The Mountain Goats: All Eternals Deck

The Mountain Goats
All Eternals Deck
Merge Records [2011]









Fire Note Says: The Mountain Goats fully embrace their trio status and showcase it on the excellent All Eternals Deck!

Album Review:
All Eternals Deck represents the official third album from John Darnielle's more rock focused trio version of his longstanding band The Mountain Goats, that includes bassist Peter Hughes and Superchunk drummer Jon Wurster. This record, more so then previous efforts, feels and sounds like their most truly cohesive album to date, as The Mountain Goats have spent plenty of quality time as a real unit over the last several years and it shows. It comes through most, as you take All Eternals Deck at its full 42 minute running time because regardless of tempo, you still can hear all three member's parts. On the excellent Life Of The World To Come [2009] this was not always the case because Hughes and Wurster actually sat some of the tracks out. Basically, when you don't play in the game the entire time the noticeable teamwork falls through cracks. This alone helps set All Eternals Deck a notch up from a band aspect but as Darnielle becomes more comfortable just being the lead vocal, his confidence has also become more dynamic. Each song here lyrically soars as Darnielle's delivery is spot on, inviting and intriguing. Right from the interesting opening track "Damn The Vampires" to the rocker "Estate Sale Sign", you realize that The Mountain Goats are on the perfect course while still throwing some new pieces like the trio of male choristers that back up the quirky and great "High Hawk Season", while the background string section in "Outer Scorpion Squadron" lets Darnielle's voice get the much deserved spotlight. The Mountain Goats have found their strength with this fully realized trio and All Eternals Deck benefits song after song here, which only gets stronger and better with repeat plays!

Key Tracks: "Damn The Vampires", "Outer Scorpion Squadron", "Age Of Kings"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Iron & Wine
Barton Carroll
The Weakerthans

The Mountain Goats: The Life Of The World To Come [Fire Note Review 12/9/09]

The Mountain Goats Website
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Merge Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony