The Mountain Goats - Get Lonely

The Mountain Goats, now well into their second decade, are a mysterious bunch, somehow surviving in the oh-so-fickle land of music whilst staying well and truly beneath the mainstream radar. They've slowly started progressing from quirky alt.country typified by lo-fi sentiments (their first few albums were released on tape only) to purveyors of crystal clear yet delicate and stark tunes. Latest album, 'Get Lonely', carries on where previous offering 'The Sunset Tree' left off -  simple, yet thoroughly melodic stories of love told with eloquent honesty. At its best on the addictive Woke Up New, everything fits into place with stirring vocals over beautiful melody. However there are times on 'Get Lonely' where the whimsical musings are just a little too much, making you long for a little less bleating. [Jon Seller]