SectionsGroup at the top of their game
Kevin Ehlers
Issue date: 4/20/07 Section: Features
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Isaac Brock and his gang of Modest Mice have been making their strange brand of music for nearly 10 years now, and their recent success is somewhat baffling. I can't claim to be a fan from the beginning, but I'm pretty well versed with their discography.
And each of the five full-lengths are so different from each other that you'd be hard-pressed to find a fan who didn't initially hate at least one of Modest Mouse's albums only to like the new direction the band had taken after a few listens.
That was the case then, and it's still the case now with the differences from "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" and their latest release "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank."
"Good News" was Modest Mouse getting their second wind. Most say it was them selling out because of the radio-friendly sounds and success it received, but I saw them in concert in 2002, and they just looked burned out. They all played as if they could care less. I refused to see them the next two times they came to town, but something happened in the studio in 2003 when they started recording "Good News" that not only reinvigorated the band's love for music, but also cheered Isaac Brock up in the process.
"Good News" was a happier Modest Mouse, and the disappearance of the emotionally driven songs of angst and loneliness were replaced by genuinely happy, optimistic songs with fun guitars and Brock's encouragement for us not to worry. Earlier fans were left scratching their heads in confusion, but still bobbing them at the same time, and the rest of the country proved what they've proven time and time again: Pop sells, even if you can barely understand the energetic yelps of the lead singer.
Cut to three years later and we find Brock and company rejuvenated once again and one member larger, with the addition of The Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr. The new jangly, Smiths-like guitar parts coupled with Brock's undeniable personality prove to be an excellent fit and really add to Modest Mouse's overall sound. The most obvious Marr guitar part is found in the opening riff of their first single "Dashboard," which, if you're dead set on finding this album's "Float On," would be that song.
And each of the five full-lengths are so different from each other that you'd be hard-pressed to find a fan who didn't initially hate at least one of Modest Mouse's albums only to like the new direction the band had taken after a few listens.
That was the case then, and it's still the case now with the differences from "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" and their latest release "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank."
"Good News" was Modest Mouse getting their second wind. Most say it was them selling out because of the radio-friendly sounds and success it received, but I saw them in concert in 2002, and they just looked burned out. They all played as if they could care less. I refused to see them the next two times they came to town, but something happened in the studio in 2003 when they started recording "Good News" that not only reinvigorated the band's love for music, but also cheered Isaac Brock up in the process.
"Good News" was a happier Modest Mouse, and the disappearance of the emotionally driven songs of angst and loneliness were replaced by genuinely happy, optimistic songs with fun guitars and Brock's encouragement for us not to worry. Earlier fans were left scratching their heads in confusion, but still bobbing them at the same time, and the rest of the country proved what they've proven time and time again: Pop sells, even if you can barely understand the energetic yelps of the lead singer.
Cut to three years later and we find Brock and company rejuvenated once again and one member larger, with the addition of The Smiths' guitarist Johnny Marr. The new jangly, Smiths-like guitar parts coupled with Brock's undeniable personality prove to be an excellent fit and really add to Modest Mouse's overall sound. The most obvious Marr guitar part is found in the opening riff of their first single "Dashboard," which, if you're dead set on finding this album's "Float On," would be that song.
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