Song of the Day: The Mountain Goats - Rain In Soho

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJ’s think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Rain In Soho” by The Mountain Goats, from the 2017 album Goths on Merge Records.

The Mountain Goats - Rain In Soho (MP3)John Darnielle's reign as The Mountain Goats has spanned two decades and 16 albums. In that time Darnielle has cemented himself among the greats of indie-folk, and connected to his audience through an excellent combination of humorous and emotive song-writing in his often conceptual albums. Following 2015's Beat The Champ, which explored themes of death and other "interior" spaces through the lens of professional wrestling, it seemed like The Mountain Goats would never run out of fresh takes on their sound and song-writing. Goth would assure that, as the album is the first of the band's to not contain any guitar. Instead, Darnielle reflects on his goth youth and the experience of growing old accompanied by a Fender Rhodes and an ensemble of rhythmic backing.

The result is a softer album, but one that is no less potent than past projects. Album lead song and today's Song of the Day, "Rain In Soho", is a prime example. The track, which was inspired by a London Goth club in the 80's, creates a huge, haunting sound with repetitive Rhodes chords and a toms-heavy rhythm section. The Nashville Symphony Chorus makes an appearance, giving an extra spooky-oomph to Darnielle's vocals, which were recorded in an echo chamber. On an album full of delicate songs, "Rain In Soho" certainly channels the albums namesake the most as it twists the bright sound of the Rhodes into something more sinister. The song, and as an extension the album, show once again that The Mountain Goats always deliver, no matter the direction Darnielle's song-writing takes them in.

You can catch The Mountain Goats in Seattle at The Showbox on June 5th. You can get more information about that show here. And be sure to tune in the next day, as they'll be live on KEXP on Tuesday, June 6th, at noon. Find out more about The Mountain Goats on their Facebook and website and listen to another song from Goths below.