Modest Mouse - Greatest Active Band In The World

[JesusLooksLikeMe]

luke said:

I think that JLLM has the advantage of being English, though, so when he hears the words "Fire It Up" he isn't instantly brought into the world of some studio gangster hack piece of shit like Young Jeezy or Lil' Wayne rapping about blunts.

Indeed. I've never even heard of those chaps. Is Brock singing "etc enough?" I haven't associated the lyrics from that song with anything. I just keep seeing Fat Bob with his Fender IV baritone and wishing Isaac would have given it a go.

The other thing is I'm a (self-proclaimed) expert on all things Johnny Marr, so there was a lot of instant familiarity there, so that simple solo in "Fire It Up" almost made me stand up and salute Her Majesty the first time I heard it.

This is not a Modest Mouse album, and a lot of people who had dismissed or (wrongly) categorised them as peddlars of lo-fi, indie-cred Black Francis/Flaming Lips/Tom Waits/Built to Spill impressions, or who hated the sub-Cure jangly pop of "Float On" and "Ocean breathes Salty" will be amazed... provided they get to listen to any of this stuff. The musicianship, aided by Marr's stunning guitar work, is way above what you'd expect from an MM album - even if they've almost lost their charm as a result.

[luke]

Man, you put up a really compelling argument for this album. I do find myself liking it more and more thanks to Marr- he's definitely the highlight.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

I haven't heard it yet......I'm still wondering if I will. I don't like what I've heard so far.

[luke]

Skvor- Get it. Listen to it five times over the course of three weeks while you're in a decent mood. If it doesn't stick by then, it's not going to.

I wouldn't ask you to do all that work for any other band, but, like me, I know these guys used to be your favorite band. They're still worth a little work.

It's growing on me pretty good. I love "Spitting Venom". This album is sounds grittier every time I hear it. Almost angry, but not in the way they've been in the past.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

Ok, you've convinced me. I'll pick it up when the vinyl comes out, like I did with "Good News...." and sit with it. I probably will wind up getting into it.

[sisyphus]

As I scrolled through all these polls, I realized that, second to the Will Oldham poll I just began, Modest Mouse is the best band listed here, so I just wanted to bump it. *bump*

[luke]

Reviews are pretty mixed. I thought Pitchfork was a bit generous, but Stylus was too rough. The reviewer for the latter seemed pretty ignorant, though. Rolling Stone did what they're known best for, bashed the album but gave it a bunch of stars, all the while lamenting that it wasn't another "breakthrough" like Good News. The indie reviewers don't seem too keen on it.

I like it more with every listen. It's not easy to get into, though, not at all.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

I'm leaning towards total shit. How many fucking times is Issac Brock going to sing about the same themes? This feels so forced it's not even funny. I don't know guys, me and the Mouse may be parting ways after this one.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

I can't, dudes, I can't. I'm really sorry. I am getting my money back on the new Modest Mouse. This is like being with the most rad chick of all time and then you found out that she's lied about everything, slept with your brother, and stole all of your money. This is single handedly one of the most heart-breaking moments in music for me. For a band to fall this far from grace for me is just truly gut-wrenching.

Ok, Ok, long winded and really no one cares, but I don't like it. They had a good run for me though. 4 good records, some great EPs and singles is enough. I just can't listen to this, Marr or no Marr, this is just terrible.

[skvorisdeadsorta]

Modest Mouse
Born 1996
Died 2007