Modest Mouse, new album

December 10th, 2007

So everybody NEEDS to get the new Modest Mouse record. The name, creepy considering I now work on a ship, is ‘We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Went Down, We Were Lucky’

It follows a number of very good albums, all of which I have enjoyed immensely. However I always had my reservations about how much I really liked the band. I heard tracks and thought that they were the best band I had heard in years. Then a weak lily-livered song would follow and I would want to toss the disc away.

Now they have arrived with something that is mature intelligent witty and so easy to enjoy without being “easy”. The LS has decided, to my joy, to throw away his gentle crooning and throw his voice out there with guts and strength and most of all passion. It is like he bumped into Win Butler who told him to stop trying to ballad us to death. It works, past albums gave us songs like ‘bury me with it’ ‘Alone down there’ ‘Cities of Ashes’ etc  Songs with passion and drive. I like nothing more than a vocalist who has the guts to throw his voice out there and see what happens. Too many are afraid to be so exposed.

I think this album, although more mad, vocally. Is probably the most listenable. Many have said it is a safe album, but I disagree. I think it is gutsy as hell. 8 minute songs, accordians, repetitive phrasing, odd timing, a steady theme, Songs about flies in a jar for heavens sake. I mean if that isnt screaming “PLEASE DONT GIVE ME RADIO PLAY” I dont know what does. The trumpet in Spitting Venom makes me so happy I could cry.  

If there is one thing I did not like, and this is clutching at very sparse straws,  was the repetitive phrasing in parting of the sensory. The problem for me is it is such a strong song and I really enjoy it, I adored the repetition the first couple of listens, but it gets tired very quickly. 

Stand out tracks

March into the Sea

Dashboard

Fire it up

Spitting Venom

Education

The other thing I really like about the album, is it is an hour long. Far too many artist are making 30 minute albums. That is NOT a 3 course meal. It is an hor d’ ouvre. I am not in the business of listening to albums that dont have enough respect to make an album longer than a Godspeed song. 

Anyhow…excellent. Get it

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