Search - Mountain Goats :: Zopilote Machine

Early goats

Kristopher Kincaid | Vietnam | 01/18/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm pretty sure that this was the first full-length Mountain Goats album to make it onto CD. It's been out of print for awhile which is too bad. Though it's a hit and miss affair and contains less real standouts than later records, it's notable for having what is arguably (says John) the most beloved song among fans, "Going to Georgia," a blissful angry wail of a song that's got more fire in it that you come to expect from the source. When he plays it live the veins bulge in his forehead somethin terrible. The weaker tracks here are weaker than most, though "Georgia," "Alpha Sun Hat," "Young Caesar 2000," "Orange Ball of Hate" and a few others reach classic Goats status."

The lost art of story telling in music returns

Chris Edwards | East Texas | 04/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Zopilote Machine" is the Mountain Goats' first proper long-playing album, and is, in the words of the liner notes, a "19-song mater ferricrepina magna feocia." Singer/songwriter John Darnielle's frenetic acoustic strumming almost sounds reminiscent of an old forgotten Folkways release on several of the songs, like the opening "Alpha Incipiens" and "Orange Ball of Hate," just to name a couple of examples. Darnielle's songs on this album aren't quite as wordy as some of his later work (like his stuff on "All Hail West Texas") but the songs all have that trademark Darnielle wit about them, and his voice is in fine form, not to mention that the guy is an obscenely great songwriter.

"Sinaloan Milk Snake Song," with its guy/girl harmonies is as irresistable of a pop song as possible. Great music here, enjoy."