Review: The Mountain Goats, 'Beat The Champ' Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker says The Mountain Goats' concept album about pro wrestling is filled with a remarkable range of melodies and moods.

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Finds Refuge In The Ring

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Finds Refuge In The Ring

  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/399590907/399609923" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

The Mountain Goats have a new album called Beat The Champ. It's unusual in that it is a concept album about professional wrestling, based on the interest in that sport band leader John Darnielle has had since he was a boy. Darnielle is also a prose writer whose novel Wolf in White Van was nominated for a 2014 National Book Award. Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker has this review.