The Mountain Goats - For the Portuguese Goth Metal Bands

[@moltengrace]

When I first heard John on an Adult Swim program named Moral Orel, I had to immediately look it up. It spoke to me in ways music never did, and still hasn't. I was just a kid then. I knew he was, and had something special. I understand what you mean @Matt S. His music has evolved so much since then and I am always hyped to see a new TMG album drop. But even so - it doesn't surprise me. John Darnielle is a force of nature. He may not reach worldwide success, but if anyone asked me what musician affected, inspired, and improved my life the most, I would always pick John. I'd pick John and TMG every time.

[@qwertyuiopo52]

Moral Oral, same.

[@diegobrando6742]

Such an underrated show too

[@bipolar-polar-bear-east9717]

No children

[@josiahsmusicaccount]

"Candlelight playing its tricks, on the walls of the cave." Plato's allegory here is that humans are born, live and die in a cave, seeing only the shadows cast on the wall, whereas the philosopher (or in this case, perhaps the musician, and there's little if any difference) see reality in broad daylight, in not only the beauty and clarity but the pain of the overwhelming isolation of being or feeling like you're the only one in the world to see clearly.

[@matts2806]

Best song on the album? Probably, though there's lots of competition -- it's a great album. At any rate -- who would have guessed around the time of, say, Full Force Galesburg that this guy (and his friends) were going to be able to make music that sounded like _this_? Probably only John. We're miles away from the (admittedly awesome) aesthetic shocks and dark humor of the early cassette work; this stuff is rich, ambiguous, nuanced, and I'm really loving it.

[@MrSilvUr]

Matt S I doubt that John expected this.

[@koolaidman52]

It's been high on my list for the last week. I had been clicking up to shelved then stuck around for this afterwards, now I go straight to this.

[@koolaidman52]

God damn this is good. There is just so much to this. - John's lilting vocals, which have only improved over time - the watery quality of the keyboards, drums and bass (and vibes? or is that another fender rhodes track?) - the flourishing keyboards into the last chorus - the subtle sax throughout, that you only notice retroactively when they come into full force at the end

[@AddilynneLastname]

Set the spectrum for the greyscale; that's better Favorite bold fonts in blackletter Star-crossed lovers and their tragic fates And that one Celtic Frost record Almost everybody hates Candlelight playing its tricks On the walls of the cave Hauling these songs to the light From the mouth of the grave Mark the map out for the treasure; don't say where Find the octave in the shadow and stay there Sleep till sunset, stay up late Bleed bile all night Into an SM58 Candlelight playing its tricks On the walls of the cave Hauling these songs to the light From the mouth of the grave Finally head west but it's a dead end Come home dead broke but still among friends Keep what's precious; drop what's not Without a second thought There's not so many of us But you don't know any of us Work like a gravedigger, let the blood spill Headline really big festivals Every other summer in Brazil Candlelight playing its tricks On the walls of the cave Hauling these songs to the light From the mouth of the grave

[@szasah.2498]

Eternal Peace

[@AlejandroSurianu]

Moonspell?

[@DaemonovEarth]

So,whats the story behind this song?

[@TheZigzagman]

"That song is more from the perspective of going to see metal bands in the U.S., because a lot of the U.S. market is often scene or trend driven, right? Because of arts funding issues and stuff like that, if something becomes less popular, then it becomes way less viable to do it. When thrash metal was big, German and Austrian thrash metal bands could come over and tour."