Why There Are Mountains

Last updated
Why There Are Mountains
Cymbalseatguitars why there are mountains alt.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedJanuary 20, 2009
Genre Indie rock
Length44:42
Label Self-released (original issue)
Sister's Den Records
Memphis Industries
Producer Kyle "Slick" Johnson
Cymbals Eat Guitars chronology
Why There Are Mountains
(2009)
Lenses Alien
(2011)
Alternative cover
Whytherearemountains.jpg

Why There Are Mountains is an independently released studio album by the indie rock band Cymbals Eat Guitars. The album was initially self-released, then re-released after the band signed to Sister's Den Records in late 2009. The LP version of the album is currently only available via Insound. [1]

Contents

Track listing

All tracks are written by Joseph D'Agostino

No.TitleLength
1."...And the Hazy Sea"6:13
2."Some Trees (Merritt Moon)"2:27
3."Indiana"3:34
4."Cold Spring"5:48
5."Share"7:03
6."What Dogs See"4:15
7."Wind Phoenix (Proper Name)"5:16
8."Living North"2:31
9."Like Blood Does"7:33

Personnel

The following people contributed to Why There Are Mountains [2]

Cymbals Eat Guitars

Recording personnel

Additional personnel

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
The A.V. Club (B+) link
MusicOMH Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg link
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg link
Pitchfork Media (8.3/10) link
sputnikmusicStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg link

Why There Are Mountains received mostly positive reviews from critics. The album currently has a 78 out of 100 rating on the review aggregate site Metacritic, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [3]

Ian Cohen of Pitchfork Media gave the album an 8.3/10, writing "Why There Are Mountains ends up being like any great result of wanderlust—here, the journey is the end not the means; fortunately, that gives Why There Are Mountains astounding replay value." The album also received a "Best New Music" designation in the review. [4]

The album has appeared on a few end-of-year albums lists. Pitchfork Media named Why There Are Mountains the 43rd best album of 2009. [5] It was also named the number one album of the year on The Daily Cardinal's list of the Top 15 Albums of 2009. [6]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Argument</i> (Fugazi album) 2001 studio album by Fugazi

The Argument is the sixth and final studio album from the post-hardcore band Fugazi released on October 16, 2001, through Dischord Records. It was recorded at Don Zientara's Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, VA and the Dischord House between January and April 2001. It was the band's last release before going on hiatus in 2003, until the release of First Demo over thirteen years later.

<i>Return to Cookie Mountain</i> 2006 studio album by TV on the Radio

Return to Cookie Mountain is the second studio album by American rock band TV on the Radio. It was released July 6, 2006, worldwide by 4AD, and issued in the U.S. and Canada on September 12, 2006, by Interscope Records and Touch and Go Records. The North American release features three bonus tracks, two of which are B-sides from the single "Wolf Like Me"; the other is a remix of "Hours" by El-P. Videos were made for the singles "Wolf Like Me" and "Province".

<i>Blood Mountain</i> (album) 2006 studio album by Mastodon

Blood Mountain is the third full-length studio album and major label debut by American heavy metal band Mastodon. The recording of the album finished in April 2006 and it was released on September 12 in the UK and September 12, 2006 in North America through Reprise Records. The album in full could be streamed at the band's MySpace page a few days prior to the release.

<i>Someone Elses Deja Vu</i> 2008 studio album by Son, Ambulance

Someone Else's Déjà Vu is the third full-length studio album by American alternative indie rock band Son, Ambulance. It was released on July 8, 2008 via Saddle Creek Records. Recording sessions took place at ARC Studios in December 2007. Production was handled by Joe Knapp, Jeff Koster and A. J. Mogis.

<i>Cardinology</i> 2008 studio album by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals

Cardinology is the tenth studio album by Ryan Adams, and fourth album with his backing band The Cardinals, released on October 28, 2008. The album completed Adams' contract with Lost Highway Records, and marks his final recording session with The Cardinals. Following the album's release and subsequent tour, Adams disbanded the band and entered a self-imposed hiatus until the release of Ashes & Fire, in 2011.

