For New York, Stephen Rodrick delves into the world of John Darnielle. As both a longtime Mountain Goats fan and an admirer of good writing in general, I admired the hell out of this piece, and I think Rodrick kinda nails a lot of things in terms of just why Darnielle appeals to so many people. Darnielle’s ability to wed complex religious imagery to a deeply humanist worldview forms the crux of Rodrick’s argument here, and it’s a good one.
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It’s also worth mentioning that — because this can never be said too many times — “Song for Dennis Brown” is one of the best songs ever written. This is not in any way, shape, or form exaggeration.