Beat the Champ

by The Mountain Goats

Beat the Champ cover art

John Darnielle crafts a highly specific concept album revolving entirely around the regional professional wrestling territories of his youth. Through detailed character studies of aging brawlers and masked villains, the songs tackle universal themes of mortality, theatricality, and physical pain. The arrangements are surprisingly robust, employing lush strings and prominent piano melodies over the foundational acoustic guitars.

Genres

  • Indie Folk
  • Folk Rock
  • Singer-Songwriter

Tracklist

  1. Southwestern Territory
  2. The Legend of Chavo Guerrero
  3. Foreign Object
  4. Animal Mask
  5. Choked Out
  6. Heel Turn 2
  7. Fire Editorial
  8. Stabbed to Death Outside San Juan
  9. Werewolf Gimmick
  10. Luna
  11. Unmasked!
  12. The Ballad of Bull Ramos
  13. Hair Match