Many longtime fans of the Mountain Goats experienced a series of mixed reactions associated with the band's move over to 4AD in 2003. For some the first question was whether or not albums recorded in state of the art studios with professional producers would take away some of the intimacy and confessional aspects that had earned so many devout fans over the course of the band's career. While there is no doubt that Tallahassee amd We Shall All Be Healed both *sound* different than the older tapes and albums that featured source material recorded on boom boxes and other less technical means, these efforts have largely demonstrated that focusing on the means of recording is to completely overlook the main power of the Mountain Goats - John Darnielle's enviable songwriting ability. It is that constant which quickly shot down this and many other fears for the long-time fans and demonstrated that the quality and true heart-to-heart fidelity of Darnielle's work would be ever present.
Despite having long since fended off those who were curious as to whether or not most of his songs are based on autobiographical episodes, The Sunset Tree is the first extended body of work that is directly based on real events from Darnielle's past. Given the tie between these songs and actual trauma, it would follow that the songs themselves would and should be completely intimate affairs. Approached from such a perspective, the studio album recently released by 4AD offers a few tracks that don't seem to completely match up with the tone of their subject matter. It is in this regard that, to this listener, the self-released vinyl version of the album titled Come, Come to the Sunset Tree presents a more emotionally bare and satisfying set of tracks.
Many of the truly gut-wrenching songs from the studio album are presented here in distinct and haunting renditions. "You or Your Memory" is given a slight tweak into a sparse and extremely lean tale of cause and effect. This sort of slight change in form and focus is why this album is so brilliant. One of the biggest transformations occurs in "Up the Wolves." It is one of the standout tracks on the studio album with a rolicking chorus and fantastic song structure. On this home-recorded version the song retains all of the charm of the other while also being extremely direct and a bit more powerful, especially when the strumming and vocals gain intensity near the conclusion.
Another highlight to this alternate version of the album comes in the form of three songs that do not appear on the 4AD version. Two of these tracks are absolutely stunning. "Collapsing Stars" recounts in detail the conversations, plots and plans of a couple of disgruntled teens who are hellbent on destroying themselves and everyone else around them. With a fantastic delivery and wonderful guitar strum, never has poisoning a swimming pool been so attractive a plan. Closing the album is "The Day the Aliens Came," perhaps the most infectious of the eleven songs.
Come, Come to the Sunset Tree may prove elusive - it is only available from the merchandise table on the current tour supporting the album as well as from a few select mail order houses. Despite it being a bit of a hassle to track down, if you are a true fan of the Mountain Goats or of truly great songwriting it is a completely worthwhile effort. This one will devastate you every time.
