Modest Mouse "The Golden Casket" (2021)

The Golden Casket

release date: Jun. 25, 2021

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,64]

producer: Dave Sardy, Jacknife Lee

label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Fuck Your Acid Trip" - 2. "We Are Between" (live) - 3. "We’re Lucky" - 5. "Wooden Soldiers" - 7. "The Sun Hasn't Left" - 8. "Lace Your Shoes" - 9. "Never Fuck a Spider on the Fly" - 10. "Leave a Light On" - 11. "Japanese Trees" - 12. "Back to the Middle"

7th studio album by Modest Mouse follows almost six full years after Strangers to Ourselves (Mar. 2015), and once again the line-up is an issue with Darrin Wiener having briefly been a band member but more seriously, Lisa Molinaro and Jim Fairchild both left the band shortly prior to the album release; and then 1½ years later, founding member Jeremiah Green died.

Stylistically, the album introduces a new sound thanks to the inclusion of electronic instrumentation and a neo-psychedelic tone. Drum machines, synths, and musical loops provides the album with a more modern expression, although, traditional rock instrumentation is still very much part of the band's sound - the focus has just changed making more room for electronics. Isaac Brock still fills out every song with his characteristic vocal, and as is mostly the case with this band the single tracks may point in various directions but the album still maintains a solid sensation of a coherent product.

Not a lot binds this together with Good News for People... from 2004, or any earlier albums for that matter, but it follows closely on the same path as the 2015 album. In that regard the band has always been evolving - constantly moving further down their own evolutionary road and it's not too difficult to follow the whole progression. Their biggest stylistic leap happened when they released their best-selling 2004 album and since then the road has been a bit more predictable, which by no means is the same as uninspiring 'cause Modest Mouse is still a most daring band who could easily have chosen to go with a broader fan base.

I generally enjoy this new album. It's really good, still growing on me - it hasn't reached 'exceptional' nor 'great' but it doesn't appear to have any fillers, so it's definitely worth knowing.

[ 👍Pitchfork 7,3 / 10, NME 5 / 5, Slant Magazine 4 / 5, 👎Rolling Stone 2,5 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "Strangers to Ourselves" (2015)

Strangers to Ourselves
release date: Mar. 17, 2015
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,74]
producer: Isaac Brock, Tucker Martine, Brian Deck, Andrew Weiss, Clay Jones
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Strangers to Ourselves" - 2. "Lampshades on Fire" (live) - 3. "Shit in Your Cut" - 5. "Ansel" - 6. "The Ground Walks, With Time in a Box" - 7. "Coyotes" - 8. "Pups to Dust" - 12. "God Is an Indian and You're an Asshole" - 14. "The Best Room"

6th studio album by Modest Mouse is the band's first full studio album in 8 years, and the line-up has changed considerably over this relatively long time span. Former The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, who only took part in the band line-up from 2006-09, left the band (and joined The Cribs in 2009) and he was replaced by Jim Fairchild. 2012 meant even bigger changes as founding member and bassist Eric Judy and percussionist Joe Plummer both left the band - their replacements were Russell Higbee and Davey Brozowski, and the band was expanded by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Lisa Molinaro - and in 2014 also percussionist Ben Massarella, who had previously contributed on The Moon & Antarctica joined the group. This means that by now only the band's leader, vocalist and lyricist Isaac Brock and drummer Jeremiah Green have been in the band since 1993, and that Modest Mouse, which started out as a trio by now has become an octet.
The long time span and a completely new line-up sounds like something that would leave more than a significant mark on the output, but Strangers to Ourselves ultimately sounds like Modest Mouse more than anything and almost strangely follows closely on the path laid out on the 2007 album. Brock and Green sharing the steering wheel apparently guarantee the destination of the ride, where the journey perhaps has become more laid back and gentle. A song like "Lampshades on Fire", "Ansel" and "The Ground Walks, With Time in a Box" are songs that could easily have been part of the 2007 release, whereas other compositions are less energetic and seem more driven by narration. Without being weak, the opening title track really takes off in a completely new territory, which could scare some fans off, but the whole album is more than anything a solid experiment and pleasant return of this fascinating band. From my perspective, the album is a typical Modest Mouse album as it contains chorus-founded and melody-driven uptempo tracks and a particular amount of quirkiness. It also has the qualities of stronger albums as it unfolds itself along the way. It seems that no matter what happens in and around this band, Isaac Brock remains the captain of this vessel called Modest Mouse, and he makes sure that no matter the obstacles ahead, he'll bring forth the goods.
[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, Q Magazine 3 / 5, Rolling Stone, NME 3,5 / 5, Uncut 4 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank" (2007)

