Tallahassee (album)
Encyclopedia
Tallahassee is an album by the Mountain Goats
. It was the band's second new album to be released in 2002, and it marked quite a few changes. First of all, after releasing records (and cassettes) on small record labels such as Shrimper, Ajax, and Emperor Jones
, Tallahassee was the first Mountain Goats album to be released on a widely-known independent label, the British alternative rock
label 4AD
. It was also the first Mountain Goats album to have an official single released, for the song "See America Right."
Most importantly, however, is that this is the first record on which the Mountain Goats is more or less an actual "band." Up to this point, most recordings under the Mountain Goats name have either been solo cassette recordings by leader John Darnielle
or higher-quality recordings featuring Rachel Ware on bass. On Tallahassee, Darnielle is joined by two past collaborators, multi-instrumentalists Peter Hughes
and Franklin Bruno
. It was co-produced, recorded, and mixed by producer Tony Doogan at Tarbox Studios in Cassadaga, New York
, assisted by Michael Ivins
of The Flaming Lips
.
In the songs on this album, the Alpha Couple move into a house on Southwood Plantation Road in Tallahassee, Florida
. The house is falling apart, an obvious metaphor for their crumbling marriage. Sick of themselves and each other, they begin drinking themselves to death.
The album's liner notes, presumably written from the husband's point of view, add another dimension to the story, as does the album's promotional website, written by Darnielle and designed by his wife Lalitree.
Pitchfork Media
gave Tallahassee a 6.7 out of 10 when it first released as well as putting it at at number 176 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.. The album also received positive reviews from websites such as PopMatters and Dusted.
The Mountain Goats
The Mountain Goats is an American indie rock band formed in Claremont, CA by singer-songwriter John Darnielle. For many years, the sole member of the Mountain Goats was Darnielle himself, despite the plural moniker....
. It was the band's second new album to be released in 2002, and it marked quite a few changes. First of all, after releasing records (and cassettes) on small record labels such as Shrimper, Ajax, and Emperor Jones
Emperor Jones
Emperor Jones is a small Austin, Texas based independent record label founded in 1995 by Craig Stewart. It has released albums by acts such as Alastair Galbraith, The American Analog Set, Roky Erickson, Thuja, ST37, The Mountain Goats, Stick Men with Ray Guns, Peter Jefferies, Pip Proud, Rusted...
, Tallahassee was the first Mountain Goats album to be released on a widely-known independent label, the British alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
label 4AD
4AD
4AD is a British independent record label that was started in 1979 by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, funded by Beggars Banquet Records, and is still active today...
. It was also the first Mountain Goats album to have an official single released, for the song "See America Right."
Most importantly, however, is that this is the first record on which the Mountain Goats is more or less an actual "band." Up to this point, most recordings under the Mountain Goats name have either been solo cassette recordings by leader John Darnielle
John Darnielle
John Darnielle is an American musician, best known as the primary member of the American band The Mountain Goats, for which he is the writer, composer, guitarist, and vocalist.-Places Darnielle has lived:...
or higher-quality recordings featuring Rachel Ware on bass. On Tallahassee, Darnielle is joined by two past collaborators, multi-instrumentalists Peter Hughes
Peter Hughes (musician)
Peter Hughes is a multi-instrumentalist currently with the band the Mountain Goats. During live performances, he accompanies leader John Darnielle on bass. His first official recording with the band was 2002's Tallahassee, but he also sang backup vocals on the song "Cubs in Five" from the 1995 EP...
and Franklin Bruno
Franklin Bruno
Franklin Bruno is an American singer-songwriter, academic, writer, and blogger originally from Upland, California. He has been a member of Nothing Painted Blue since its inception in 1986....
. It was co-produced, recorded, and mixed by producer Tony Doogan at Tarbox Studios in Cassadaga, New York
Cassadaga, New York
Cassadaga is an incorporated village located in Chautauqua County, New York, in the United States. The village is located within the northeast corner of the Town of Stockton, east of the village of Stockton, south of and immediately adjacent to Lily Dale in the Town of Pomfret, and north of the...
, assisted by Michael Ivins
Michael Ivins
Michael Lee Ivins is the bassist and one of the founding members of The Flaming Lips.Along with Mark Coyne and Wayne Coyne, he formed The Flaming Lips in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to Wayne, Michael was found as the bassist for the band because of his punk-rock look, and not...
of The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
.
The story
Tallahassee is completely devoted to two of Darnielle's recurring characters, a married couple constantly on the edge of divorce. They are known to fans as "the Alpha Couple" as all previous songs about them have titles beginning with the word "Alpha" (e.g. "Alpha Incipiens," "Alpha Desperation March"). The final song on the album is titled "Alpha Rats Nest" as a nod of sorts to the other songs.In the songs on this album, the Alpha Couple move into a house on Southwood Plantation Road in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee is the capital of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat and only incorporated municipality in Leon County, and is the 128th largest city in the United States. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida, then the Florida Territory, in 1824. In 2010, the population recorded by...
. The house is falling apart, an obvious metaphor for their crumbling marriage. Sick of themselves and each other, they begin drinking themselves to death.
The album's liner notes, presumably written from the husband's point of view, add another dimension to the story, as does the album's promotional website, written by Darnielle and designed by his wife Lalitree.
Reception
The music online magazineOnline magazine
An online magazine shares some features with a blog and also with online newspapers, but can usually be distinguished by its approach to editorial control...
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
gave Tallahassee a 6.7 out of 10 when it first released as well as putting it at at number 176 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.. The album also received positive reviews from websites such as PopMatters and Dusted.
Track listing
- "Tallahassee" – 4:42
- "First Few Desperate Hours" – 3:03
- "Southwood Plantation Road" – 2:45
- "Game Shows Touch Our Lives" – 3:48
- "The House That Dripped Blood" – 2:53
- "Idylls of the Kings" – 3:32
- "No Children" – 2:46
- "See America Right" – 1:54
- "Peacocks" – 3:44
- "International Small Arms Traffic Blues" – 2:50
- "Have to Explode" – 3:21
- "Old College Try" – 2:52
- "Oceanographer's Choice" – 4:08
- "Alpha Rats Nest" – 2:10
Personnel
- John DarnielleJohn DarnielleJohn Darnielle is an American musician, best known as the primary member of the American band The Mountain Goats, for which he is the writer, composer, guitarist, and vocalist.-Places Darnielle has lived:...
: guitar, vocal, bells, keys, xylophone, harmonica - Peter HughesPeter Hughes (musician)Peter Hughes is a multi-instrumentalist currently with the band the Mountain Goats. During live performances, he accompanies leader John Darnielle on bass. His first official recording with the band was 2002's Tallahassee, but he also sang backup vocals on the song "Cubs in Five" from the 1995 EP...
: bass, guitar, harmony vocal, drums, keys, shaker - Franklin BrunoFranklin BrunoFranklin Bruno is an American singer-songwriter, academic, writer, and blogger originally from Upland, California. He has been a member of Nothing Painted Blue since its inception in 1986....
: guitar on "See America Right," piano on "Have to Explode" and "No Children" - Michael IvinsMichael IvinsMichael Lee Ivins is the bassist and one of the founding members of The Flaming Lips.Along with Mark Coyne and Wayne Coyne, he formed The Flaming Lips in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. According to Wayne, Michael was found as the bassist for the band because of his punk-rock look, and not...
: tambourine on "Southwood Plantation Road"