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John Darnielle is no stranger to near-operatic narratives, weaving tales of self-destructive couples and his own childhood into album-length stories. But while those were firmly in the Mountain Goats' folk-y rock mode, the band's new album Goths reportedly contains no guitars. But just because the six-strings are absent, that doesn't mean you can't use, er, actual string sections, as newly released leadoff track "Rain on Soho" demonstrates with true operatic flair.A far cry from the peppier "Andrew Eldritch Is Moving to Leeds," "Rain in Soho" is dark, dramatic and driving as Darnielle sings of blood pacts, serpent teeth, and friends lost, with a phantom choir backing him up on each phrase. It's a somber opening of the curtains for the album's concept about literal goths, and also a kickass orchestra-driven rock song. Listen to "Rain in Soho" below.Phil is one of those insufferable people who listened to classical music as a child. He's on Twitter.
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