release date: Apr. 16, 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,18]
producer: Steve Wold
label: Up Records - nationality: USA
Track highlights: 1. "Dramamine" (4 / 5) - 2. "Breakthrough" - 3. "Custom Concern" - 7. "She Ionizes & Atomizes" - 12. "Ohio" - 13. "Exit Does Not Exist"
Studio album debut by Seattle-suburban trio Modest Mouse consisting of primary composer, vocalist and guitarist Isaac Brock, bassist Eric Judy and drummer Jeremiah Green.
The style is alt. rock and indie rock with strong bonds to artists like Pixies, The Breeders, Pavement and XTC, I think.
The album release was pretty much unnoticed but it has found its way to some critical acclaim in the aftermath and after the band experienced much greater success. It has a considerably long playing time with its sixteen tracks and a total running time of more than 76 minutes.
I have only come across the album after having found the band's fourth studio album Good News for People Who Love Bad News from 2004, but the '96 album doesn't move me to consider it other than a first rough draft, which seems obscured by the intention to release everything as is. It is; however, a collection of highly original pieces.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]
