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I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats

Night Vale Presents

Welcome to Night Vale creator Joseph Fink and the Mountain Goats singer/songwriter John Darnielle discuss what it means to be an artist, a fan, and, as many people are, both at once. Season Two explores the process of writing, recording, and releasing the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons, giving you an unprecedented look at the creative process as it is happening.

© 2017 Night Vale Presents

Welcome to Night Vale creator Joseph Fink and the Mountain Goats singer/songwriter John Darnielle discuss what it means to be an artist, a fan, and, as many people are, both at once. Season Two explores the process of writing, recording, and releasing the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons, giving you an unprecedented look at the creative process as it is happening.

© 2017 Night Vale Presents
27hr 59min
Thumbnail for "Season 1 Trailer".
A collaboration between Night Vale Presents, the Mountain Goats, and Merge Records, I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats is a podcast about what it means to be an artist, what it means to be a fan, and what it means to be, as many people are, both at...
Thumbnail for "101: The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton".
John Darnielle and Joseph Fink discuss the role in their lives of art, faith, and satan with John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars and the upcoming Turtles All The Way Down. And we learn why making the job of creating art more difficult can...
Thumbnail for "102: Fall of the Star High School Running Back".
Subjects covered: Choosing what music to put in your body, mandatory minimum sentences, and what the desert does to artists. Plus Kym Register of Loamlands joins to talk about the local Durham scene and how to tell diverse stories. Premiering a new...
Thumbnail for "103: Color in Your Cheeks".
“Color in Your Cheeks” is a song about immigration, refugees, and welcoming—the simple act of saying “You are not from here, but we’re glad you’re here now.” It seemed like a good year to talk about that. Featuring guests Eno Williams...
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Erin McKeown, incredible songwriter and former tourmate to both John and Joseph, joins to talk technique, showtunes, and how songwriting is like baseball. Buy Erin McKeown’s cover of “Jenny” on iTunes, Bandcamp, or wherever you buy digital...
Thumbnail for "105: Fault Lines".
Craig Finn, lead singer of The Hold Steady and solo artist, joins to talk Catholicism, music stands, and KISS. Buy Craig Finn’s cover of “Fault Lines” on iTunes, Bandcamp, or wherever you buy digital music. It supports both the artist and the...
Thumbnail for "106: Balance".
John and Joseph discuss artistic restraints, Silver Age Latin, and why theaters should stop producing Shakespeare. Dessa joins to talk about and premiere her cover of “Balance.” Buy Dessa’s cover of “Balance” on iTunes, Bandcamp, or...
Thumbnail for "107: Pink and Blue".
This week, John and Joseph look up some stuff on the Mountain Goats wiki and then ease into a discussion of “Pink and Blue.” Kristine Leschper from Mothers joins to talk about their approach to covering the song. Buy Mothers’ cover of “Pink...
Thumbnail for "108: Riches and Wonders".
John and Joseph are back at basement mattress headquarters to talk about their artistic influences and the meaning of home. Eliza Rickman and Jherek Bischoff join to talk about their cover of “Riches and Wonders.” Buy Eliza Rickman and Jherek...
Thumbnail for "109: The Mess Inside".
John and Joseph discuss why simple songs have to be perfect and how our experience of a place will always be subjective.
Thumbnail for "110: Jeff Davis County Blues".
"Jeff Davis County Blues" is a song with a particular meaning to Joseph's life. Julian Koster of The Music Tapes and The Orbiting Human Circus (of the Air) joins to share his dream-inspired cover.
Thumbnail for "111: Distant Stations".
John and Joseph discuss radio signals in Texas, Chaucer, and the origin of the phrase “I only listen to the Mountain Goats.” Andrew Bird joins to discuss what drew him to “Distant Stations.”
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This week: Bible translations, conspiracy theories, and the power of silence. Robbie and Matte from Nana Grizol join to talk about their cover of “Blues in Dallas” and karaoke.
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John and Joseph are back in the basement to talk about treasuring the unknown. Emil Amos (Holy Sons) joins to discuss the heyday of indie rock and his cover of "Source Decay."
Thumbnail for "114: Absolute Lithops Effect".
John and Joseph talk about the final song on All Hail West Texas, endings, and what happens after the ending has ended. Carrie Elkin joins to discuss bringing kids on tour and her cover of “Absolute Lithops Effect.”
Thumbnail for "115: Listener Questions and Kate Leth".
In this post-season bonus episode, John and Joseph answer some of your questions, chat with artist Kate Leth, and talk about what the next season of I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats will look like.
Thumbnail for "116: Steal Smoked Fish (Live)".
Our next season won’t be out until sometime next spring, so to hold you over, here’s a recording of our first ever live show at Thalia Hall in Chicago, featuring special guest Danny Schmidt covering “Steal Smoked Fish.”
