Filed under: Issue 19, Issue 19 Artists | Tags: Good News for People Who Love Bad News, Johnny Marr, Modest Mouse, No One's First and You're Next, The Moon & Antarctica, The Smiths, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
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. (more…)
Filed under: Issue 19, Issue 19 Lofi | Tags: Jimi Hendrix, the Black Keys, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Bob Dylan, lo-fi, Syracuse University, Nebraska, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dinosaur Jr., Mouth's Cradle, Bears in America, beck, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Modest Mouse, Maroon 5, GarageBand, Devon Stewart, Ween, John Frusciante, Tascam Portastudio, The Basement Tapes, The Band, Logic Pro Studio, Devon James Stewart, Aux Records, Rascal Flatts
Devon Stewart rocks the Shaefer studios while working on his self-titled solo project
Lil Wayne. Kanye West. Maroon 5. Rascal Flatts. Music purists loathe them for at least one reason — Auto-Tune, a downloadable audio processor that corrects vocal and instrumental blunders in order to attain perfect pitch. By using this program, a producer can fill in a recorded performance’s holes, smooth its edges and polish its smudges. Everyone must use this to attain musical nirvana, right? Negatory. In fact, musicians that admire large holes, adore peculiar edges, and worship pesky smudges are alive, well and plentiful. They are lo-fi artists.
Lo-fi is a shortened form of “low-fidelity,” fidelity meaning the extent to which an electronic device such as a radio or television can accurately reproduce a sound or an image. Taken literally, lo-fi can be defined as low-quality sound. (more…)
Filed under: Interviews, Issue 19, Issue 19 Q&A | Tags: Atlas Sound, Thao Nguyen, Taylor Swift, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Syracuse, lo-fi, Syracuse University, Neon Indian, Mouth's Cradle, Bears in America, The Temper Trap, The Flaming Lips, Modest Mouse, indie music, The xx, ithaca, central new york, The BQE, Minus the Bear, Erica Scarano, The Avett Brothers, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, White Picket Fence, Keys N Krates, Xylos, Royal Bangs, Devon Stewart, Caution Children, Tundra Toes, Dandy Little Lions
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Isaac Brock, Modest Mouse, Port O'Brien
Port O'Brien's Threadbare is set to hit stores on October 6
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Port O’Brien’s “My Will Is Good” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 16/20 Watts
Once again, Port O’Brien hits home with another emotionally heavy and musically gratifying release, this time with Threadbare. The album is the group’s darkest pursuit to date, and confirms a new maturity that can be found in the group’s writing. Departing from the nautical theme that has been ever-present in the group’s work to-date, it is a marked change in both sound and lyrical content.
The album traces the progression of emotions that one often finds themself experiencing after the death of a loved one. Its inspiration came from the unfortunate passing of Goodwin’s younger brother. Some may speculate, however, that this is the reason for the bottomless emotion that can be heard on some of the tracks. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Bertrand Brown, Brand New, Daisy, Deja Entendu, Glassjaw, Head Automatica, Modest Mouse, The Smiths
Brand New's fourth album falls far short of all expectations
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Brand New’s “Gasoline” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 12/20 Watts
On first listen, Brand New’s fourth release, Daisy, is like watching your first child die in a fiery car wreck. It’s a mangled, noisy and gut-wrenching experience which anyone who has listened to the band for an extended period of time will cringe at.
From there, however, it does get better, albeit, not good enough to be mentioned in the same breath with any of their other albums. And that’s Daisy’s largest problem on an album full of issues. It just can’t stand up to anything else the group has released.
From the onset, you’re shocked and nearly frightened by “Vices,” which consists of an ill-conceived sampling of Bertrand Brown’s “On Life’s Highway,” followed by lead singer Jesse Lacey’s best impression of Glassjaw and Head Automatica frontman Daryl Palumbo. At least for the listener’s sake, and for the sake of the album itself, it only improves from this point. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Weezer, Kurt Cobain, blues, All Points West Music Festival, Modest Mouse, Seasick Steve, homemade instruments
Seasick Steve and his Three-String Trance Wonder
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Seasick Steve’s “Started Out with Nothing” MP3
Seasick Steve belongs almost exclusively to the American blues tradition. Playing on zany, custom-designed instruments like the “Three-String Trance Wonder” and singing about living rough and working hard You might think that Steve was playing either self-admitttedly bad Weezer covers or some iteration of pirate rock.
