"Wild Pack of Family Dogs" is one of those songs that I still, twenty some years later, catch myself singing to myself at random times. It is beautiful, but it's so sad, isn't it? It seems to me there are very few songs that combine absurdity and poignancy to such a high degree. Thanks for writing this!
I loved The Moon & Antarctica so much in high school I used my seasonal-job-at-Kohl's money to buy it on vinyl and I didn't have a player of my own. Had my mind blown by the origin of the title ("the two places man has visited but hasn't colonized"). shout out to Paper Thin Walls which is instant serotonin and definitely made it onto multiple mixtapes for girls
Totally agree on We Were Dead. doubly disappointing it was made with such a legend and my favorite guitarist to emulate back then too!
Freshman year dorms, lunch hall, for some reason people needed to write down their favorite band, and some hip looking gal wrote, "Modest Mouse". I napstered their catalog and felt like I discovered gold. Purchased their later stuff as it came out. Forgot about them. Thanks for this, was fun to revisit.
Love the focus on MM, Freddie. I'd like to see you do this with other bands/groups if you feel so inclined. I think you have a gift for it. You might also consider a followup that traces the influence MM have had on other bands/artists. For instance, as I was reading, I thought of the appreciative Modest Mouse reference in Vampire Weekend's 'Step', -- "I'm stronger now, I'm ready for the House / Such a Modest Mouse" -- off their superb 2013 album "Modern Vampires of the City." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mDxcDjg9P4
... months from now when you, the intrepid listener, have exhausted "This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About" and "Lonesome Crowded West" but somehow you still need more of *that* Modest Mouse?
Pick up "Building Nothing Out Of Something". It's a greatest hits collection of the pre-"The Moon And Antarctica" Modest Mouse except it's composed only of tracks that didn't make it onto those records.
If I ever hear Never Ending Math Equation live at a show I think I will die. In a positive way.
I don’t care for most of that record but Little Motel is a really lovely tune. I also have a soft spot for dashboard; it’s one of those songs with just enough angst and drive that I can’t help but dance and smile when I hear it, and before long it’ll have me singing right along.
I do music stuff for a paycheck I love your music posts! It’s a joy to read such heartfelt reflections on my chosen craft; I always dig reading reviews/recommendations from people who aren’t musicians themselves but are good writers and attentive listeners
Wait there was backlash to Float On? I still love that song. My memory of 2004 was that the MM-loving hipsters (like myself) loved it immediately and talked about it online when they started playing it live, and then were basically proud of its ascendance and crossover appeal. But maybe I'm projecting -- after years of trying to get my normie friends to play, like, Broken Social Scene at high school parties they finally loved a song I loved.
But I stopped going to music sites not long after so maybe I missed people turning on it
The 3 (4 including Building Nothing Out of Something) albums released between 97-04 are one of the most unique and wide-ranging peaks of any rock band's career. The new stuff just isn't as good, but there are gems to be found (Back to the Middle).
I'd love to read more about what you think "selling out" and "indie" mean in 2022.
I've lost almost all the enthusiasm I had for this kind of music in my teens and early twenties. I can't really separate the supposed classics from today's empty and cynical indie music - not entirely. Kim Gordon and Stephen Malkmus were just as droll, contemptuous, and smug as Phoebe Bridgers is today. But I'm not entirely over it. I still think there might be something worth saving.
Lonesome crowded west is my vinyl club’s record of the month. Excited to listen for the first time
"Wild Pack of Family Dogs" is one of those songs that I still, twenty some years later, catch myself singing to myself at random times. It is beautiful, but it's so sad, isn't it? It seems to me there are very few songs that combine absurdity and poignancy to such a high degree. Thanks for writing this!
I loved The Moon & Antarctica so much in high school I used my seasonal-job-at-Kohl's money to buy it on vinyl and I didn't have a player of my own. Had my mind blown by the origin of the title ("the two places man has visited but hasn't colonized"). shout out to Paper Thin Walls which is instant serotonin and definitely made it onto multiple mixtapes for girls
Totally agree on We Were Dead. doubly disappointing it was made with such a legend and my favorite guitarist to emulate back then too!
Modest Mouse has been on my list of bands to give a thorough listen to (I loved both Good News and The Moon and Antarctica), so thanks for this!
Freshman year dorms, lunch hall, for some reason people needed to write down their favorite band, and some hip looking gal wrote, "Modest Mouse". I napstered their catalog and felt like I discovered gold. Purchased their later stuff as it came out. Forgot about them. Thanks for this, was fun to revisit.
Love the focus on MM, Freddie. I'd like to see you do this with other bands/groups if you feel so inclined. I think you have a gift for it. You might also consider a followup that traces the influence MM have had on other bands/artists. For instance, as I was reading, I thought of the appreciative Modest Mouse reference in Vampire Weekend's 'Step', -- "I'm stronger now, I'm ready for the House / Such a Modest Mouse" -- off their superb 2013 album "Modern Vampires of the City." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mDxcDjg9P4
Horn Intro makes a great message alert tone for your phone.
... months from now when you, the intrepid listener, have exhausted "This Is A Long Drive For Someone With Nothing To Think About" and "Lonesome Crowded West" but somehow you still need more of *that* Modest Mouse?
Pick up "Building Nothing Out Of Something". It's a greatest hits collection of the pre-"The Moon And Antarctica" Modest Mouse except it's composed only of tracks that didn't make it onto those records.
If I ever hear Never Ending Math Equation live at a show I think I will die. In a positive way.
I don’t care for most of that record but Little Motel is a really lovely tune. I also have a soft spot for dashboard; it’s one of those songs with just enough angst and drive that I can’t help but dance and smile when I hear it, and before long it’ll have me singing right along.
I do music stuff for a paycheck I love your music posts! It’s a joy to read such heartfelt reflections on my chosen craft; I always dig reading reviews/recommendations from people who aren’t musicians themselves but are good writers and attentive listeners
Hell yeah
Wait there was backlash to Float On? I still love that song. My memory of 2004 was that the MM-loving hipsters (like myself) loved it immediately and talked about it online when they started playing it live, and then were basically proud of its ascendance and crossover appeal. But maybe I'm projecting -- after years of trying to get my normie friends to play, like, Broken Social Scene at high school parties they finally loved a song I loved.
But I stopped going to music sites not long after so maybe I missed people turning on it
My favorite band.
This version of Ocean Breathes Salty is so good.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNcmTgCLwk8
The 3 (4 including Building Nothing Out of Something) albums released between 97-04 are one of the most unique and wide-ranging peaks of any rock band's career. The new stuff just isn't as good, but there are gems to be found (Back to the Middle).
I'd love to read more about what you think "selling out" and "indie" mean in 2022.
I've lost almost all the enthusiasm I had for this kind of music in my teens and early twenties. I can't really separate the supposed classics from today's empty and cynical indie music - not entirely. Kim Gordon and Stephen Malkmus were just as droll, contemptuous, and smug as Phoebe Bridgers is today. But I'm not entirely over it. I still think there might be something worth saving.