Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Review
The Mountain Goats are a prolific outfit whose beginnings in the early '90s were documented on numerous lo-fi cassettes, 7'' singles and compilations, making an accurate count subject to some debate. Whatever the number, at the centre of The Mountain Goats stands John Darnielle, singer and composer of myriad impassioned, poetically allusive songs.
''Sax Rohmer #1'' is a ragged anthem, the music slipping and sliding like trying to walk along an icy pavement. ''San Bernardino'''s pathos-ridden recollection is borne on mournful strings and gentle voice. ''Lovecraft in Brooklyn'' is urgent and spare, Darnielle's narrative from the edge battling it out with gritty rhythm guitar to impressive effect. ''Tianchi Lake'' switches pace, changing down a gear as though teleporting from urban squalor to something that might just be wistful contemplation.
Darnielle's reedy, nasal voice conveys feeling with a surprising subtlety. At times it's impassioned and edgy, cut with just the hint of a snarl, at others it's jaunty or wry. The music's often spindly core of voice and jangly guitar is given colour by organ, strings, drums and the like. There's a sense throughout Heretic Pride of an unvarnished, lived realness that's raised up and given wings by Darnielle's poetic sincerity. If you're a fan of the quiet backwoods desperation of Bonnie 'Prince' Billy or the literate strangeness of Sufjan Stevens then this album might be for you. --Colin Buttimer
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By K. R. Donnan
Format:Audio CD
This album is captivating, but doesn't touch on the same level as what I have heard before. Whilst I do not like to draw comparisons to earlier material I find myself pining for less production, minimal percussion... the early Mountain Goats I suppose. Whilst I do have a fondness for John Vanderslice's production it becomes somewhat instrusive here and songs that would be better a little more rough-edged seem so pristine that it makes listening a less intimate experience (take Autoclave, which I insist would be absolutely stunning if the production wasn't so clean; Darnielle's words need something of a background noise to draw more meaning to them).
Songs are written with beautiful and resplendent words as usual, lyrics appearing time and again like in the consistently wonderful San Bernardino with its magestic references to the Garden of Eden and hopes of a brighter future. Imagery is always there with the Mountain Goats and this album is certainly not a let-down in that respect. There are highlights and there are moments with such honest resonance that really captivate, such as in the title track where the character about to be taken to his death sings so defiantly, with such truth in his words that the listener is hopelessly touched by it.
As for the overall album, there are some moments that I am not so fond of, yet it is not worth mentioning them. Despite the production- which may just be a personal issue- the album is even a good starting point for anyone wanting to listen to the Mountain Goats, and I spent a good while wrapping myself in all its thought and delicacy. I recommend it indeed!
Songs are written with beautiful and resplendent words as usual, lyrics appearing time and again like in the consistently wonderful San Bernardino with its magestic references to the Garden of Eden and hopes of a brighter future. Imagery is always there with the Mountain Goats and this album is certainly not a let-down in that respect. There are highlights and there are moments with such honest resonance that really captivate, such as in the title track where the character about to be taken to his death sings so defiantly, with such truth in his words that the listener is hopelessly touched by it.
As for the overall album, there are some moments that I am not so fond of, yet it is not worth mentioning them. Despite the production- which may just be a personal issue- the album is even a good starting point for anyone wanting to listen to the Mountain Goats, and I spent a good while wrapping myself in all its thought and delicacy. I recommend it indeed!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Leicester Bangs
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride (4ad)
Those Mountain Goats - they keep on coming. This is album number 15 from John Darnielle, a former psychiatric nurse and writer. Big on autobiographical songs and lo-fi production, there's never going to be a mass market for this sort of stuff, but there's a nagging feeling that it should be more popular than it is. It's intelligent, literate and positively elegant in places, and what with Darnielle's unnatural attention to detail, we're all for it. Now, if we can just convince another hundred thousand or so folks... 8/10.
Those Mountain Goats - they keep on coming. This is album number 15 from John Darnielle, a former psychiatric nurse and writer. Big on autobiographical songs and lo-fi production, there's never going to be a mass market for this sort of stuff, but there's a nagging feeling that it should be more popular than it is. It's intelligent, literate and positively elegant in places, and what with Darnielle's unnatural attention to detail, we're all for it. Now, if we can just convince another hundred thousand or so folks... 8/10.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Firstly I just want to disagree a little bit with "Stipesdoppleganger" who claimed that this album would not win The Mountain Goats any new fans. Well it won me over - it is the first album of theirs I've ever heard and I am mighty impressed with the quality of the songwriting. Lyricism this good don't come around very often - some beautifully affecting lines/couplets which are delivered with John Darnielle's rather unusual voice - not to everyone's tastes no doubt - but nice to hear a distinctive voice in this mediocrity saturated world of music. Imagine my delight when I find that he has done another dozen albums - plenty of material to dive into. For anyone who appreciates good songs, great lyrics all put together with honesty, integrity, skill and style. Brilliant ------- BUY IT!!!!!!
5 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Mountain Goats are a prolific outfit whose beginnings in the early '90s were documented on numerous lo-fi cassettes, 7'' singles and compilations. Whatever the number, at the centre of The Mountain Goats stands John Darnielle, singer and composer of impassioned, poetically insinuating songs. His voice is a reedy slightly strangulated thing that may disillusion may potential listeners. The music is built around slightly scratchy guitars , whether electric or acoustic , but augmented by organ ,piano, cello and slightly hollow sounding percussion. One track -San Bernardino" has a full string arrangement and made me wish that more songs on the album had taken that approach.
I can hear influences like The Go Betweens and Midlake but the name that leapt immediately into my cranium was The Violent Femmes, though alas The Mountains Goats have none of their paroxysmal energy or melodic verve. Though Heretic Pride see,s the band step away somewhat from their lo-fi past with some didactically clear production values it paradoxically robs some of the songs of their charm.
When Darnielle actually utilises the elegant higher production values then it all comes together a bit more. Songs Like "Michael Myers Resplendent" "In The Craters Of The Moon" ," Marduck T-Shirt Mens Room Incident" and the aforementioned "San Bernardino" are all made more compelling by the added depth of the arrangements. "New Zion" has a lovely organ melody, and the title track revels in the strident guitar picking.
Bare bones songs like "So Desperate" or "Sept 15 1983" or "Lovecraft In Brooklyn" lack any melodic impact what so ever and the vocals highlight the need for a stronger performer at the microphone.... Read more ›
I can hear influences like The Go Betweens and Midlake but the name that leapt immediately into my cranium was The Violent Femmes, though alas The Mountains Goats have none of their paroxysmal energy or melodic verve. Though Heretic Pride see,s the band step away somewhat from their lo-fi past with some didactically clear production values it paradoxically robs some of the songs of their charm.
When Darnielle actually utilises the elegant higher production values then it all comes together a bit more. Songs Like "Michael Myers Resplendent" "In The Craters Of The Moon" ," Marduck T-Shirt Mens Room Incident" and the aforementioned "San Bernardino" are all made more compelling by the added depth of the arrangements. "New Zion" has a lovely organ melody, and the title track revels in the strident guitar picking.
Bare bones songs like "So Desperate" or "Sept 15 1983" or "Lovecraft In Brooklyn" lack any melodic impact what so ever and the vocals highlight the need for a stronger performer at the microphone.... Read more ›
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 12 reviews
4.9 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
