Bitter Melon Farm cover

Bitter Melon Farm

The Mountain Goats · 1999

66 min · 27 tracks · indie folk

A tapestry of lo-fi indie folk weaving together personal narratives and eclectic instrumentation.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • wave-like pacing with surprises
  • personal narratives to reflect on
  • short tracks for quick listens
  • late-night quiet contemplation
  • eclectic instrumentation for exploration

Maybe skip if you want

  • seeking high-energy anthems
  • prefer longer cohesive pieces

Where this album fits

Career context
When 'Bitter Melon Farm' was released in 1999, The Mountain Goats were transitioning from home recordings to a more refined studio sound. This album marked their first release on the label Absolutely Kosher, representing a pivotal moment in their career as they began to reach a wider audience with their unique storytelling style.
Stylistic neighbors
Sufjan Stevens· Iron & Wine· Fleet Foxes

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Noche del Guajolote 2:03
  • 2 Going to Bangor 1:36
  • 3 Against Agamemnon 2:10
  • 4 Going to Cleveland 3:07
  • 5 Early Spring 2:20
  • 6 Historiography 2:53
  • 7 No, I Can't 3:25
  • 8 Alpha Desperation March 2:51
  • 9 Going to Monaco 2:40
  • 10 Star Dusting 2:15
  • 11 Teenage World 2:27
  • 12 Going to Santiago 2:27
  • 13 Sail On 2:57
  • 14 Black Molly 2:24
  • 15 Rain Song 1:54
  • 16 The Bad Doctor 3:39
  • 17 Alpha Double Negative: Going to Catalina 2:43
  • 18 Pure Intentions 2:14
  • 19 The Lady From Shanghai 2:10
  • 20 Pure Love 2:19
  • 21 Song for an Old Friend 2:25
  • 22 Snow Song 2:04
  • 23 Faithless Bacchant Song 1:59
  • 24 Short Song About the 10 Freeway 1:47
  • 25 No, I Can't 3:36
  • 26 Song for Dana Plato 1:54
  • 27 The Sign 2:28

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata