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The Sunset Tree is one of the most volatile, affecting and coherent records he’s made yet.
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Ultimately the album is bolstered by the risks he takes, and though it trips a bit and never quite achieves the direct vision of previous efforts, it's rewarding nonetheless, for the perspective it brings to Darnielle's body of work.
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It's a gloves-off catharsis occurring in real time for the gifted singer/songwriter, and it leaves a mark on the listener as well.
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While the material is at times uncomfortable and discomfiting, one can't help but be fascinated - and a little touched.
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The New York TimesIt may be Mr. Darnielle's best album so far (which is saying a lot) and his most straightforwardly autobiographical (which isn't saying much). [25 Apr 2005]
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That’s the first thing that’s striking about The Sunset Tree: the arrangements on this record are spectacular.
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FilterDarnielle has not lost his talent for storytelling. [#15, p.99]
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SpinDarnielle's written some of the toughest and most open-souled music of his lo-fi outlet's oft-brilliant history. [May 2005, p.110]
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Sunset Tree is Darnielle’s finest hour.
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UncutThe further [Darnielle] drifts from his lo-fi allegiances and into lush studio environments, the more autobiography intersects with the dramatic storytelling which has always been the Californian's forte. [Jun 2005, p.98]
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The Sunset Tree may just be The Mountain Goats's most poetic, coherent work.
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There’s so much here to enjoy, we can tolerate the occasional lyrical overreach.
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This is a record that only Darnielle could pull off: in the hands of a less skilled writer and vocalist, it would fall flat or grate the nerves as so much hyperemotional posturing.
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Cathartic and essential.
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BlenderThese surging, wordy confessionals are sometimes redemptive but never maudlin. [May 2005, p.121]
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The emotions on The Sunset Tree are raw. It's a testament to Darnielle's abilities that he reins in those emotions enough to create such a powerful and coherent exhibit of his internal life.
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The Sunset Tree feels like Darnielle's most personal record to date, and it's certainly his most immediately accessible, musically speaking.
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Clearly, John Darnielle has a life story that’s inspiring as more than just the tale of an unconventional indie rock hero. Now that he’s making his best music, I think we can all be glad that he’s finally telling it.
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You might think that an album about child abuse would be hard to listen to, but as always, hearing Darnielle's lyrics is an honor and a privilege.
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The cleaned-up sound and aggressive posturing make The Mountain Goats sound like a youthful Bruce Springsteen backed by The Waterboys.
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The Mountain Goats find a way to bounce back from the psychiatrist-worthy lyrics with strong, vibrant but subtly crafted compositions.
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Entertainment WeeklyHe sometimes wastes these tales on coy indie-folk, but when he cuts to the bone... the results can be extraordinary. [13 May 2005, p.89]
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Oddly, at times it seems like Darnielle works more movingly and astutely when he's inventing his tales rather than partaking in personal anecdote and/or trauma.
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MojoNot exactly a comfortable listen, but Darnielle's candour can't be faulted. [Jun 2005, p.109]
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Digs into childhood trauma with all the acoustic verve and wit you expect from this guy.
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Under The RadarAn album where even the lesser songs contain at least one exceptional moment. [#10, p.116]
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MagnetThe Sunset Tree can be bleak, but it's also redemptive. [#68, p.104]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 38 out of 42
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Mixed: 0 out of 42
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Negative: 4 out of 42
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Oct 15, 2010
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TonyRDec 14, 2007
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ChristianWAug 24, 2006