I am going to stick you in the eye with a foreign object. – The Mountain Goats “Foreign Objects”

This is the year for lyrics. Frank Turner is in my list because of his words. Reggie Watts is in my list because of his snark. The Mountain Goats are in my list because I think my friends have said many of these things about themselves or me.

But The Mountain Goats also muster the same satisfied grin from me that is reserved to They Might Be Giants. Only John Darnielle, writer in all senses, is more personal in his lyrical subject matter. “Istanbul” is a rollicking good time, but it doesn’t express the unreasonable optimism that strikes just after losing your job and your girlfriend.

There’s no real point to cynicism.  The whoomp whoomp baritone saxophone says we all know we’re horrible, but let’s try to have a party anyway. “Ba, ba da da, ba ba ba da, foreign object.”

The Mountain Goats play Saturday Sept. 24th at 815pm at the WNKU stage. I will be there. I will sing like I’m seventeen and will poke you in the eye.