IN REVIEW: The Mountain Goats - "Beat the Champ"

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As far as album concepts go, there have been some far fetched ones that resulted in great records. Take Mastodon's Leviathan, a prog-metal powerhouse loosely based on Moby Dick, for instance; it shouldn't have been fantastic, but it is. Like Leviathan, affinity for the subject matter isn't essential for enjoyment, but having a working knowledge of pro wrestling (especially of the vintage southwest U.S. variety) certainly helps when listening to Beat the Champ. Especially gripping is The Legend of Chavo Guerrero ("the middleweight champ of all Mexico"), an autobiographical account of Guerrero's in-ring exploits as they related to a young John Darnielle watching on the edge of his seat from home. It's genuine, affectionate and inspired. There are several songs seen from the wrestlers' point of view; Foreign Object is particularly amusing, as the song's protagonist plans out his dastardly deeds with glee. Choked Out is swift and fiery, boasting some perfectly boastful lyrics (example: "Everybody's got their limits / Nobody's found mine"). There is intensity (Werewolf Gimmick), heartbreak (Stabbed to Death Outside San Juan, referencing the true tragic story of Bruiser Brody), and despair (Unmasked!) throughout, the sad and lonesome echoes of former heroes. A late album highlight is The Ballad of Bull Ramos, in which the titular character looks back on his life in the ring as an old man.

Musically, Beat the Champ spends the bulk of its time in murky, mid-tempo folk rock; instrumentation remains tasteful and often understated except where a well-timed boost of energy is called for. As the Mountain Goats' fifteenth(!) official album, Beat the Champ sees Darnielle and his bandmates well in control of how they want the songs to sound, and they seldom make the wrong sonic decision. Overall, while it isn't likely to soundtrack any WWE pay per views anytime soon, Beat the Champ excels in its nostalgia of a time when the ring offered a purer form of escape for fans and combatants alike.

April 7, 2015 • Merge
Highlights The Legend of Chavo Guerrero • Foreign Object • The Ballad of Bull Ramos

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