Music Discussion #4 - Modest Mouse

[Kapoutman]

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For today's edition, we will talk about a band that has seen less mainstream success than the previous bands discussed. Although they have managed to put a few singles on the charts, they are still relatively unknown (at least in my part of the world), but I know we have at least a few fans here on TPWW.

Like many people, my first time hearing Modest Mouse was when "Float On" became their first hit single. I became intrigued enough to listen to what they had released in the past, and discovered a band that has a very distinctive sound. Every time you hear Isaac Brock sing, they are instantly recognizable, but even without the lyrics, the music has a little something which I can't explain because I don't really know shit about music, but which makes it easy to identify the band.

They have seen a couple of changes in the line-up over the year, but for a couple of albums they had legendary The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr on board. All of these line-ups have produced strong albums, my favorite of which is "The Moon & Antarctica". I also saw them live a couple of years ago when they were promoting their EP "No One's First and You're Next", and they are very much worth it.

Here are my two favorite songs. Then, DISCUSS!

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[GD]

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[Tom Guycott]

Hmm. I think I should be paying more attention to Modest Mouse.

[GD]

I will appreciate recommendations in this thread.

[Sepholio]

Float On is awesomeness. Always has been.

[El Fangel]

Most people I know who enjoy this band are hipsters, but for you Kapoutman. Ill give them a chance.

[Requiem]

Love Modest Mouse. Not all of their stuff by any means, but a lot of it. Moon & Antarctica is absolutely incredible. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank is probably my favorite album of theirs. Easily the most 'accessible' but that doesn't mean I don't like their other stuff.

Isaac Brock is such a weird guy and his lyrical sense is fantastic, although there are definitely plenty of songs where I have no idea what the fuck he is talking about.

[OssMan]

They were my favorite band for a long time, back when I would say I had a favorite band. For some reason I wouldn't listen to Good News For People Who Love Bad News and I still haven't, nor have I heard anything after that, though I really should. Most of their albums have very strong memories affiliated with them for me. I know what you mean by the distinct sound they have, there were times when I identified a song by Modest Mouse before I knew it was by them or even before Isaac Brock started singing in it. Their lyrics are very uniquely theirs too, I remember one time my friend told me their song "Sleepwalking" was a cover and I doubted that because the lyrics were so typical of Modest Mouse, before I learned that they wrote and added them.

[James Diesel]

As a man that grew up 20 minutes away from them (Issaquah, WA) I can safely say that I barely like Float On, and can't stand the rest of their music. Not that I really cared in the first place. They just seemed too (out there) for me to care. Kinda like the Franz Ferdinand effect for me

[El Fangel]

I cannot say I particularly enjoy this band.

[The Destroyer]

I quite like them. Need to listen to more of their older stuff though.

Spitting Venom. :heart:

[Buzzkill]

I really love them and really love Isaac Brock. Pretty much everything I admire in an artist. I met him in at this Irish bar in downtown Portland after he finished an impromptu Irish jam session with James Mercer of the Shins (totally unannounced, it was an open mic and they just ended up on stage mid way thru the night). Just went up to him (which I never do with celebrities) and just wanted to mention really quickly that I was a fan and that he is crazy talented, but he ended up actually engaging in a good conversation with me. Talked a bit about what he grew up listening to (Pixies, Smiths, Beatles etc..) and why he moved to Portland. Super nice guy, super fucking weird and neurotic and shy, very humble. Also, he sounds exactly the same in conversation as he does on his songs (weird lisp, strange enunciation). Wanted to be his friend. James Mercer was kind of "aloof" tho but probably more because of awkwardness. Anyways.

Here are some gems from their older records, Destroyer

Modest Mouse - Polar Opposites - The Lonesome Crowded West


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Modest Mouse - Dramamine - This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About


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[Buzzkill]

They were my favorite band for a long time, back when I would say I had a favorite band. For some reason I wouldn't listen to Good News For People Who Love Bad News and I still haven't, nor have I heard anything after that, though I really should. Most of their albums have very strong memories affiliated with them for me. I know what you mean by the distinct sound they have, there were times when I identified a song by Modest Mouse before I knew it was by them or even before Isaac Brock started singing in it. Their lyrics are very uniquely theirs too, I remember one time my friend told me their song "Sleepwalking" was a cover and I doubted that because the lyrics were so typical of Modest Mouse, before I learned that they wrote and added them.

You should definitely check out their newer stuff. I can see why you would be put off from them, especially with such strong memories to older stuff (I've had this happen with a few bands). The production value is definitely way higher, eliminating the appeal of their gritty sound, but their core elements are still very strong "imo".

Modest Mouse - People as Places as People - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank


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[The Destroyer]

Liking those Buzzkill, cheers. :y:

[FakeLaser]

I would probably call them one of my favorite bands of all-time at this point, though I admit that I didn't like them for a while. I'm not sure what it was really... but I couldn't get into Modest Mouse much until a year or two ago. Then something really clicked in me.

[nolanve]

One of my favorite bands of all time.

My favorite song
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[Zelda]

I love them. They are unique. I have seen them live and it was one of the best shows I have ever seen. A band to discover.