Little Joy is a rock supergroup formed in 2007 by Los Hermanos singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante, The Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti, and Binki Shapiro. They released Little Joy, their only album, in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cymbals Eat Guitars</span> American indie rock band

Cymbals Eat Guitars were an indie rock band from Staten Island, New York, founded by high school friends Joseph D'Agostino and Matthew Miller. The band's name comes from a Lou Reed quote describing the sound of The Velvet Underground.

<i>The Life of the World to Come</i> (album) 2009 studio album by the Mountain Goats

The Life of the World to Come is the twelfth studio album by the Mountain Goats, released on October 6, 2009. The third track, "Genesis 3:23", was released as a free download via the band's website on July 28. The album peaked at #110 on the Billboard Top 200 albums on its chart debut.

<i>The Monitor</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Titus Andronicus

The Monitor is the second studio album by American indie rock band Titus Andronicus, released in March 2010 through XL Recordings. It is a concept album loosely based on themes relating to the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freelance Whales</span> American indie rock band

Freelance Whales was an American indie rock band which formed in Queens, New York, United States, in 2008.

<i>Lenses Alien</i> 2011 studio album by Cymbals Eat Guitars

Lenses Alien is the second album by the indie rock band Cymbals Eat Guitars, released August 30, 2011 on Barsuk Records. The album was produced by John Agnello and received generally positive reviews.

<i>Celebration Rock</i> 2012 studio album by Japandroids

Celebration Rock is the second studio album by Canadian rock duo Japandroids, released on June 5, 2012, by Polyvinyl. Recorded in Vancouver with Post-Nothing engineer Jesse Gander, the band aspired to capture the spirit and energy of their live shows, thus forgoing standard studio techniques such as double tracking and overdubbing, while consciously taking into account the perceived reaction of their audience to hearing the songs live in concert.

<i>Glow & Behold</i> 2013 studio album by Yuck

Glow & Behold is the second album by Yuck. It is the band's first album without former lead singer and guitarist Daniel Blumberg.

<i>Guilty of Everything</i> 2014 studio album by Nothing

Guilty of Everything is the debut studio album by the American shoegaze band Nothing, released on March 4, 2014 by Relapse Records. It is the only album to feature Chris Betts on bass and the first to feature Kyle Kimball on drums.

<i>Lose</i> (Cymbals Eat Guitars album) 2014 studio album by Cymbals Eat Guitars

LOSE is the third studio album by the American indie rock band Cymbals Eat Guitars, released by Tough Love Records on August 25, 2014 in the UK and by Barsuk Records on August 26, 2014 in the U.S.

Turnover is an American rock band from Virginia Beach, Virginia. Formed in 2009, the band is signed with the Run for Cover Records label. Turnover has released five albums, two EPs and two singles

<i>Moh Lhean</i> 2017 studio album by Why?

Moh Lhean is the sixth studio album by American band Why?. It was released by Joyful Noise Recordings on March 3, 2017.

<i>No Dream</i> 2020 studio album by Jeff Rosenstock

No Dream is the fourth solo album by American singer-songwriter Jeff Rosenstock. It was released on May 20, 2020, without any promotional lead-up. The album was released on Polyvinyl Record Co. in the United States and by Specialist Subject Records in the United Kingdom. It is also available directly from the artist through Quote Unquote Records and Really Records.

<i>Awake in the Brain Chamber</i> 2020 studio album by Secret Machines

Awake in the Brain Chamber is the fourth full-length studio album by American indie rock band Secret Machines, released by TSM Recordings on August 8, 2020. The album has received positive reviews from critics and is a comeback recording after the band had been dormant for several years and features some posthumous recordings from former frontman Benjamin Curtis.

Empty Country is the stage name of Cymbals Eat Guitars member Joseph D'Agostino.

References

  1. "Cymbals Eat Guitars eksklusivt på vinyl hos Insound!".
  2. Why There Are Mountains - Cymbals Eat Guitars. Allmusic. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
  3. Why There Are Mountains Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  4. Cohen, Ian (16 March 2009). "Cymbals Eat Guitars: Why There Are Mountains". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 1 April 2009.
  5. Pitchfork Staff (17 December 2009). "The Top 50 Albums of 2009". Pitchfork Media . Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  6. Sparks, Kyle (15 December 2009). "#1 - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains". The Daily Cardinal . Retrieved 16 December 2009.