We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
release date: Mar. 20, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Dennis Herring
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "March Into the Sea" - 2. "Dashboard" (4 / 5) (live) - 3. "Fire It Up" (4 / 5) - 4. "Florida" (4 / 5) - 5. "Parting of the Sensory" - 6. "Missed the Boat" (live) - 7. "We've Got Everything" (4 / 5) - 10. "Little Motel" - 13. "People as Places as People"

5th studio album by Modest Mouse is the first instance on which the band make use of the producer from their previous album. It has taken the band 3 years since the acclaimed 2004 album, and in the meantime the band is expanded with former The Smiths' guitarist and musical composer, Johnny Marr who joined the band in 2006 now making the band a sextet. Lead vocalist and guitarist Isaac Brock is credited for all lyrics and the music is credited the band, which now consists of Isaac Brock, Jeremiah Green, Eric Judy, Johnny Marr, Tom Peloso, and Joe Plummer.
We Were Dead... is a bit of a conceptual album with all tracks telling different versions of a ship crew that dies in each song. Initially, and for some time, I found the album a bit dull - like almost all albums I have come by with this band feel at a first listen - the music may not catch you [i.e. 'me'] the first couple of times; however, there's nearly almost something that makes me listen again, and then... things / songs pop to the surface - now I find it clearly above average and almost on par with their great 2004 album. It's not just another copy of their well-known compositions as this is their perhaps most mainstream sounding album, and then again: it also contains some truly off-beat songs.
Occasionally, I have tried to find Marr on this, but he doesn't reveal himself too much and mostly just blends in nicely, but you'll hear some well-known riffs here and there. The album (only) reached #47 on the UK album charts list but it went to #1 in the US and in Canada.
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, The Guardian 4 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" (2004)

Good News for People Who Love Bad News
release date: Apr. 6, 2004
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,08]
producer: Dennis Herring
label: Epic Records - nationality: USA

Tracklist: 1. "Horn Intro" - 2. "The World at Large" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 3. "Float On" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 4. "Ocean Breathes Salty" (4 / 5) - 5. "Dig Your Grave" - 6. "Bury Me With It" (4 / 5) - 7. "Dance Hall" (3,5 / 5) - 8. "Bukowski" - 9. "This Devil's Workday" - 10. "The View" - 11. "Satin in a Coffin" - 12. "Interlude (Milo)" - 13. "Blame It on the Tetons" (4 / 5) - 14. "Black Cadillacs" - 15. "One Chance" - 16. "The Good Times Are Killing Me"

4th studio album by Modest Mouse is released nearly 4 years after the band's first studio album on Epic Records and it sees the band's growth from a trio to a quintet. In 2002 the band was expanded with guitarist Dann Gallucci (who played additional guitar parts on 'The Lonesome Crowded West') and multi-instrumentalist Tom Peloso joined in 2003, whereas drummer Jeremiah Green was temporarily absent due to a nervous breakdown from 2003-04 and is replaced by Benjamin Weikel on this album.
Good News... is a different album with respect to the band's former albums. It's still alt. rock and indie pop for people with a sense of humor, and for people who require that music sometimes is different from traditional mainstream pop / rock but it's a much more uptempo and positive collection of songs, although, moodiness still plays a major part.
This was actually the first album I heard with the band. I believe the Danish national radio program P3 played the song "Float On" a few hundred times that year, and I for one really loved it. It made me search for and listen to the band's older albums but without being poor or mediocre none of those come really close to this, I think, although The Lonesome Crowded West from 1997 with its apparent musical inspiration from Pixies with a noise rock, alt. rock style albeit less punk rock-minded tone and with a stress on a story-telling mission may be regarded as a blue-print to this.
I simply love to hear and watch the band perform live. You can really hear them try to play and sing out of tune to make that special twist to the overall picture, which is a nice garage rock and authentic sound. The album was nominated Best Alternative Album at the 2005 Grammy Awards, and it's a good place to start if you don't know this band. I also recommend We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007), which is very much in style with this specific album. This is really nice ... with a twist :-)
This album is highly recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Mojo, Q Magazine, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "The Moon & Antarctica" (2000)

