The Mountain Goats Darnielle relates narratives with a literary flair that elevates his lyrics well beyond most singer-songwriters' diaryesque anecdotes, as hazy visions of an ex emerge from vivid descriptions of an empty lot near a gas station on "Moon Over Goldsboro." His simplest sentiments convey some of his greatest heartbreak: As he adjusts to making coffee for one on "Woke Up New," he sounds on the verge of a breakdown with his breathy, wavering "What do I do / What do I do / What do I do / What do I do / Without you?" These quieter, more reflective songs show Darnielle at his most vulnerable -- a mesmerizing shift from the rawness of his earlier sound. -- Catherine P. Lewis
.: Originally published: The Washington Post: 22 September 2006, Page WE12
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