The Mountain Goats are getting ready to drop a brand new remaster of The Sunset Tree this October, marking 20 years since it first came out.
This time around, the classic album will sound even better because it’s been polished up at Abbey Road Studios, and it’ll be released by 4AD on October 17. You’ll find all the songs you remember—like “This Year,” which was the band’s biggest hit until “No Children” suddenly went viral on TikTok and kind of took over. If you want to watch the “This Year” music video again, it’s easy to find online.
John Darnielle made The Sunset Tree with John Vanderslice producing, and the band included Peter Hughes, Franklin Bruno, Erik Friedlander, Alex DeCarville, and Scott Solter playing all sorts of instruments. All the tracks on the updated album are remastered, so they should sound super crisp and clear.
Fans sometimes wonder if they’ll ever get tired of “This Year,” but honestly, it’s just too good.
Looking ahead, the Mountain Goats are about to hit the road for a big tour, supporting their latest album from 2023, Jenny From Thebes. They’re playing everywhere from Atlanta and Chicago to Seattle and Los Angeles, with a bunch of other stops in between. Some shows even have Rilo Kiley joining in, which is pretty cool.
If you’re curious about the tracklist for the remaster, here’s what you get:
The Sunset Tree (20th Anniversary Remaster):
01 You or Your Memory (2025 Remaster)
02 Broom People (2025 Remaster)
03 This Year (2025 Remaster)
04 Dilaudid (2025 Remaster)
05 Dance Music (2025 Remaster)
06 Dinu Lipatti’s Bones (2025 Remaster)
07 Up the Wolves (2025 Remaster)
08 Lion’s Teeth (2025 Remaster)
09 Hast Thou Considered the Tetrapod (2025 Remaster)
10 Magpie (2025 Remaster)
11 Song for Dennis Brown (2025 Remaster)
12 Love Love Love (2025 Remaster)
13 Pale Green Things (2025 Remaster)
There’s a long list of tour dates, too, so if you want to see the band live, you’ll probably find a show not too far away. Just check the schedule and maybe grab a ticket before they’re gone! Sometimes, life just needs a little music and a lot of surprises.
