The Mountain Goats- Tallahassee (2002)

This is one of those just in case posts. If we've known one another for more than 15 minutes and discussed music at all, you probably know that The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle is one of my favorite musicians ever. Why? Because he is the best lyricist ever. Period. If you're familiar with The Mountain Goats I defy you to name a better lyricist. If you're not familiar with The Mountain Goats, get familiar. Now. Trust me, as a guy who spends most of his time bowed before the altar of the almighty riff, the only way a musician who, for most of his career, recorded albums in his bathroom with just an acoustic guitar could be counted amongst my favorite musicians is by being an extraordinary wordsmith.

Tallahassee happens to be my favorite Mountain Goats album as well as a great starting place for the uninitiated. Tallahassee captures The Mountain Goats in a transitional period, after Darnielle's lo-fi unaccompanied acoustic recordings and before The Mountain Goats became full band with well produced albums. Tallahassee in many ways combines the best of both eras, with good production and occasional drum, bass and other instrumental accompaniment, but for the most part is just Darnielle and an acoustic guitar.

This comes more highly recommended than anything else I have posted on this blog.

The Mountain Goats on last.fm

Everybody's favorite Mountain Goats song ever:


One of my personal favorites from this album:


Get it here.

Hot Snakes- Suicide Invoice (2002)

Hot Snakes was a post-hardcore band from San Diego, CA. They featured members of Drive Like Jehu and Rocket From The Crypt and sound quite a bit like the former. I've seen Hot Snakes described as "hardcore garage punk," which is just about as accurate a description as possible. Suicide Invoice is without question my favorite of the three Hot Snakes' full lengths. Like the other albums, Suicide Invoice features some fast, galloping garage rock riffs, a thundering rhythm section and Rick Froberg's snotty vocals. However, throughout the album there are more mid-paced tracks and sections that sound like a nastier Fugazi. Who doesn't like galloping, guitar-driven, garage punk? Thats' right, nobody.



Get it here.
Gems: I Hate The Kids, Gar Forgets His Insulin, Suicide Invoice, Paid In Cigarettes, LAX, Why Does It Hurt, Unlisted.