on 2011-12-03 iamparadox Said:

Charles, I couldn't disagree more. Modest Mouse remains one of most authentic, relevant, and underrated bands around. They have a loyal and strong fan base, and make the kind of music they want. They have evolved and continue to do so. I listened to this record for the first time long after discovering them, and much later after listening to the record Good News.
Rating: 7/10

Review:

on 2011-12-03 CharlesMartel Said:

Who are Modest Mouse? It may seem a dumb question, but be honest, the thought must have occurred to you as well. As far as I am concerned they are one of the most frustrating indie rock bands going. Their lo-fi specialism seems to make them sound like something they don't want to be trying to sound like something they do want to be. And no matter how many times I listened to this album in the past I never got past the ultimate conundrum of this album. Are these guys serious or are they all sitting somewhere wetting themselves with laughter at what they have managed to get everybody to think about them? It is a question which haunts me because I cannot answer it unless I actually meet a Modest Mouse in person and try to extract the information out of him.

When I started out at this website, I set myself the daunting task of reviewing every album and every single I had, plus a few in between which I had heard but regard as worthy of comment (usually for the wrong reasons) even though I don't and couldn't bear to own. When I got made an editorial reviewer, I decided to continue writing user reviews only for those albums and singles that I owned but which did not already have an editorial review. By this point in time I am really getting down to the fag-end (UK sense of the word, just to clarify) of my music collection that I am almost dreading continuing this task.

The albums I have finally got round to reviewing now, with a few exceptions, are those albums which I really don't like and which are nonetheless often highly regarded by others. I often feel kind of guilty about writing something which trashes an album which others might hold dear and hope they don't take it personally. I am all for musical diversity and I really do love it that I love stuff others hate, and others love stuff I hate. Wouldn't it be boring if we all liked the same thing. But seriously, I hate this album.

There is a lot of manic noise. Isaac Brock screams rather than sings far too often and he doesn't manage to scream in tune. And a lot of the hooks and riffs fail to gel in the mind, making them rather pointless. I have heard this before. I have heard it many times in many venues and in many guises. This is the enthusiastic but moderately talented kids (you know the type from school  they had this guy in the band who couldn't really play his synthesiser but they kept him in the band because he had a synthesiser - wow!) who get up at school dances, small clubs and other dingy venues and thrash out covers of "Louie Louie" (and "Jean Genie" if they are really adventurous) and you all applaud politely because you know them and, well, you admire them for having the guts to get up and do it. But they aren't that good and you know it. Well guess what, some of those kids got together and formed Modest Mouse and some idiot gave them a record contract.
Rating: 2/10