Thankfully, the illustrious Steve Gene Wold has nothing to do with either Weezer or pirates (at least, I think). He does, however, have ties to Modest Mouse, having produced their second EP Interstate 8 and their full-length debut This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. Moreover, he was friends with Kurt Cobain in his day and even played All Points West this past summer.
He’s been a hobo, a carnie, a cowboy, and many other things, but first and foremost calls himself “a song and dance man.”
– Eric Vilas-Boas, Production Editor
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Metric, Motley Crue, Franz Ferdinand, bowery ballroom, Bug Jar, SPIN, Modest Mouse, Bumbershoot, Soulsavers, The Screaming Trees, Mark Lanegan, Mod Club, The Beatles: Rock Band, DD/MM/YYYY, These Arms Are Snakes, Impose Records, Black Square, Kid Rock, Big & Rich, Shinedown, The Fray, Soul Risin', Our Lady Peace, math-punk, Gutter Twins, yeah yeah, Modest
Yeah Yeah Yeahs were rained on at Bumbershoot this past weekend
PREVIEW: DOWNLOAD Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Hysteric” MP3
Rolling Stone was in attendance as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs gave a spirited performance on Sunday at Seattle’s Bumbershoot Festival. In spite of rainy weather, the band played a diverse set that included songs from all three of their studio albums. The festival continued today with performances from, among others, Franz Ferdinand, Metric and Modest Mouse. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor's Pick #168: Jay-Z Endorses Indie Rock, Where The Wild Things Are: Karen O Movie Music Madness]
If hyperactive math-punk is your thing — and really, how could it not be? — then Toronto’s DD/MM/YYYY have awesome news for you. These heavy-hitting Canadians just signed to Brooklyn’s Impose Records, with plans to rerelease their third LP, Black Square, on cassette and digitally September 15. Even better, they’re expanding their U.S. tour to celebrate, and will play Rochester’s Bug Jar on September 24. Tickets are $10 for ages 18-20 and $8 if you’re over 21; These Arms Are Snakes headline. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Real Estate Play with DD/MM/YYYY]
Stereogum reports that Entertainment Weekly, in its Sept. 11 issue, ranks both the fifty best and five worst songs recorded by The Beatles. On 09/09/09, in honor John Lennon’s favorite number, remasters of the entire song catalogue — as well as The Beatles: Rock Band — drop. EW’s commemorative ranking lists “All You Need Is Love” as both the worst Beatles song ever made and the fiftieth best. This is puzzling, considering the band recorded a lot more than fifty songs in their prolific career. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editor's Pick: Beatles Rooftop Performance, 20 Watts Reviews Yim Yames'Tribute To (Remembering George Harrison)]
SPIN reports that Soulsavers opened up their U.S. tour in Portland, Oregon last night, in support of their new album, Broken. Soulsavers, fronted by The Screaming Trees and Gutter Twins lead singer Mark Lanegan, will be playing 15 shows through the month of September. Unfortunately for us, the closest they’ll be coming to Syracuse is NYC’s Bowery Ballroom on the 22nd, and Toronto’s Mod Club on the 25th. Maybe it’s worth the trip though, for you diehards out there. If you were in Seattle, you might have caught them at Bumbershoot, too (see above). [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Daniel Johnston to Play at Mod Club and Elsewhere]
The Fray struggled to garner interest and audiences at the State Fair this weekend. Competing against the likes of mainstream acts like Kid Rock, Big & Rich, Shinedown, and the legendary Mötley Crüe, they failed to play off their momentary “Grey’s Anatomy” fame. But the big break came for Syracuse-based band Soul Risin’, who was asked to replace openers Our Lady Peace at the 11th hour when a family emergency grounded the Toronto band.
– 20 Watts Staff
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Creaturesque, folk rock, Fruit Bats, George Harrison, Infomaniac, Modest Mouse, Moonbeams, My Morning Jacket, Nightmare of You, No One's First and You're Next, pop rock, The Beatles, The Ruminant Band, The Shins, The Strokes, Throw Me the Statue, Tribute To, Yim Yames
Throw Me the Statue's sophomore release drops this week
PREVIEW: Download Throw Me the Statue’s “Cannibal Rays” MP3
Every week, 20 Watts rounds up the new releases on our radar; click the link for our full review.
Have suggestions? Leave a comment or e-mail them to 20wattsblog@gmail.com.
