The Mountain Goats: “Philippians 3:20-21″ and “Matthew 25:21″

The Mountain Goats: The Life of the World to Come. Worth your money.

Yesterday the Mountain Goats released a new album (and played on the Colbert Report!), which is always cause for joy and celebration. It’s called The Life of the World to Come and all the songs are named for bible verses (which I’ll include with the links below) and you should buy it. But now that I’m no longer listening to an illicit watermarked copy of this record, I can share its awesomeness with you and try to convince you of that fact (the buying it part).

It’s in general a very mellow album, especially in comparison to Heretic Pride, but not jazz-inflected like Get Lonely – just very meditative, with lots of piano and softly strummed guitars. However, it’s frontloaded with a few more upbeat songs, and here’s one of them:

The Mountain Goats: Philippians 3:20-21 (right-click to download)

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There’s also a track in which the narrator recounts visting his mother-in-law, who is dying of cancer, for the last time. As I have several friends who’ve dealt with this (both recently and in the past), every time I hear the song, I think I should send it to them. But then I can’t figure out if it would provide them any comfort or solace or if it only seems like a good idea because I haven’t lost my parents yet. So here’s my slightly more passive way of sharing. I’m thinking of you.

The Mountain Goats: Matthew 25:21 (right-click to download)

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.