20 Watts

Modest Mouse is a featured artist in our latest issue

Known for their loaded lyrics and lengthy album titles, Modest Mouse have been at the forefront of the indie-rock movement since their 1996 debut, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. Since then, the band has gradually progressed from tastefully engineered lo-fi to a more expensive, involved sound without losing their uniquely chaotic vocals, symphonic instrumentation and violently beautiful stage presence. Following the August 4 release of their latest EP, No One’s First and You’re Next, 20 Watts decided to take a look back at Modest Mouse’s impressive discography.

(1) The Lonesome Crowded West: Widely considered one of Modest Mouse’s best, The Lonesome Crowded West is an ingenious combination of painfully true lyrics and heart-wrenching bass lines, as heard in “Out of Gas” and “Polar Opposites.”  The most honest song in the set is “Styrofoam Boots/It’s All Nice On Ice, Alright,” which hones in on Isaac Brock’s fascination with Christianity.  The song’s slow start makes listeners think that just Brock and his guitar are starring in this one, but things soon pick up with the rest of the band – creating aural pleasure of religious proportions.

(2) Good News for People Who Love Bad News: By far the most widely-known album from Modest Mouse, Good News for People Who Love Bad News explores a more subtly mainstream taste while still maintaining elements of the band’s edgy, indie past.  In fact its biggest hit, “Float On,” is probably Modest Mouse’s most identifiable song to both die-hard and casual fans. The album’s lullabies, like “Blame It On the Tetons” and “One Chance,” will coo listeners to sleep with their calm and melodic instrumentation. But in the very next breath, boisterous numbers like “The View” and “Dance Hall” will inspire them to rip up the dance floor.

(3) We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank: The nautically themed We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank provides the same consistent listening experience as Good News and thus, in theory, should share the same ranking. But even with the addition of 1980s guitar god and former Smith Johnny Marr to the band’s lineup, this album wasn’t as well received as its predecessor. We Were Dead is the unsung hero of Modest Mouse albums and should be reconsidered by anyone who has previously dismissed it as “loud” or “more of the same.”

(4) This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About: Modest Mouse’s debut plays like they recorded it on a blank cassette in a small garage bedroom, recalling the lo-fi classics of the great Daniel Johnston.  The only songs from this album to hit cult status were “Dramamine” and “Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset” – the others seemed to tangle within each other’s cloud of repetitive monotone vocals.  Although this is a great album to get lost in during a rainy day, it isn’t exactly material you can digest all at once. It’s best to take Modest Mouse’s first work in small doses.

(5) The Moon & Antarctica: The title of Modest Mouse’s third release foreshadows the overall tone of the album. Each song is dark and twisted and would fit perfectly in the background of any Halloween experience.  And if death had a theme song it would be “The Stars Are Projectors,” which oozes sorrow and suffering. Even though there are outstanding tracks on this album, you have to be in a self-loathing mood to tolerate it. It’s certainly not something you’d want to listen to during Syracuse winters — it would likely induce seasonal affective disorder.

(6) No One’s First and You’re Next: Released in August, No One’s First and You’re Next includes eight previously released songs from the last two albums. Although these songs are not entirely fresh, they still manage to feel like an early Christmas present from an always creative and reliable relative. This album’s one shortcoming is its length – at only 30 minutes long, it really shouldn’t make this list. But we love “King Rat” just that much.

– Veronica Boehm