If you have been following this series, you'll know that my Top 25 Modest Mouse songs have been decided. All that remains is ranking them in order. What I'm really hoping to do by the end of the series is help a few people discover music by one of the best alternative rock bands of all time. The remaining songs will include video links, full lyrics, and my reasoning for ranking them where I did. I'm sure that my list will differ from those of most fans of the band. It's almost inevitable with so many great songs to choose from. However, you can be sure that this is an honest attempt, and I'm not going to deliberately elevate songs that I know are well-loved.
Here we go:
25. The World at Large - from Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Ice-age heat wave, can't complain.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day, to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.
Well uh-uh baby I ain't got no plan.
We'll float on maybe would you understand?
Gonna float on maybe would you understand?
Well I'll float on maybe would you understand?
The days get shorter and the nights get cold.
I like the autumn but this place is getting old.
I pack up my belongings and I head for the coast.
It might not be a lot but I feel like I'm making the most.
The day's get longer and the nights smell green.
I guess it's not surprising but it's spring and I should leave.
I like songs about drifters - books about the same.
They both seem to make me feel a little less insane.
Walked on off to another spot.
I still haven't got anywhere that I want.
Did I want love? Did I need to know?
Why does it always feel like I'm caught in an undertow?
The moths beat themselves to death against the lights.
Adding their breeze to the summer nights.
Outside, water like air was great.
I didn't know what I had that day.
Walk a little farther to another plan.
You said that you did, but you didn't understand.
I know that starting over is not what life's all about.
But my thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth.
My thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth.
My thoughts were so loud.
If the world's at large, why should I remain?
Walked away to another plan.
Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand.
I move on to another day, to a whole new town with a whole new way.
Went to the porch to have a thought.
Got to the door and again, I couldn't stop.
You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.
Well uh-uh baby I ain't got no plan.
We'll float on maybe would you understand?
Gonna float on maybe would you understand?
Well I'll float on maybe would you understand?
The days get shorter and the nights get cold.
I like the autumn but this place is getting old.
I pack up my belongings and I head for the coast.
It might not be a lot but I feel like I'm making the most.
The day's get longer and the nights smell green.
I guess it's not surprising but it's spring and I should leave.
I like songs about drifters - books about the same.
They both seem to make me feel a little less insane.
Walked on off to another spot.
I still haven't got anywhere that I want.
Did I want love? Did I need to know?
Why does it always feel like I'm caught in an undertow?
The moths beat themselves to death against the lights.
Adding their breeze to the summer nights.
Outside, water like air was great.
I didn't know what I had that day.
Walk a little farther to another plan.
You said that you did, but you didn't understand.
I know that starting over is not what life's all about.
But my thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth.
My thoughts were so loud, I couldn't hear my mouth.
My thoughts were so loud.
The World at Large quickly creates a mood. It's a dreamy, thoughtful piece, with lyrics that question the purpose of life. This is quite a common topic for Brock. Unlike many of the band's songs, the vocals are mellow and the overall feel is laid back. The whole song is a question, and the mood matches the subject matter. I would imagine that this would be one of the easiest places to start for someone new to Modest Mouse. I like it because of the way it builds, and the multilayered structure. Musically, it reminds me somewhat of the Cocteau Twins, only better. It fits very well on the album, immediately before Float On and Ocean Breathes Salty. The three are definitely linked.
24. Invisible - from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
Well listen dancing shifter, got a strong cell phone arm
Oh you're not invisible inside your car
No matter what consuming sort of mission you're on
Well you're not invisible inside your car
So absolutely mental gonna ramble and charge
No you're not invisible inside your car
No matter you just breathe it like your flies in a jar
No you're not invisible
I like the saline tea
Well it's true that the moon can pull it back and forth away from me
I should just let it be
Well it's true that the moon can pull you back and forth away from me
Well it had to happen sometime
Gonna shake like a charm
Well we weren't invisible not all along
No matter how many eons came and are gone
We were not invisible
I like the saline tea
Well it's true that the moon can pull it back and forth away from me
And there's the orphaned sea
We were never invisible but that I guess we didn't see
Of course this all had been laid down way before
We laid down for it all before we had a course
Of course, of course this all had been laid down
Of course we lay down
I like the saline tea
Well it's true that the moon can pull it back and forth away from me
And like the orphaned sea
We were never invisible but that I guess we could not see
We'll get crushed by the ocean, but it will not get us wet
Oh you're not invisible inside your car
No matter what consuming sort of mission you're on
Well you're not invisible inside your car
So absolutely mental gonna ramble and charge
No you're not invisible inside your car
No matter you just breathe it like your flies in a jar
No you're not invisible
I like the saline tea
Well it's true that the moon can pull it back and forth away from me
I should just let it be
Well it's true that the moon can pull you back and forth away from me
Well it had to happen sometime
Gonna shake like a charm
Well we weren't invisible not all along
No matter how many eons came and are gone
We were not invisible
I like the saline tea
Well it's true that the moon can pull it back and forth away from me
And there's the orphaned sea
We were never invisible but that I guess we didn't see
Of course this all had been laid down way before
We laid down for it all before we had a course
Of course, of course this all had been laid down
Of course we lay down
I like the saline tea
Well it's true that the moon can pull it back and forth away from me
And like the orphaned sea
We were never invisible but that I guess we could not see
We'll get crushed by the ocean, but it will not get us wet
From the opening drum salvo, it's obvious that Invisible is going to be an upbeat rant. The spiky guitar wouldn't be out of place on a punk song. Brock's vocals contain a lot of energy too, and there's rarely a moment to breathe throughout the four minutes. I ultimately cut it because it's not really about anything and relies a little too much on the driving tempo. It's still one of the best songs on the album though.
