Days

24th album from John Darnielle and the band. Like so many other Mountain Goats’ albums, the songs are loosely focused on a theme. In this case, it’s a look back at the music of the 70s, 80s and especially the 90s, and how as ‘days’ go by, music often comes into clearer focus. The arrangements incorporate piano, guitar, bass and drums — plus a lot of brass on the 12 tracks. As always with the Goats, it’s a pleasantly intriguing listen — with occasional surprises. (For example, despite its title, track 8 has no hard rock at all!) RIYL: Bright Eyes, M. Ward, The Decemberists, Robyn Hitchcock.
— Francis

Recommended: 2, 3, 7, 4, 9, 12. No FCCs noted.

1. (2:13) Song For Layne Staley — Short, grungy storytelling tribute to the late lead singer of Alice in Chains. Acerbic, mostly spoken vocals. Builds to an explosive sound with fuzzed guitars.
2. (3:12) Charlie Sheen Reaches Out To The Feds — Rousing rockin’ groove — like a classic road song. Guitar and organ-driven, but also with peppy horns and harmonies supporting the lead vocals. ****
3. (2:30) Shallow Grave — Crisp, strummy folk pop. Bright piano, rapid drumming and handclaps — with horns joining in at the very end. ****
4. (2:56) Candlebox — An anthemic tune about Candlebox, a 90s grunge band from Seattle. Electric piano and a simple tapping rhythm, with multiple stadium-sized crescendos underscored by distorted guitar. ***
5. (3:17) Annie Haslam Imperial Phase — Tightly produced pop number about the band Renaissance when they played Carnegie Hall in 1971. Skipping rhythm, keyboards, some funk and Billy Joel-like horns.
6. (2:53) Crying On Eddie Nash’s Grave — Simple bouncy pop. Snare drum, rapid-fire bass, jangly guitar and female harmonies.
7. (2:33) Days — Wistful, swelling melody about how short the time is for all of us. Catchy toe-tapper with shimmering synths and earnest vocals. ****
8. (2:58) Best Hard Rock Albums 2013 — A curious, sweet breezy and jazzy pop tune. Chime-y synths and horns including a saxophone and trombone over a syncopated rhythm track.
9. (3:56) Going To Fennario — Old-timey, country folk tune. Rich harmonized vocals. Keyboards, upright bass, harp, plus brass in the distance. ***
10. (3:58) Woodstock ‘99 — Deliberate, spare piano and synth ballad. Feels sad, drifting and lost. Reminiscing about a singer who “yelled about cocaine” at one of the Woodstocks in the 90s.
11. (3:59) Hidden Majesty Of Later Venom Albums — Another chilling piano ballad. Swirling, reverbed keys plus harmonies from Manhattan Transfer’s Janis Siegel soar as Darnielle recalls an English band that was past its prime by the mid-80s.
12. (2:03) Last Day — A soulful, upbeat, almost New Orleans-style march. Piano, organ and a sharp beat…thinking about what our final day might be like. ***