The Mountain Goats go in a new direction, or don’t, depending on your perspective, with “Corsican Mastiff Stride.”

Track: “Corsican Mastiff Stride”
Album: Getting Into Knives (2020)

I have opened and closed the window to write this one more than a dozen times over the last few months. I find it very hard to talk about Getting Into Knives, and “Corsican Mastiff Stride” specifically. It’s a jaunty little song, quick and explosive, but it resists further discussion. But is that the song or is that me?

I’ve told this story before, but years ago I saw a bartender that had a huge Mountain Goats tattoo on their arm. When I complimented it, they said they don’t really listen to them anymore. I found that surprising and almost unthinkable. I was reminded of it during my third time listening to Getting Into Knives as I bounced off it again. It wasn’t that I disliked it, it’s that I just couldn’t find purchase. We’ve spent a lot of time on this site talking about if the Mountain Goats have “phases” or not, but I tend to think that they don’t so much as listeners have different tastes. It is possible to think The Sunset Tree is worthy of permanence on your skin but just think Getting Into Knives is not quite the same thing.

“Corsican Mastiff Stride” is a dance number. It’s a great song that will find you hitting the “replay” button. It’s a perfect introduction into an album that serves as the brighter (sort of) side to Dark in Here. John Darnielle and the band have been exploring larger, sweeping, fuller sounds over the last few years and seeing songs like this one live will sell you on that direction. I love the vocals and the snap-along beat, and I’m going to have to accept that any “challenge” to Getting Into Knives is with the listener.