23. I Came As a Rat - from The Moon & Antarctica
Well I ain't sure but I been told
He's baking cakes inside our souls
Stayed awake took a nap
Got myself my bottles back
I'm breaking them out on the street
Walkin' round in my bare feet
I do not need you to tell me that I'm not a cat
I caught a ride, we caught some air
He's never gonna cut his hair
He takes more time to make a fake
We night swam down in the lake
And washed the dirt off our intentions
Prattle on 'bout bad inventions
I came as ice, I came as a whore
I came as advice that came too short
I came as gold, I came as crap
I came too clean, and I came as a rat
It takes a long time, but God dies too
But not before he'll stick it to you
Well I don't know but I been told
You'll never die and you never grow old
Uh oh!
I came as a call, I came as flat
I came too soon so I came back
I came as flowers, I came as nice
I came as dirt, and I came as its price
It takes a long time but God dies too
But not before he'll stick it to you
I don't know but I been told
You never die and you never grow old
Uh oh!
He's baking cakes inside our souls
Stayed awake took a nap
Got myself my bottles back
I'm breaking them out on the street
Walkin' round in my bare feet
I do not need you to tell me that I'm not a cat
I caught a ride, we caught some air
He's never gonna cut his hair
He takes more time to make a fake
We night swam down in the lake
And washed the dirt off our intentions
Prattle on 'bout bad inventions
I came as ice, I came as a whore
I came as advice that came too short
I came as gold, I came as crap
I came too clean, and I came as a rat
It takes a long time, but God dies too
But not before he'll stick it to you
Well I don't know but I been told
You'll never die and you never grow old
Uh oh!
I came as a call, I came as flat
I came too soon so I came back
I came as flowers, I came as nice
I came as dirt, and I came as its price
It takes a long time but God dies too
But not before he'll stick it to you
I don't know but I been told
You never die and you never grow old
Uh oh!
Can I say that the remaining 23 tracks are all awesome and are tied for first? No, I didn't think you would let me get away with that. If you know Modest Mouse's music well, you'll be aware that Brock often mentions God, heaven, hell, and the afterlife. He's clearly skeptical. I am not in the least bit offended by that and find some of his reflections amusing. It does sometime seem that if there's a God, He can make our lives a misery. I Came As a Rat assaults us with a stream of lyrics in the first half of the song, and it's difficult to take everything in. Then the music takes center stage and the second half has an almost eastern feel to it. The fact that this song didn't make the Top 20 surprises me, but even the weakest track in the Top 25 is excellent overall.
