“I’ve looked up to Mary Chapin Carpenter for half my life,” John Darnielle says of The Mountain Goats’ new pair of covers with Carpenter. “Getting to know her over the past few years has been such a pure pleasure, so when she asked about doing a split single where we pick songs to cover and help each other out on the effort, what could we say but ‘hell yes’? Mary Chapin picked a World Party song I’ve always loved, and I picked out a Christine Fellows song I can barely sing without crying. But I did it! Matt arranged it! This was a great joy for us, and I hope you dig it!”
The release features two beloved covers: “Put the Message in the Box,” by World Party, and “Migrations,” by Christine Fellows. Both tracks are available now digitally, and a limited-edition 7″ vinyl—pressed in both Tar and Clear variants—is available for pre-order in the MCC online store.
“John Darnielle and I have been friends for many years now, he’s been a dedicated correspondent and ally in all topics connected to song writing, recording, touring and the balancing act that a life involving these pursuits requires,” said Carpenter. “He also very kindly joined me in conversation on my podcast a few years back to talk about hope—what it means to him, what it looks like from where he stands, and the challenges of maintaining it in the times we are living in.
To have collaborated on these two favourite songs with John and the Mountain Goats has been a joy and a gift—joining our voices, singing these words from other favourite artists, and feeling the music deeply.”
“Put the Message In the Box” written by Karl Wallinger
released March 6th, 2026
The Fat Angel Sings 