to do with me being 16 years old and Zopilote Machine just fanning the fires of adolescence... or if that material is just better. i met JD as a youthful 17 year old, bought Full Force Galesburg that night, and that record has come to be my favorite of his records. it seems like he took a few years off before Coroner's Gambit came out, and nothing since then has really had the same relevance to me. but i still like it all!

I'm told "Going To Xanga," "Daedaleus Hotlink," "Box Of Comments" and "Fuck With Darnielle Day (And Everybody's Celebrating)" are already in the can for Blogosphere

anyways, I can't say it enough - I am in love with this album.

It still doesn't change the fact that it does fit comfortably into the hoary confessional genre.

I'll also add that, after a couple more listens today, I enjoyed the trope development more than I had before. But, by now, I've listened to this 5 times through, and it's still not growing on me.

I'm actually kind of stumped by the orginal question. I wish it didn't depend so much on the person getting 'into it'. I can't imagine getting into MG w/ this and them going into everything preceding.

miccio totally OTM. I've been trying to develop an elegant and accurate summation of tMGs for ages and that’s exactly what I was trying to say.

Not that weird, really. I think his notes on the album cover make it impossible to approach it as fiction. "Confessional" seems wrong, though. It's a memoir, and a brilliant one. Question for long time fans: I've only heard the last three albums. I admired "Tallahassee" but I absolutely adore "We Shall All be Healed" and "The Sunset Tree." What should I get next?

Is the weight, the heaviness, of the subject matter what gives it its tone? Is that all? Please explain

Mickey, it's tough to put a finger on. I know that it's not the subject material (although I get the feeling that the subject material might be a reason why some people love it). Maybe it's that, before, it never sounded like those two bands that you mentioned (still doesn't, but no matter, I can hear what you're talking about), or too much of anything else. Maybe I don't think that his new style holds his themes like the previous solo-guitar-n'-boombox style had. Can't fault him for changing it, though.

I finally bought this, um, yesterday or two days ago, and I like it a lot. It's very tender. Warm. Also, whoever mentioned the part in 'Broom People,' OTM. So far, it's just something I want to hear a lot i.e. won't stay out of my CD player kind of thing. I know I'm kind of new/ignored around here, but that's my verdict: Lovable. Oh, so lovable.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/features/0524/050615_music_cdrgo.php

btw, the Random Rules cover - not essential by any means. nice pick, though. i guess you really DO need that rain in the background.

It's an interview with JD done in haiku form!

Q. Preparing yourself
for an ominous ending
What is the magpie?

A. Only a traitor
undresses his metaphors
As if they were whores

Damn that cryptic metaphor that I can't forget about, and damn that even more cryptic answer!

Really feeling this album this evening

but down in your arms,
in your arms, I am a wild creature.