22. Black Cadillacs - from Good News for People Who Love Bad News
And it's true we named our children after towns
That we've never been to
And it's true that the clouds just hung around
Like black Cadillacs outside a funeral
And we we're done, done, done
With all the fuck, fuck, fuckin' around
You were so true to yourself
You were true to no one else
Well I should put you in the ground
I've got the time, I got the hours
I got the days, I got the weeks
I could say to myself
I've got the words but I can't speak
Well, I was done, done, done
With all the circ-circ-circlin' round
I didn't die and I ain't complainin' I ain't blamin' you
I didn't know that the words you said to me
Meant more to me than they ever could you
I didn't lie and I ain't sayin' I told the whole truth
I didn't know that this game
We were playin' even had a set of rules
We named our children after towns
That we've never been to
And it's true that the clouds hung around
Like black Cadillacs outside a funeral
And we were laughing at the stars
While our feet clung tight to the ground
So pleased with ourselves for using
So many verbs and nouns
But we were all still just dumb, dumb, dumber
Than the dirt, dirt, dirt on the ground
Well wings on flames, kings with no names
Well this place just ain't got right air right now
You were so all over town but still so Crayola brown
Well you should run 'round yourself right now
And we were done, done, done
With all the fuck, fuck, fuckin' around circlin' round
That we've never been to
And it's true that the clouds just hung around
Like black Cadillacs outside a funeral
And we we're done, done, done
With all the fuck, fuck, fuckin' around
You were so true to yourself
You were true to no one else
Well I should put you in the ground
I've got the time, I got the hours
I got the days, I got the weeks
I could say to myself
I've got the words but I can't speak
Well, I was done, done, done
With all the circ-circ-circlin' round
I didn't die and I ain't complainin' I ain't blamin' you
I didn't know that the words you said to me
Meant more to me than they ever could you
I didn't lie and I ain't sayin' I told the whole truth
I didn't know that this game
We were playin' even had a set of rules
We named our children after towns
That we've never been to
And it's true that the clouds hung around
Like black Cadillacs outside a funeral
And we were laughing at the stars
While our feet clung tight to the ground
So pleased with ourselves for using
So many verbs and nouns
But we were all still just dumb, dumb, dumber
Than the dirt, dirt, dirt on the ground
Well wings on flames, kings with no names
Well this place just ain't got right air right now
You were so all over town but still so Crayola brown
Well you should run 'round yourself right now
And we were done, done, done
With all the fuck, fuck, fuckin' around circlin' round
I love the opening line. Why do people name their children after towns that they have never been to? Maybe they just want us to think they are worldly. I wouldn't name a kid Worksop or Scunthorpe, but Guelph would be pretty cool. It sounds like an alien race. Black Cadillacs is a well-crafted song that has an edgy almost poppy vibe to it. The slick structure works well and I enjoy the return to the main theme at the end of the song. It's hard to lose this one so early.
21. Cowboy Dan - from The Lonesome Crowded West
Well, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
And he's gonna start a war
He's gonna start a war
And he hops in his pickup puts the pedal to the floor
And says "I got mine but I want more"
Because, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
He goes to the desert fires his rifle in the sky
And says, "God if I have to die you will have to die"
Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He didn't move to the city the city moved to me
And I want out desperately
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
No, no, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Standing in the tall grass thinking nothing
You know we need oxygen to breathe
Oxygen to breathe
Standing in the tall grass thinking nothing
You know we need oxygen to breathe
Oxygen to breathe
Every time you think you're walking
You're just moving the ground
Every time you think you're talking
You're just moving your mouth
Every time you think you're looking
You're just looking down
Well, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
He hops in his pickup puts the pedal to the floor
And says "I got mine but I want more"
'Cause, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
He goes to the desert fires his rifle in the sky
And says, "God if I have to die you will have to die"
Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes the the reservation drinks and gets mean
He didn't move to the city the city moved to me
And I want out desperately
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
No, no, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Yeah, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
And he's gonna start a war
He's gonna start a war
And he hops in his pickup puts the pedal to the floor
And says "I got mine but I want more"
Because, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
He goes to the desert fires his rifle in the sky
And says, "God if I have to die you will have to die"
Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He didn't move to the city the city moved to me
And I want out desperately
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
No, no, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Standing in the tall grass thinking nothing
You know we need oxygen to breathe
Oxygen to breathe
Standing in the tall grass thinking nothing
You know we need oxygen to breathe
Oxygen to breathe
Every time you think you're walking
You're just moving the ground
Every time you think you're talking
You're just moving your mouth
Every time you think you're looking
You're just looking down
Well, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
He hops in his pickup puts the pedal to the floor
And says "I got mine but I want more"
'Cause, Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes to the reservation drinks and gets mean
He goes to the desert fires his rifle in the sky
And says, "God if I have to die you will have to die"
Cowboy Dan's a major player in the cowboy scene
He goes the the reservation drinks and gets mean
He didn't move to the city the city moved to me
And I want out desperately
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Can't do it, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
No, no, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Yeah, not even if sober
Can't get that engine turned over
Most bands never write a song of this quality. I can almost see Cowboy Dan as I listen. He sounds as if he might be friends with Nick Cave's Stagger Lee. The song has some repetitive phases, but it's strangely compelling. Some of the lyrics are superb. I'm particularly fond of:
Every time you think you're walking you're just moving the ground
Every time you think you're talking you're just moving your mouth
Every time you think you're talking you're just moving your mouth
That sums up a lot of people I have met, and it also describes how futile life can seem at times. Haven't you ever wondered why you do what you do, where your life is going, and what you are supposed to achieve before you die? I know I have. Cowboy Dan is more than just good lyrics, and that's highlighted two minutes in when it slows down and takes time to flesh out the guitar. The closing segment is more urgent and equally effective. This could easily be in my Top 10 if I ever repeat this exercise in a few years, but right now it just means that I like 20 Modest Mouse songs better than this one.
Well, that took a lot longer than I thought. I'll work on the songs ranked 16-20 in the next installment.
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 1
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 2
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 3
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 5
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 6
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 7
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 8
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 1
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 2
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 3
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 5
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 6
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 7
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 8
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