The Moon & Antarctica
release date: Jun. 13, 2000
format: cd (2004 remaster)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,56]
producer: Brian Dec (2004 reproduced by Simon Askew)
label: Epic Records / Sony - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "3rd Planet" - 2. "Gravity Rides Everything" - 3. "Dark Center of the Universe" - 6. "A Different City" - 14. "Life Like Weeds"

3rd studio album by Modest Mouse and the band's first on Epic Records is not much different from the predecessor The Lonesome Crowded West from 1997 released on Up Records, except from being slightly more muddy and / or subdued.
The album was not the first I came across by the band - in fact I only sought it out upon hearing Good News for People Who Love Bad News from 2004, and I have had my trouble in finding the greatness in this acclaimed album. It has it moments, undoubtedly, but it hasn't really found its way to my playlist that often. But I occasionally keep returning. I generally find it like the second coming of the '97 album - only less appealing - and find it hard to hear the three year time span that separate the two albums.
The original album consists of 15 tracks. It was reissued in an expanded and remastered version in 2004 containing 4 bonus tracks taken from a BBC Radio 1 session.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone, Melody Maker 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "Building Nothing Out of Something" (2000)

Building Nothing Out of Something (compilation)
release date: Jan. 18, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: Calvin Johnson
label: Up Records - nationality: USA

Compilation album by Modest Mouse is a collection of primarily A-side and B-side singles and three tracks from the ep Interstate 8 (1996) released from 1996-98 when the band was on contract with Up Records. The album also signals the end with Up as the band later this year released its first studio album for Epic Records.
Stylistically, this falls well with the band's first three studio albums.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "The Lonesome Crowded West" (1997)

The Lonesome Crowded West
release date: Nov. 18, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,36]
producer: Calvin Johnson with Isaac Brock and Scott Swayze
label: Up Records - nationality: USA

Track highlights: 1. "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" - 2. "Heart Cooks Brain" - 3. "Convenient Parking" - 8. "Trailer Trash" - 13. "Polar Opposites" - 14. "Bankrupt on Selling"

2nd studio album by Modest Mouse is like the debut a rather lengthy album with a playing time above 73 mins. Also like the debut this is indie pop and alt. rock but it's also played in a more aggressive style of post-hardcore [punk rock] and not really in the lo-fi style of the debut, and then it shows much stronger emphasis on 'soft vs. hard' / 'slow vs. energetic' opposites, as a familiar trait of Pixies and The Breeders.
The Lonesome Crowded West has been lauded as the band's true breakthrough, and then others criticize it for its long playing time. It's clearly bettering the moody debut, although, I don't find it an earth-scattering unforgettable collection of songs. That said, Modest Mouse do experiment with content and matter, and sometimes the direction they explore seems like the deliberate wrong turn - just to have themselves discover what's at the end of that road - if anything.
It has taken me an unusual long time and persistent returns to this particular album to grasp its qualities. This is the closest Modest Mouse has been in making an album that has a tone that takes off in the spirit of Pixies' early albums. There's a strong blend of noise-pop / post-hardcore pieces and fragments of melody-lines and harmonies thrown in all over the album making it a strange, bumpy but appealing listen. It's not my favourite Modest Mouse album but I do find it the band's best among its first three full-length albums.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Modest Mouse "This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About" (1996)

This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About [debut]
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 ]