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8.3
74829
8.3 |
Pretty Much Amazing
Darnielle’s songs contrast brutal flesh-and-bone realism (though not too much beyond the first five songs, actually) with the strange spiritual calms felt before, after, and even during combat
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8.0
74830
8.0 |
The Music
John Darnielle is the kind of songwriter and storyteller who can turn professional wrestling into affecting drama, infectious fun and a whole lot more
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8.0
74831
8.0 |
Earbuddy
Darnielle can paint a picture with words like few songwriters today
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8.0
74832
8.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
Theatrical, impassioned, and occasionally heartbreaking, Beat The Champ distills the very essence of classic Mountain Goats into another compelling album
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8.0
74833
8.0 |
The Skinny
Beat The Champ’s breadth and scope of songwriting give plenty to chew on, after repeated listens. A treat
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8.0
74834
8.0 |
Exclaim
Yet another highlight in a career overflowing with them
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8.0
74873
8.0 |
PopMatters
In looking through this world, the Mountain Goats have made one of their best albums of the last decade
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8.0
74941
8.0 |
Mojo
Witty, tender pieces. Print edition only
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8.0
74955
8.0 |
Spin
The question isn’t why John Darnielle made an album about pro wrestling but why he didn’t do it sooner
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8.0
75056
8.0 |
Drowned In Sound
A fun, but deeply human, record
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8.0
75088
8.0 |
All Music
Darnielle makes it clear that these stories mean something real to him, and this is a fascinating portrait not of who wins or loses, but those who play the game
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7.5
74825
7.5 |
A.V. Club
It’s remarkable how much sonic depth the band is able to achieve with so little
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7.5
74828
7.5 |
Consequence Of Sound
Notable among Mountain Goats records for its lush production and wide range of sounds
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7.5
74898
7.5 |
Paste Magazine
It’s an artistic success as a literary exercise, and as a wrestling fan it’s hugely gratifying
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7.0
74827
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
The music is fantastically rangy, with discordant strings and jazz piano nuzzling punk-busker guitar
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7.0
75290
7.0 |
No Ripcord
While Darnielle is surprisingly successful at finding universality in his narrow subject matter, the narrative distance of the record precludes the intensely personal reactions that distinguish the best Mountain Goats albums
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7.0
74940
7.0 |
Uncut
Deploys his deadpan indie rock and trademark wordiness to fine effect. Print edition only
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6.6
74826
6.6 |
Pitchfork
There’s a noble simplicity to these songs, reflecting Darnielle’s warm memories of his wrestling fandom
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6.5
74910
6.5 |
Under The Radar
A collection of odes about deep emotion, death, and pinning life's obstacles to the mat. Listen once, and wrestling becomes an obvious metaphor for working class struggles and so much more
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6.0
74919
6.0 |
NOW
The lyrics are the album's strong suit, and for the first time ever Darnielle will be releasing them with the album, allowing for easy dissection
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4.0
75036
4.0 |
DIY
Overall ‘Beat the Champ’ will no doubt prove a hit with die-hard Mountain Goats fans, however as a standalone album it lacks a coherent sound
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