Goths
by The Mountain Goats
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: May 19, 2017
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
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  1. Jimbers
    May 21, 2019
    6
    A deeply consistant entry from the Mountain Goats. GOTHS is frequently funny and has some marvelous musicianship from Jon Wurster, Peter Peter Hughes, and Matt Douglas. The gimmicks involved do hold it back though and some of the songwriting feels less finely crafted than that of earlier works. GOTHS is a very strong album but, particularly after Beat the Champ two years earlier, itA deeply consistant entry from the Mountain Goats. GOTHS is frequently funny and has some marvelous musicianship from Jon Wurster, Peter Peter Hughes, and Matt Douglas. The gimmicks involved do hold it back though and some of the songwriting feels less finely crafted than that of earlier works. GOTHS is a very strong album but, particularly after Beat the Champ two years earlier, it remains one of this band's low points.… Expand
  2. destino
    Jul 4, 2017
    9
    This album is absolutely fantastic. The band is playing in some very fresh musical territory. Fans who hanker to hear a return to the boombox recordings of Tallahassee and All Hail West Texas will probably be disappointed; the band's progression away from their characteristic old-school lo-fi ep sound continues on Goths. The last few albums have been "meh" in my opinion: not great but notThis album is absolutely fantastic. The band is playing in some very fresh musical territory. Fans who hanker to hear a return to the boombox recordings of Tallahassee and All Hail West Texas will probably be disappointed; the band's progression away from their characteristic old-school lo-fi ep sound continues on Goths. The last few albums have been "meh" in my opinion: not great but not terrible either. This album is phenomenally engineered, with well written songs and some great orchestration. Fun horn section accompaniments and some killer bass playing add some very nice layers to many of the songs. I never thought that I would "groove" to The Mountain Goats. A darkly hilarious masterpiece. I love it.… Collapse

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Universal acclaim - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Prefix Magazine
    Jul 6, 2017
    85
    Darnielle’s lyrics never let nostalgia float off in the ether. There’s a geography to Goths that adds complexity and specificity.
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  2. Pretty Much Amazing
    Jun 23, 2017
    91
    Though it’s a tad long, and there are points where I get the sense that the band is still feeling out this new sound, Darnielle and crew have crafted a marvelous record that earns its place in the esteemed Mountain Goats canon while standing tall on its own merits.
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  3. Q Magazine
    Jun 6, 2017
    80
    While these 12 songs carry a lick of humour, there is a sublime tenderness here too. [Aug 2017, p.107]
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