Review: The Mountain Goats: All Eternals Deck [A-]

Artist: The Mountain Goats

Album: All Eternals Deck

Released: March 2011

Label: Merge Records

Genre: indie folk

Purchase Date: 19 April 2011

Format: mp3 files

Source: Amazon

John Darnielle, leader and often only member of The Mountain Goats, returns with his 14th full-length album. All Eternals Deck features a rich, polished sound to Darnielle's character-focused story-songs, now with a full band. Lyrically, the songs are intricate, witty, and uncompromising, and have a theme of survival against the odds. Musically, they run the gamut of quiet folk to almost unhinged folk-punk. It's a fun ride, and I heartily recommend it.

Rating: A-

Listen to "Damn These Vampires"

Album listing at Amazon

Album not available at eMusic

Review: Esben and the Witch: Violet Cries [B-]

Artist: Esben and the Witch

Album: Violet Cries

Released: January 2011

Label: Matador Records

Genre: dream pop / nightmare pop

Purchase Date: 15 April 2011

Format: mp3 files

Source: Amazon

Named for an obscure and macabre Danish fairy tale, this British trio's sound uses the dreamlike and ethereal tones of dream-pop, but to disturbing and nightmarish effect. (Several other critics have dubbed this "nightmare-pop".) Layered, echoed vocals, whispered spoken-word, guitars sounding like they are coming up from the bottom of a well, and an overall tone of melancholy-bordering-on-despair, this isn't music for the faint of heart. These elements come together with a brooding, dark intensity on the tracks "Warpath," Marching Song," and "Skeleton Swoon," but don't quite gel for much of the rest of the album.

Rating: B-

"Warpath" official video

Album listing at Amazon

Artist not available at eMusic

Review: Starfucker: Reptillians [B+]

Artist: Starfucker

Album: Reptillians

Released: January 2011

Label: Polyvinyl Records

Genre: electronica

Purchase Date: 01 April 2011

Format: mp3 files

Source: eMusic

Another good band with a terrible name, Starfucker (or STRFKR, as they bill themselves on public marquees) is an electronica quartet from Portland, Oregon. The music is upbeat, catchy electronic rock with a philosophical bent. Many tracks include recorded spoke word from the late philosopher Alan Watts, an odd yet fascinating feature. The songs are tremendously fun while they're playing, but they don't have a lot of sticking power: it's been a month or so since I've listened to this record, and I can't remember the tunes to any of them. Nevertheless, Reptillians is a very good album and deserves a listen. Recommended.

Rating: B+

"Bury Us Alive" official video

Album listing at Amazon

Album listing at eMusic