The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

The Student News Site of Appalachian State University

The Appalachian

Newsletter Signup

Get our news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

* indicates required

Review: The Mountain Goats please fans, confuse new listeners with ‘Transcendental Youth’

Editor’s Note: The following reflects the opinions of the author.

The Mountain Goats’ latest endeavor “Transcendental Youth” satisfies listeners’ expectations of their typical albums.

“Do every stupid thing that makes you feel alive,” singer John Darnielle boasts at the opening of the album in “Amy AKA Spent Gladiator I,” an instant-classic upbeat anthem that rings typical of the group’s triumphant tendencies.

Immediately following this, “Lakeside View Apartments Suite” brings the mood right back down with quiet piano and Darnielle’s well-known “inside voice” singing of a PCP addict trapped in a cycle of self-destruction.

This mixture of anthems versus ballads versus fleeting depressive character studies results in the sort of emotional roller coaster that fans have learned to love from this folk-rock group.

Most of the album, both thematically and musically, is what is expected from the rest of the band’s continuous line of work, but while melodies do sound overly familiar in the context of previous albums, it works just as it always has. Even in the songs that diverge from the strict Mountain Goats formula, there is something of a sense that we’ve heard it all before.

That said, a new element has been added to this album.

Horns, and lots of them.

At times this addition feels as if it could aid in creating a bouncy, more upbeat contrast to the ever-depressing lyrics, but most of the time they only swell and fall in response to the expected eerie chord progressions.

In songs like “In Memory of Satan,” the horns sound a little over-orchestrated, but knowing the Mountain Goats, it is possible that they don’t want the listener to feel too comfortable with their music.
As a band that releases a new experiment every year, the Mountain Goats can definitely afford a few misses like this.

Overall the album, as most of their albums by this group do, gives off a sense of hope in hopelessness. While not entirely rewarding to new listeners, those who know what to expect from the Mountain Goats should emerge feeling that their depressing pop-folk cravings have been satisfied.

Rating: Three out of four stars

Story: LOVEY COOPER, A&E Reporter

 

Leave a Comment
Donate to The Appalachian
$1201
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

We hope you appreciate this article! Before you move on, our student staff wanted to ask if you would consider supporting The Appalachian's award-winning journalism. We are celebrating our 90th anniversary of The Appalachian in 2024!

We receive funding from the university, which helps us to compensate our students for the work they do for The Appalachian. However, the bulk of our operational expenses — from printing and website hosting to training and entering our work into competitions — is dependent upon advertising revenue and donations. We cannot exist without the financial and educational support of our fellow departments on campus, our local and regional businesses, and donations of money and time from alumni, parents, subscribers and friends.

Our journalism is produced to serve the public interest, both on campus and within the community. From anywhere in the world, readers can access our paywall-free journalism, through our website, through our email newsletter, and through our social media channels. Our supporters help to keep us editorially independent, user-friendly, and accessible to everyone.

If you can, please consider supporting us with a financial gift from $10. We appreciate your consideration and support of student journalism at Appalachian State University. If you prefer to make a tax-deductible donation, or if you would prefer to make a recurring monthly gift, please give to The Appalachian Student News Fund through the university here: https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1727/cg20/form.aspx?sid=1727&gid=2&pgid=392&cid=1011&dids=418.15&bledit=1&sort=1.

Donate to The Appalachian
$1201
$5000
Contributed
Our Goal

Comments (0)

All The Appalachian Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *