The Mountain Goats have announced a new album Jenny from Thebes, the sequel to 2002's All Hail West Texas. It's out October 27 via Merge Records.
Jenny from Thebes is the musical backstory of Jenny, a recurring character in the Mountain Goats' catalogue that first emerged in the 2002 album.
Produced by Grammy-award winner Trina Shoemaker with guitar by Alicia Bognanno (Bully), horn and string arrangements by Matt Douglas, and backing vocals from Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's and Matt Nathanson, Jenny from Thebes is a far cry from the predecessor bandleader John Darnielle recorded by himself. "If we're going to do a sequel to a record that was recorded almost entirely on a boombox," said Darnielle, "why not do the opposite and make it as big as possible?"
To coincide with the album announcement, the Mountain Goats have shared the single "Clean Slate." Listen to it below, where you can also see the album tracklist.
Darnielle said about the track in a press release:
We're proud to reveal "Clean Slate," the first song from our new album, Jenny from Thebes. People like to hedge bets by using terms like 'concept album' but let's be clear, this is a rock opera about a woman named Jenny, who buys a Kawasaki to ride as far away as she can from a town she's been carrying on her shoulders too long. "Clean Slate" sets the scene: this is the house Jenny rents; these are the people who crash there when they need a place to stay; this is where she's at in the process of becoming someone other than the keyholder she's been. Produced by Trina Shoemaker! Played by the Mountain Goats at the Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Respect to the real pirates of west Texas, still out there on the roads: may you remain one step ahead forever!
Jenny from Thebes:
1. Clean Slate
2. Ground Level
3. Only One Way
4. Fresh Tattoo
5. Cleaning Crew
6. Murder at the 18th St. Garage
7. From the Nebraska Plant
8. Same as Cash
9. Water Tower
10. Jenny III
11. Going to Dallas
12. Great Pirates
Jenny from Thebes is the musical backstory of Jenny, a recurring character in the Mountain Goats' catalogue that first emerged in the 2002 album.
Produced by Grammy-award winner Trina Shoemaker with guitar by Alicia Bognanno (Bully), horn and string arrangements by Matt Douglas, and backing vocals from Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's and Matt Nathanson, Jenny from Thebes is a far cry from the predecessor bandleader John Darnielle recorded by himself. "If we're going to do a sequel to a record that was recorded almost entirely on a boombox," said Darnielle, "why not do the opposite and make it as big as possible?"
To coincide with the album announcement, the Mountain Goats have shared the single "Clean Slate." Listen to it below, where you can also see the album tracklist.
Darnielle said about the track in a press release:
We're proud to reveal "Clean Slate," the first song from our new album, Jenny from Thebes. People like to hedge bets by using terms like 'concept album' but let's be clear, this is a rock opera about a woman named Jenny, who buys a Kawasaki to ride as far away as she can from a town she's been carrying on her shoulders too long. "Clean Slate" sets the scene: this is the house Jenny rents; these are the people who crash there when they need a place to stay; this is where she's at in the process of becoming someone other than the keyholder she's been. Produced by Trina Shoemaker! Played by the Mountain Goats at the Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma! Respect to the real pirates of west Texas, still out there on the roads: may you remain one step ahead forever!
Jenny from Thebes:
1. Clean Slate
2. Ground Level
3. Only One Way
4. Fresh Tattoo
5. Cleaning Crew
6. Murder at the 18th St. Garage
7. From the Nebraska Plant
8. Same as Cash
9. Water Tower
10. Jenny III
11. Going to Dallas
12. Great Pirates
