31 March, 2008

The NME Can Burn in Hell

If there's one thing that can wake the mighty B+A from its slumber, it is a (great) new Mountain Goats record. Or in this case, defamation of not only a (great) new tMG record, but the group itself. In their review of Heretic Pride, the New Musical Express posited that the album is "... business as usual: string-laced Americana that ranks alongside other literate types such as The Shins or Midlake."

The Shins or Midlake.

The Shins are an obtuse band which has been relegated to an eternity of being simply likable, and if that's true then Midlake is merely pleasant. The Mountain Goats can muster more passion, wit, anxiety and humanity in a two-minute song than most bands will ever achieve. Shame on NME; this scandal deserves more apologies than the Black Crowes/Maxim yawner.

Triumphantly: Sax Rohmer #1!




and a demo (song for Vamsidasa Babaji):


Buy Heretic Pride, if only for the album title. Wait a week and get all the vinyl too (thx Catbird).