The Mountain Goats are, for all practical purposes, the endlessly clever and prolific John Darnielle, who writes finely observed, impressionistic vignettes that blend a clear, realistic sense of detail with mildly surreal imaginings, giving his work a literary flavor that suits his status as a songwriter who is also a successful novelist. Darnielle long worked with a rotating lineup of musicians, which means the sound may change from project to project, but the overall tone and feel of his work remains remarkably consistent.His early Mountain Goats releases were lo-fi, cassett...