Thumbnail for "Season 2 Trailer".
Season Two explores the process of writing, recording, and releasing the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons, giving you an unprecedented look at the creative process as it is happening.
Thumbnail for "201: Introduction".
Season Two of the podcast explores the process of writing, recording, and releasing the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons, out April 26 on Merge Records.
Thumbnail for "202: Sicilian Crest".
For the first time ever, a single is being released simultaneously with an hour-long discussion of the making of the song. 
Thumbnail for "203: Done Bleeding".
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains mentions of addiction and self-harm. On today’s episode, Joseph Fink and John Darnielle talk leaving, learning how to live, and Done Bleeding, from the Mountain Goats’ upcoming album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "204: Going Invisible 2".
John Darnielle and Joseph Fink discuss growth through destruction, the value of creative constraints, and Going Invisible 2 from the Mountain Goats’ upcoming album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "205: Cadaver Sniffing Dog".
This week, John Darnielle and Joseph Fink talk tea shops, guitar solos, expanding your musical vocabulary, and Cadaver Sniffing Dog from the Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons. With an exclusive demo of the song.
Thumbnail for "206: PJ Vogt".
On today’s episode, PJ Vogt of Reply All stops by the studio to talk with Joseph and John about story building and sword buying.
Thumbnail for "207: An Antidote for Strychnine".
This week, John and Joseph talk about their relationships to work, art, and family, our attraction to dark imagery, and what “An Antidote for Strychnine” is really about.
Thumbnail for "208: Younger".
In this episode, John and Joseph — aided by a guitar, engineer Vincent Cacchione, and some prune hamentashen — walk through the evolution and production of Younger, from The Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "209: Anja Keister and Iris Explosion".
Anja Keister and Iris Explosion, creators of burlesque shows based on both the Mountain Goats and Welcome to Night Vale, talk burlesque, art, and fandom. Come to I Only Strip to the Mountain Goats 2 — a drag, music, go-go, and burlesque show featuring Anja Keister — this Saturday, July 6, 2019 (7pm, Parkside Lounge, Manhattan).
Thumbnail for "210: Divided Sky Lane".
Today Joseph and John talk time signatures, why great songs don’t always make it onto great albums, and Divided Sky Lane, a song that didn’t end up on In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "211: Possum by Night".
This week, John and Joseph discuss an important point of real artistic disagreement between the two of them, cute animals, and Possum by Night from the Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.
Thumbnail for "212: Waylon Jennings Live!".
John and Joseph are back in Brooklyn to discuss outlaw country, public figures in decline, and Waylon Jennings Live! from the Mountain Goats’ new album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "213: Clemency for the Wizard King".
Joseph and John talk writing, musicals, mythology, and Clemency for the Wizard King from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "214: Mal Blum".
Mal Blum joins John and Joseph to talk about making a living as an artist and their relationship with fans.
Thumbnail for "215: Passaic 1975".
This week, Mal Blum sticks around to talk Black Sabbath, touring, live albums, and Passaic 1975 from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "216: Doc Gooden".
On today’s episode, John and Joseph talk baseball, tragedy, and rhythm — and Doc Gooden from the Mountain Goats’ latest album, In League With Dragons.
Thumbnail for "217: Maureen Johnson".
Writer Maureen Johnson gets loopy with a very tired Joseph and John on today’s episode.
Thumbnail for "218: In League with Dragons".
John and Joseph talk touring, books, and the title track from the Mountain Goats’ In League with Dragons. Featuring an exclusive demo of the song.
Thumbnail for "219: Hand of Death".
We’ve reached the end of the season, and we saved the first song written for this album for last.

104: Jenny

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November 9, 201737min 22sec

Erin McKeown, incredible songwriter and former tourmate to both John and Joseph, joins to talk technique, showtunes, and how songwriting is like baseball.

Buy Erin McKeown’s cover of “Jenny” on iTunes, Bandcamp, or wherever you buy digital music. It supports both the artist and the show!

Buy the full cover album digitally or on vinyl today.

Learn more about John Darnielle’s two novels here. Listen to more music by the Mountain Goats, including their latest album Goths, here.

Check out Joseph Fink’s other shows, Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead. His second novel with Jeffrey Cranor, It Devours!, is out now.

Credits: Joseph Fink (host), John Darnielle (host), Christy Gressman (producer), Grant Stewart (editor), Vincent Cacchione (mixer). Rob Wilson (logo). Produced by Night Vale Presents in collaboration with Merge Records and the Mountain Goats.

http://ionlylistentothemountaingoats.com
http://www.nightvalepresents.com

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104: Jenny
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37:22