Published at 11:05 AM on August 5, 2009

By Julia Askenase

Mountain Goats Ponder The Life of the World to Come

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle has been lauded by many folks, us included, as one of the best lyricists around. And for his next songwriting subject, he's drawing inspiration from a rather hefty source: the Bible. In fact, each song on his band's October release, The Life of the World to Come, earns its title from a specific verse.

Here's what Darnielle had to say about the whole venture in a statement:

"I guess the obvious question is going to be: 'John, have you had some sort of religous awakening?' and while I guess lots of people might want to be coy about answering that, that's never really my style, so: no. It's not like that. It's not some heavy-narrative-distance deal either, though, and it's not a screed. It's twelve new songs: twelve hard lessons the Bible taught me, kind of. More than that I'd want to wait to say until some people have heard it, which won't be long. Will there be more news soon, quite soon? Like, next week, even? Oh yes there will!"

The album features string arrangements by Final Fantasy's Owen Pallett. Peep the tracklist below, with "Genesis 3:23" already already available for listening:

1. 1 Samuel 15:23
2. Psalms 40:2
4. Philippians 3:20-21
5. Hebrews 11:40
6. Genesis 30:3
7. Romans 10:9
8. 1 John 4:16
9. Matthew 25:21
10. Deuteronomy 2:10
11. Isaiah 45:23
12. Ezekiel 7 and the Permanent Efficacy of Grace

The Life of the World to Come drops Oct. 6 on 4AD.

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