Beat the Champ
by The Mountain Goats
  • Record Label: Merge
  • Release Date: Apr 7, 2015
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
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  1. Scottview
    Apr 19, 2015
    9
    Great album. Not quite everything's a winner, but it's highlights are undeniable. This album has great song writing that goes hand in hand with suitably crisp and warm instrumentals to successfully create a variety of different and involving soundscapes.

    Unless you're bitter from having been stabbed in the eye with a foreign object, it's an easy recommendation.
  2. Custom_Concerns
    Apr 27, 2015
    8
    Though nothing on it is incredible, Beat the Champ seems to have accomplished exactly what it meant to: it is an album full of memorable, straightforward indie folk rock songs with lyrics that are more complicated than the instrumentation – but not in a bad way. For a band that has been spewing out records for 20 years now, the Mountain Goats don't seem to have lost their edge. This is aThough nothing on it is incredible, Beat the Champ seems to have accomplished exactly what it meant to: it is an album full of memorable, straightforward indie folk rock songs with lyrics that are more complicated than the instrumentation – but not in a bad way. For a band that has been spewing out records for 20 years now, the Mountain Goats don't seem to have lost their edge. This is a must-listen album of 2015.… Expand
  3. ElroyRosenberg
    Jun 13, 2015
    8
    This album, whilst perhaps not the most exciting or rivetingly-experimental album out there, has well-written songs aplenty. The songs rumble along nicely, brilliantly written and performed, and you don't have to think too much about them. Also, don't underestimate how difficult it is to write lyrics this good when your subject matter is limited to wrestling.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Dusted Magazine
    Aug 5, 2015
    80
    One of the best Mountain Goats records.
    Read full review
  2. Punknews.org (Staff)
    May 6, 2015
    90
    This is another great Mountain Goats album. If you are a fan you probably have this already but if not, got get it asap. If you’re unfamiliar, this is as good a place as his masterwork The Sunset Tree to start, as this is like the sequel, but coming from a seemingly lighthearted place with the wrestling theme.
    Read full review
  3. Mojo
    Apr 22, 2015
    80
    Witty, tender pieces to charm even those for who wrestling means Shirley Crabtree. [May 2015, p.100]
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