The Mountain Goats release their new album, “Bleed Out”
California indie group The Mountain Goats are coming in hot with the release of their 21st studio album “Bleed Out” which released on Aug. 19. This album is somewhat of a departure from the band’s earlier releases, with the group fully committing to a backing band that was introduced with 2017’s album, “Goths,” rather than the singer/songwriter and lo-fi origins that lead and founding member John Darnielle had established in the ’90s.
The key difference between “Bleed Out” and other The Mountain Goats releases is the use of the electric guitar, which had previously been a rare sight throughout the group’s discography. Despite this addition, all of the classic elements that characterize The Mountain Goats’ album are still present in all facets of the album.
“Training Montage,” the lead single off the album, sounds like a track that portrays just that with the starts and stops laid throughout the song, which reminds me of scene changes in a movie.
“Mark on You,” which has to be my favorite track off of the album, is a catchy tune that explores ideas such as trust, family and growth.
“Wage Wars Get Rich Die Handsome” is an explosive track that has more in common with punk rock instead of folk and indie music, and this is a welcome change of pace from the group’s established sound.
Lyrically, the album portrays different characters through a pessimistic lens. Overall, this album is sure to please hardcore fans of the group by exploring different sides of their sound as well as newcomers such as myself who might be more interested in the harsher, louder sounds presented in this album.
“Bleed Out” is another steppingstone on The Mountain Goats explorative journey. Darnielle and company have churned out some of the catchiest tunes of the past two decades and they show no sign of slowing down. With 21 studio albums under their belt, I’m placing my bets on more quality albums coming soon from The Mountain Goats.