what album would you suggest listening to first from mountain goats?
Ok, wow, big question that I'm honored you've asked me. You may have come to the wrong person, because I am very much a beginner Mountain Goats fan (despite having listened to them since 2021, I only really got into them in 2023). The Mountain Goats have an insanely large discography (28ish albums just on Spotify, with many more unreleased songs and i think albums not on streaming) and I have listened to so little of it.
I've only know (here meaning I've listened to enough to know each song well) 5 full albums, and some assorted other songs from throughout the discography. The albums I've listened to are Tallahassee, The Sunset Tree, Heretic Pride, Getting Into Knives, and Bleed Out. It takes me forever to "get through" an album because I love to just chew on one for a few months, and usually I take a break in between TMG albums. With that preface, I'll give you a couple of options!
The Sunset Tree is my favorite TMG album, no question. This is a pretty common fan-favorite. It is rather visceral and heavy, dealing directly with John Darnielle's (lead singer, primary writer, only consistent member throughout the years) childhood and abusive step-father. It is lyrically stunning, and the music has a tenderness and intimacy to it. It has some of the best known TMG songs like "This Year" or "Up the Wolves." I love every single track on that album and every one of them has, at least once, made me stop and just stare for the length of the song. The album may be a bit hard to sink your teeth into because it is so weighty and depending on what music you're used to, some of it may not be very pleasant to listen to (though i quite like how it sounds). Very heavy on acoustic guitar and piano, more folk-ish sounding.
Bleed Out is my favorite TMG album to listen to. A subtle difference, but an important one! It is something of an amalgamation of action/revenge movie tropes and imagery put together to create something that is just FUN!! and COOL!! all while still having moments that speak to the deepest parts of my soul. This one is much better produced, and I think plays to a more 'pleasant' side of Darnielle's vocal style (which is a common complaint among those who don't like The Mountain Goats (understandable, its what kept me from listening to albums at a time for a bit while my music taste evolved haha. now i like how it sounds)). Its heavier on drums, electric guitar and bass. Rock music!
One way I've heard people recommend finding an album to listen to is by listening to The Jordan Lake Sessions (or at least one of the volumes) which are recent live recordings pulling from all throughout the discography, then if one song sticks out to you, listening to the album it originated on. This is a great way to go about it b/c it gives you some agency in picking themes that really resonate with you, and can familiarize you with some of the "Greatest Hits" from over the years.
I can also offer a curated list of some of my all time favorite TMG songs right here that you can choose to listen to or not haha
In no particular order: Have to Explode, Woke Up New, Elijah, Cry For Judas, Extraction Point, Old College Try, (I was gonna list some songs from The Sunset Tree here but then I was listing every song on the album so I'm gonna have to pick a few at semi random) Dance Music, Dinu Lipatti's Bones, Love Love Love, Matthew 25:21, Elijah 45:23, Riches and Wonders, Bell Swamp Connection, Heel Turn 2, Sax Rhomer #1, Amy aka Spent Gladiator 1 (and now i'm cutting myself off or we'd be here all day), Autoclave
Okay I'm sure you didn't want/expect a whole essay. So TLDR:
Three options:
The Sunset Tree (Pros: one of the best things I've ever listened to, Cons: its A Lot. both emotionally and musically. may not be a great starter)
Bleed Out (Pros: well produced and fun to listen to, Cons: may not have quite the same "cuts to the quick effect" as some other TMG albums)
The Jordan Lake Sessions (Pros: autonomy, a large sample, Cons: the rest of the album you pick may not be as great as the one song, and the Jordan Lake version may not be representative of the album version)
I'm gonna main tag this just in-case any more thoroughly educated TMG fans have an opinion on this. I fully expect to be listening to new Mountain Goats songs until I die simply because there are so darn many songs. I hope you find some TMG that resonates with you personally!!