The Mountain Goats - “Autoclave”

au·to·clave \ˈȯ-tō-ˌklāv\ (noun) - an apparatus in which special conditions (as high or low pressure or temperature) can be established for a variety of applications ; especially : an apparatus (as for sterilizing) using superheated steam under high pressure

The thing about John Darnielle is that his writing style is really unlike anyone else’s in modern pop music.  His lyrics are incredibly intelligent and deeply, deeply personal (at least nowadays; he never used to write songs about himself until a few years ago), his vocal style is undeniably quirky — some might say off-puttingly so — and his arrangements are unique and interesting to listen to.  Thrown all together, it’s damn fine indie pop music.  I mean, honestly; who compares their heart to a highly pressurized steam chamber?

In any case, I was never a big fan of the whole “lo-fi” thing.  I can see where people would enjoy it: the tape hiss, the analog sound, the intimacy of it all… yeah, I get that.  There are times when I do enjoy Iron & Wine’s earlier bedroom-recorded stuff more than the recent stuff, no doubt.  However, Darnielle’s expansion into hi-quality recording techniques do nothing but improve the dynamic of his songs.  The loud parts hit harder, the quiet parts are more subtle, and the overall mood is presented better.

Anyway, this song is catchy as fuck.  Just remember: the vocal hook is “I am this great unstable mass of blood and foam.”

Man, that’s heavy.