The Mountain Goats

The Mountain Goats are, for all practical purposes, the endlessly clever and prolific John Darnielle and whomever he chooses to work with at the moment, which means the sound may change from project to project, but the overall tone and feel of his work remains remarkably consistent. Darnielle writes finely observed, impressionistic vignettes that blend a clear, realistic sense of detail with mildly surreal imaginings, giving his work a literary flavor that suits his status as a songwriter who is also a successful novelist. There are Mountain Goats albums that emerge from historical deep dives, vividly rendered autobiography, liturgical exploration, and modern anthropological study. Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan came from a dream. In May 2023, John Darnielle took to his phone in the middle of the night to document a title from somewhere in his subconscious. Because this is the Mountain Goats-a band known for avoiding the easy route, always challenging themselves to push a step beyond-Darnielle not only decided to complete this mysterious project but also to deliver it as a full-on musical that stands as the most conceptually detailed and musically elaborate project in the band's ever-expanding catalog. Support from Craig Finn and the Band of Forgiveness.