http://podcasts.whro.org/ootb/2022-08-22-05-26-38-mountaingoats.mp3

While binge watching action movies during the pandemic, John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats wrote the songs that make up their new album “Bleed Out.” The result is as thrilling as some of those action movies are with the main theme being about vengeance.

Darnielle is also an accomplished novelist so his ability to convey the tropes of the movies he was influenced by into Mt goats’ songs is seamless. Darnielle says “ I got this idea to write a bunch of songs where they were all uptempo mini-action movies. Plots, characters, heists, hostages, questionable capers, getaway cars, all that stuff. Gas pedal glued to the floor. I wanted at least one song where the tempo relaxed a little and that’s the title track but otherwise buckle up.”

The band was joined by Alicia Bognanno of the band Bully who produced the album and adds ferocity and force giveing Darnielle’s songs the perfect musical setting.

Mercenarys, tough guys, desperate people in life or death situations are the action scenarios The Mountain Goats borrow from the mostly foreign language action films that influenced them. “Bleed Out” is a musical thrill ride that’s not soon forgotten.