Pitchfork

Mountain Goats frontman and pretty much only man John Darnielle is nothing if not prolific, with another overwhelming slate of releases planned for the coming months. According to official sources, Darnielle has just completed recording and mixing almost 20 songs at Dave Fridmann's studio. Apparently, Fridmann's boombox is hissier and older than Darnielle's.

The Goats' previous album, The Coroner's Gambit, featured slightly more expansive arrangements on a few tracks, with soft strings and guitars being added to the usual Darnielle-with-guitar sound. It's unclear whether the new songs are headed in this same direction, but it's a safe bet, as the record a) isn't going to be finished until September of 2002, and b) will mark Darnielle's first release for the ethereal 4AD label.

Things also in the works include an upcoming Sub Pop Singles Club 7" (release date still TBA), an already-completed album entitled All Hail West Texas to be released by Emperor Jones in January, and a mysterious one-sided 12" for YoYo Recordings soon thereafter.