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Neumu.net

Every line is razor sharp and yet brilliantly descriptive.

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NOW Magazine

Though the tunes themselves seem unassuming, based on conventional chord progressions and strumming patterns, that simplicity draws attention to Darnielle's fine songwriting.

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Uncut

There's a kind of redemptive comfort even in the album's bleakest moments. [Sep 2006, p.91]

ShakingThrough.net

Get Lonely reveals an artist in full command of his craft.

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Dusted Magazine

Your lost loves will not come back, but the morbid and exquisite plummet of losing them will, and rare is the artist that can make such a prospect as starkly comforting as it is here.

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Tiny Mix Tapes

Goat devotees should be most satisfied with this addition to the collection, and the uninitiated could find worse places to start.

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Spin

Darnielle's signature frantic strum is all but absent, replaced by languid tempos and quiet full-band arrangements. [Sep 2006, p.108]

Urb

Darnielle displays a newfound glimmer of strength adorning his melancholic tales. [Oct 2006, p.122]

Magnet

It's quite haunting. [#73, p.103]

cokemachineglow

Get Lonely is a record that requires multiple listens (itself a first) but which absolutely forbids them -- I've been unable to listen to it in one sitting after a month. Not out of its weakness or my boredom, but in its relentless despair and my weakness.

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Pitchfork

So Darnielle doesn't sing about anger; he sings about loss, and in a way the results are as dark and brutal as The Sunset Tree.

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Entertainment Weekly

A languid, contemplative work with each song a heartbreaking story unto itself. [25 Aug 2006, p.87]

The Guardian

The band's music sounds as sparse as ever, comparable only to that of Nick Drake or David Crosby.

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BBC collective

The confessional micro-detail of Darnielle’s minimal indie-folk songs – and haunted whine of a voice – remains stoically unchanged.

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PopMatters

Get Lonely sounds ironically their warmest, most subdued, least lonely effort to date, at least on the surface.

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Playlouder

Although Darnielle's incessant lyrical urgency occasionally causes some words to sound too forced, it's these delicate, well placed notes, minimal piano tinkles and two chord strums that save the songs.

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Drowned In Sound

What makes the largest impression though, as ever, is Darnielle's ability to build the most affecting of scenes from the smallest suggestion.

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Rolling Stone

It's sometimes too somber, but Darnielle's persona--tender and slightly nasal, colloquial and commanding--keeps you listening. [7 Sep 2006, p.105]

Prefix Magazine

The urgency and bone-deep brutality of The Sunset Tree may be missing here, but Get Lonely is a gentle, lucid and honest reality that works as a testament to Darnielle's keen instincts for situational observation.

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Q Magazine

A laid-back affair clouded with melancholy. [Sep 2006, p.109]

Stylus Magazine

Get Lonely doesn’t have the full force of any albums in the Mountain Goats catalog.

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Slant Magazine

Get Lonely is the product of a tunesmith on autopilot.

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Paste Magazine

This should go down in Mountain Goats lore as "The Quiet Album." [Sep 2006, p.82]

Blender

Tempering his usually piqued voice and strumming with uncharacteristic restraint, Darnielle marinates in shadowy aloneness.

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Mojo

Though his nervy, nasal singing style can occasionally grate, the songs are redeemed by his breathtaking lyrical precision and eye for detail. [Oct 2006, p.103]

Trouser Press

While the depression accompanying a relationship breakup comes through, several tracks lose their quirkiness in the studio setting.

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Under The Radar

There’s an odd sense of everything being so damn tasteful that you almost want him to overreach and miss some notes. [#15]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.5 (out of 10) based on 18 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Peter H gave it a10:
I love this album. From the opening chords of "wild sage" to the sweeping piano of "song for lonely giants" to the beautiful, sad, fragile but brilliant finale that is "in corolla" (my favourite mountain goats track.) Although some miss the former lo-fi sound of previous MG albums I think that Darnielle has utilised the professional studio to create something really special.

Cables gave it a9:
Haunting and depressing. This album is definately a period peice. If you're in the right state of mind, it bites harder than just about any other record out there. Either/Or and ElectroShock Blues come to mind when thinking of similar albums or moods.

dan m gave it a10:
These guys are my faves for sure. I saw them in Sydney in July and they are returning in Jan 2007. Have my tix already. I love this album. Darnielle just does it for me. So insightful, cutting, intelligent and beautiful at the same time. Right up there with The Sunset Tree and Tallahassee for its gut-wrenching appeal. A stand out for 2006 in my humble view.

matt a gave it a7:
This is okay, but has to be considered one of Darnielle's weaker moments, especially considering how strong his last two albums were. And sorry N C, no offense but if KingHarvest is critical of this album's lyrics and vocals, chances are he hates Coldplay/Keane/Muse even more. Nice try though.

TBOne gave it a2:
Funny thing, I started listening to this album and imagined a middle aged hippy lighting incense in their house, jamming to this. Then song 3 comes on, "It was raining outside, so I cleaned house today. Spent half of the morning throwing old things away". I pretty much mailed it in after that. If it's that predictable and cliche, I'll just go pick up some Bob Denver vinyl instead.

john mc gave it a10:
Involving and beautiful.

N C gave it a9:
This album is one of the best of the year. And the strings add a nice touch to the already great songwriting. The lyrics are raw and real. It's no wonder why Darnielle's name keeps getting brought up for being one of the best songwriters today. His vocals are a little off at times, but that's him being him. Genuine. And yes, KingHarvest is probably into Keane/Coldplay/Muse. He has no clue.

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