Throw Me the Statue — Creaturesque [16/20 Watts]
Following up on 2007’s Moonbeams, Throw Me the Statue delivers the logical progression with Creaturesque. Littered with youthful charm and a broad ambition, the band manages to expand their sound into a more comfortable vehicle than before. It’s varied and bright, adding to the large collection of thematically positive music to come out already this year. Still, it seems to stand out with its large collection of influences appealing to a diverse group of fans.
Modest Mouse — No One’s First and You’re Next [15/20 Watts]
Giving fans a look into their best non-album material of the past five or so years, No One’s First and You’re Next is just what Modest Mouse fans need to whet their appetites until the next full length. The eight-song collection shows some great continuity for tracks devised so separately, and overall, ends up being a real treat for Modest Mouse faithfuls. As a word of caution, there will be a few unexpected, but enjoyable, moments sprinkled in as well.
Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band [15/20 Watts]
With their fourth proper release, Fruit Bats set out to further distinguish themselves with their own brand of folk rock. For the most part, mission accomplished on The Ruminant Band. Steady and energetic, the album provides a great summer aesthetic, and also distances the band from other similar acts. For anyone who’s spent any extended time with lead singer Eric Johnson and the gang, you’re almost sure to approve as they manage to progress entirely separate of The Shins.
Yim Yames — Tribute To [15/20 Watts]
Eight years after George Harrison passed away, Yim Yames’ (My Morning Jacket’s Jim James) heartfelt cover collection finally comes out of the dark. On Tribute To, Yames looks to give a special thank you to Harrison for meaning what he did to him, as well as close the book on his own personal grieving process. As skeptical as one may be of tribute albums, especially those involving any portion of The Beatles‘ library, this one delivers surprisingly well, giving unique re-workings of the songs Harrison’s fans love so much.
Nightmare of You – Infomaniac [10/20 Watts]
After all of the accolades involved with being 2006’s “next big thing,” everything was going great for Long Island’s Nightmare of You. Then they took a few years to release the follow-up. The result is a much-changed sound, sampling the pop rock stylings of The Strokes, while abandoning some of the edge that made their first release so popular. If you’re just starting with them, perhaps head for 2005’s self-titled debut before continuing.
– John Cassillo, Reviews Editor
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Good News for People Who Love Bad News, Modest Mouse, No One's First and You're Next, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Modest Mouse's new B-sides collection is great for long-time fans
PREVIEW: Download Modest Mouse’s “Satellite Skin” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 15/20 Watts
B-side releases always seem to take either one of two different directions. Sometimes the albums are a welcome change-of-pace with new, experimental material that just didn’t fit on the band’s other efforts. Other times, these collections are comprised of songs that just simply couldn’t make the cut once the artist hit the studio. No One’s First and You’re Next combines the two.
While some songs were obviously written in the same mindset of their latest two albums, Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004) and We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (2007); there are also some tracks which are of the experimental variety too.
On most of their work, Modest Mouse create a theme and stick to it. Be it the struggle of the common man or the emptiness of a vast wasteland, each album has maintained a loose central trend. For No One’s First And You’re Next, pocketed angst and personal hopelessness are the moods du jour. Though the tracks were all written separately, they all fit together remarkably well; something odd for this type of release, which is usually meant to be sporadic. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Ben Harper, Heath Ledger, King Rat, Modest Mouse, Nick Drake, No One's First and You're Next
Heath wanted to rock with the best of them ... and save some whales
PREVIEW: Download Modest Mouse’s “King Rat” MP3
READ: 20 Watts’ Review of No One’s First and You’re Next
WATCH: Related video under the jump
UPDATE: Watch the “King Rat” video on MySpace
Modest Mouse announced on their MySpace blog today that they’ll be releasing a new music video tomorrow on their MySpace for “King Rat,” one the songs on their latest EP No One’s First and You’re Next. So what’s so cool about this? Heath Ledger directed the animated video.
From what the band revealed, Ledger approached frontman Isaac Brock to direct a video that “would marry his love of bold and original music with his impassioned stance against the illegal commercial whale hunts … off the coast of Australia.”
If that was the mandate, ”King Rat” fits the bill. The song showcases a dramatic mix of eclectic instrumentation throughout and lyrics like “Deep water, deep water / Senseless denial,” and “What do you have to say for yourself?” It’s one of the best songs on their superb new EP. (more…)
