CD-Charts Position 1
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We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date April 02, 2007
The only reason I bought this album was that I heard this was Johnny Marr's new band (and they were an act that I missed while at a music festival in Australia). I had never heard any of the band's material before. Being an Electronic fan, I was expecting if not the same style, then a fair amount of melodic guitar-based music. It was therefore quite a shock when I stuck the CD on and heard 'March into the sea', and while 'Dashboard' and 'Fire it up' were slightly more palatable, I had basically written the album off as a dud on first listening. But I persevered, and having become used to their unique style, I would say that this is one of the most satisfying, interesting albums that I have heard for a long time.

I am easily bored ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Good News for People Who Love Bad News

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date July 19, 2004
Modest Mouse don't seem to attract the same admiration on this side of the Atlantic as they do in the indie press in the States, where they are mentioned in the same breath as the Flaming Lips and Arcade Fire. It seems they enjoy something of a cult status and a reputation for drug problems and general instability though I suspect that this has been ratcheted up for the purposes of publicity. I bought this album on the strength of a few tracks I heard online and can only evaluate this album on its individual merits, not in relation or comparison to their previous records.

The first track proper 'The World At Large' is nice enough if fairly derivative of post-Deserter's Songs Mercury Rev, followed by the stunning single 'Float On'. A country-tinged ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Moon and Antarctica

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date July 17, 2000
Having only recently discovered Modest Mouse, I can honestly say that already I cannot imagine my C.D. collection without them. This album in particular is simply stunning. There is an incredible range of cutting, catchy, edgy and down-right bizarre guitar riffs, accompanied by foot-stomping drums and all held together beautifully by the always emotive, occasionally deranged vocals of Brock. It is difficult to pick out individual highlights, quite simply it starts great, ends great and has a great bit in between! What's more it sits together perfectly not just as a collection of songs, but as a complete musical experience. It takes you on a magical ride from the head banging "tiny cities made of ashes" to the eerie "the cold part" the catchy acoustic "paper thin walls" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date April 09, 1996
Being the fifth album I've heard by Modest Mouse, I was delighted to discover that it was easily as incredible as their other underated classics such as Lonesome Crowded West and Moon and Antartica. It seems that very few contemporary bands present such memorable stories and original ideas as well as MM do, especially against such a stylistically raw and individual sound. This album is very diverse musically, containing slide guitar in parts as well as the very manic distorted playing that all MM fans will be familiar with. Overall an extremely enjoyable album, despite it being 16 tracks long, it seems to pass in a matter of seconds.

CD-Charts Position 5
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The Lonesome Crowded West

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date November 16, 1998
I was briefly tempted by The Moon and Antarctica, but after many listens this is definitely the winner. Almost every song is packed with irresistible rhythms and riffs, a unique style and excellent lyrics to top it off. MM have a knack for choosing words with a satisfying natural rhythm/meter, a favourite example being "You move your mouth, you shake your tongue, you vibrate my eardrums; you're saying words, but you know I ain't listening" (but there are examples of it in almost every song).

At first the long, slow sections found in several songs (Trucker's Atlas, Teeth like God's Shoeshine etc.) put me off, but the more you listen the more sense they make. In fact, the way songs change gear instantaneously is key to the way MM handles buildups and release ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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The Fruit That Ate Itself

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date November 06, 2006
If you like jingly-jangly alternative american guitar music then buy this album. If you don't, then why are you even reading this?

CD-Charts Position 7
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Building Nothing Out Of Something [IMPORT]

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date February 07, 2000
just got this cd in from amazon and dang... *nightflower explosions* just that amazing.

this album is just like one of those perfect albums where each song gels together, sounds like an exageration but its not! even if some dont agree, the amount of gems littered in this baby ('never ending math equation', 'broke', 'all nite diner', 'grey ice water', other people's lives') would nontheless be an incentive to get this record.

if ur new to MM and their growing cult base, be prepared for eargasms throughout hte cd, guitar riffs are just crazy delicious along with isaac brock's unique sing style (undertone wailing and incoherent mutterance) which fits into their music all nice and crisp. though MM's lyrics are albeit dark ('grey ice water'... but still so addictive), ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 8
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Dashboard

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date May 28, 2007
Despite Modest Mouse's chart conquering heroics Stateside, their reputation on these shores is more subdued - hopefully this single will change that. With the addition of Johnny Marr, a more aggressive sound comes about in "WWDBTSES" although less so on `Dashboard' - equipped with a simple structure and innocence which may come across as too radio-friendly to many loyal fans of the band. Nevertheless, Marr's input is instantly noticed in the dominating funk riff that takes charge of the song. It keeps a rapid pace and a triumphant spirit throughout, with Isaac Brock keeping his stance as the vocalist that makes the band so unique. It's more than likely to get a few feet tapping, and a few more eyes open to them in the UK.

CD-Charts Position 9
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Sad Sappy Sucker

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date November 06, 2006
I'm sorry, but this is the very worst album Modest Mouse ever released. It shows the seeds that made Modest Mouse great on later albums, but it's still a shoddy album of short half-baked ideas. It's only merit is as a historical document of a great band finding it's voice. Only two tracks remain on my playlist: Dukes Up and Four Fingered Fisherman, but I wouldn't miss them much. Try "The Moon And Antarctica" or "Good News For People Who Love Bad News", two of the consistently better albums. Their latest "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank" is a stinker too, a Marie Celeste of good tracks.

Modest Mouse really is a great band, just avoid this album.

CD-Charts Position 10
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We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank [VINYL]

by: Modest Mouse

Release Date June 25, 2007
although it's true that this album is very different from, for example, modest mouse's breakthrough album "the lonesome crowded west", change is not always a bad thing!

their sound is much more mainstream, and while it is clearly a progression from their last album, "good news for people who love bad news", these songs are much more lush and loud. the addition of the smiths' former guitarist johnny marr has made them more rhythm or perhaps melody-orientated, and while this is definitely a new sound for the band, i personally think it is no worse than any previous albums, and better than some.

this album is definitely a way into modest mouse's undeniably fantastic music: their earlier albums, while gorgeous, could take a little bit of getting into. hopefully, this album will both ... Read More: