The Mountain Goats—Days

For me, The Mountain Goats' "Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan" wasn’t just my introduction to the band, it was also my favourite album of last year. Although I’ve dabbled in their back catalogue a little since then, I’ve still barely made a dent, when lo and behold, here comes another new album. This time around it wasn’t such a surprise. I’d kept track of the singles released from the album, but only in passing, deliberately wanting to save myself for the full album. And here we are.

The album is a loose collection of songs influenced by the 70s, 80s and 90s, centred around an accumulation of days, each one seemingly a little further back than the last. It’s a concept that sounds simple enough, but as you work your way through the album, those days become populated by musicians, bands, tragedies, memories and stories, some familiar and others requiring a little digging.

The album opens with “Song for Layne Stanley”. I have to admit, my first instinct was to find out who Layne Stanley was, and it turns out the song is about the former lead vocalist of Alice in Chains, someone whose life was clearly troubled and who died tragically young in 2002. It feels very much like a song about someone who isn’t happy with the life they’re living and wants out. It’s a simple song, but one with a lot of heart, with that element of tragedy wrapped up and delivered in a way only John Darnielle can.

From one tragedy to a true survivor, and "Charlie Sheen Reaches Out to the Feds", which is based on another true life event, although I’ll leave that particular story for you to discover. The track is fast paced and contains what I would call a signature Mountain Goats chorus. This was one of the previously released singles from the album, and it also has a really good video to accompany it.

"Shallow Grave" could, for me, almost have been a track on their previous album. It has that same feel, although perhaps that’s simply my limited exposure to their back catalogue showing through. It’s another upbeat track, but one with some very dark overtones. Somehow, that doesn’t stop it from being something of a foot tapper.

Although it’s a fictional tale, "Candlebox" could very well be drawing heavily from personal experiences. It tells the story of an unknown rock band being chosen to open for Candlebox, who were big in the 90s and, in fact, are still going. The irony is that The Mountain Goats will actually be opening for the band at a couple of upcoming gigs, so life is, to some degree, mimicking art. The track itself has an uplifting, feel good quality that makes it hard not to enjoy.

The next track has a name I’m more than familiar with "Annie Haslam Imperial Phase". She was the singer for Renaissance, who had a huge hit in the 70s with "Northern Lights", a track I still play to this day. This song covers a slightly earlier period and is another great biographical story set to some great music. That description perhaps sounds a little underwhelming, but at over three minutes long, the song is seemingly over in a blink of an eye, which, to me, says a lot.

The historical references continue with "Crying on Eddie Nash’s Grave". Again, it was a name I wasn’t overly familiar with, but a little digging soon nudged a memory or two. Every now and then, the song gave me Bare Naked Ladies vibes, particularly in the chorus, although perhaps that’s just my brain making connections where none were intended.

And so on to the title track, "Days", which is a great, simple song with a great sound. For some reason, I think it would have made a great opening track to the album, almost reinforcing what’s to come. There’s a lovely light synth section towards the end, which gives the track a beautiful tone and provides a nice change of texture.

"Best Hard Rock Albums 2013" is a curious song. I suspect the year is more of an arbitrary choice, although it’s a curious one given that the album is meant to allude to the 70s, 80s and 90s. Part of me feels there are hidden jokes or references in there somewhere, but before I disappear up my own wazoo trying to work them out, I’ll focus on the song itself. It’s another more relaxed, reflective track, although it still maintains a fair pace.

Apparently, "Going to Fennario" continues the Mountain Goats tradition of "Going to..." songs. This time it centres around a mythical place referenced in a Grateful Dead song. It opens with multi-layered voices before transitioning into a more traditional, single voice, folk based song. I’ll admit, when the song opened, my first thought was, “Oh no!”, but it soon won me over. I especially liked the harp, which adds a lovely texture to the track.

Now, “Woodstock” needs no formal introduction, although this is apparently about one of the later Woodstocks, with the choices being 1994 or 1999. I have faint memories of both, but no real recollection of either, and neither was able to match the heady heights of the original in 1969. This is a curious song, but one that, for some reason, didn’t really resonate with me, even though I enjoyed it musically. Maybe it’s the many cocaine references.

Another blatant shout out to a band that started in the 70s comes with "Hidden Majesty of Later Venom Albums". Again, Venom is a band I have no real recollection of, other than in passing. This feels like another deeply personal recollection, and given that the song is soft, lilting and reflective, it seems somewhat at odds with a band renowned for heavy metal. Perhaps that contrast is exactly the point.

The album closes with the aptly titled “Last Day”, an almost literal discussion of the end. It’s upbeat and dark, but at the same time strangely uplifting, making it a great way to close out the album.

Reviewing this feels a little unfair. I formed a huge emotional connection with their previous album, my introduction to the band, so coming to anything else was always likely to be something of an anticlimax. There’s a lot to like here, though. The fact that it’s a little all over the place is either a blessing or a curse, depending on how you connect with it.

For me, I think I’m going to need a few more listens before I truly get a feel for where it sits with me. That being said, I think it’s a solid album, with plenty to like, and I’m looking forward to continuing my journey with The Mountain Goats.