Yesterday's post took around three hours as I struggled to get the ranking correct for songs 21 through 25. I also encountered a problem with the lyrics for Invisible. Almost every lyric site had them woefully wrong. The very first line was listed as:
"Oh, well lesson dance and shoot to God a storm suffered owl"
Interesting to say the least. I couldn't find an official lyric online, so I reverted to the inner sleeve on the CD. I'm the guy who checks the weather online instead of looking out of the window. The CD sleeve had the full lyrics, but they were too small to make out. I ended up scanning it and finally arriving at my answer. The real lyric is:
"Well listen dancing shifter, got a strong cell phone arm"
Yeah, that makes a lot more sense.
I told you that because I wanted to give you a taste of the amount of effort I am putting into this project. Today's post will use the same format, with videos and lyrics, and I'll reveal the next five songs.
20. Steam Engenius - from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
I was born in a factory.
Far away from the milky teat.
What's the use?
Oh, what's the use?
You cheered as I was split in half.
A mechanical, sacrificial calf for you.
Oh, all for you.
Steam engenius you see?
Steam engenius enough to answer anything you need.
But what's the use?
Human nature was installed in me.
Well I did what's right, but naturally it wasn't natural.
Still not my fault.
No.
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He lost his car, it was sitting there crying out, waiting in the parking lot just for you.
What a waste of time, what a waste of words, what a waste of strength.
Well I spoke in binary and you for volume and for dizzying length.
I was born in a factory.
Far away from the milky teat.
What's the use?
Oh, what's the use?
Birds flew out as I was split in half.
A mechanical, sacrificial calf they flew.
Oh, out they flew.
Steam engenius to see.
Steam engenius enough to answer anything you need.
And all that speed.
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He lost his car it was sitting there waiting out, in the parking lot out for you.
What a waste of time, what a waste of words, what a waste of strength.
Well I spoke in binary and you for volume and for dizzying length.
Both halves are the better half. Like a joke trying to make another joke laugh. Ha ha.
Stasis is what you brought, like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw, rickshaw.
In the past talking present tense.
Gonna break it, gonna wreck it, gonna try to make it all make sense.
Stasis is what you got, like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw.
Steam engenius ya see?
Steam engenius enough to bring my own damn doom.
What could I do?
I blame blame that blame had grew.
Well deep inside everybody knew it was them.
It's all on them.
Things rang of stories Greek.
I didn't want it! You gave me deity it was you.
Yeah, all for you.
I was born in a factory.
Far away from the milky teat.
What's the use?
Oh, what's the use?
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He'd lost his car, it was sitting there crying out, waiting in the parking lot just for you.
I was thought up by man to think better than them, then revered, admired, and then destroyed by them.
Ahh, even all that was my own damn plan.
Well, what a waste of time, what a waste of words, what a waste of strength.
Well I spoke in binary and you for volume and for dizzying length.
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He lost his car, it was sitting there crying out waiting for you in the parking lot going woo-hoo!
Stasis is what you got, like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw.
Far away from the milky teat.
What's the use?
Oh, what's the use?
You cheered as I was split in half.
A mechanical, sacrificial calf for you.
Oh, all for you.
Steam engenius you see?
Steam engenius enough to answer anything you need.
But what's the use?
Human nature was installed in me.
Well I did what's right, but naturally it wasn't natural.
Still not my fault.
No.
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He lost his car, it was sitting there crying out, waiting in the parking lot just for you.
What a waste of time, what a waste of words, what a waste of strength.
Well I spoke in binary and you for volume and for dizzying length.
I was born in a factory.
Far away from the milky teat.
What's the use?
Oh, what's the use?
Birds flew out as I was split in half.
A mechanical, sacrificial calf they flew.
Oh, out they flew.
Steam engenius to see.
Steam engenius enough to answer anything you need.
And all that speed.
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He lost his car it was sitting there waiting out, in the parking lot out for you.
What a waste of time, what a waste of words, what a waste of strength.
Well I spoke in binary and you for volume and for dizzying length.
Both halves are the better half. Like a joke trying to make another joke laugh. Ha ha.
Stasis is what you brought, like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw, rickshaw.
In the past talking present tense.
Gonna break it, gonna wreck it, gonna try to make it all make sense.
Stasis is what you got, like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw.
Steam engenius ya see?
Steam engenius enough to bring my own damn doom.
What could I do?
I blame blame that blame had grew.
Well deep inside everybody knew it was them.
It's all on them.
Things rang of stories Greek.
I didn't want it! You gave me deity it was you.
Yeah, all for you.
I was born in a factory.
Far away from the milky teat.
What's the use?
Oh, what's the use?
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He'd lost his car, it was sitting there crying out, waiting in the parking lot just for you.
I was thought up by man to think better than them, then revered, admired, and then destroyed by them.
Ahh, even all that was my own damn plan.
Well, what a waste of time, what a waste of words, what a waste of strength.
Well I spoke in binary and you for volume and for dizzying length.
I held in my hands the beating heart of a robot.
He lost his car, it was sitting there crying out waiting for you in the parking lot going woo-hoo!
Stasis is what you got, like a rickshaw getting pulled around by another rickshaw.
Steam Engenius isn't a song that I connect with lyrically; it has me thinking about Marvin the paranoid android from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy more than anything else. What makes it worthy of a spot in my Top 20? It's the music and the way the lyrics are delivered. Isaac Brock is a raving madman at times during this song, but he also reigns it in and slows it down to good effect. The rhythm is irresistible and the dense sound is strangely addictive.
19. Head South - from This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About
A surf rock band from the land of plenty
Surf rock bands with no surf just pine trees
Struck by being ashamed of your old space, just wanting that mean heat
You bleached your hair and you pawned your skis
And then you sold out for the shade of the palm tree scene
And said, "Oh what a drag, oh what a backwards scheme
'Cuz here things go from grey to grey and back to grey again
And they get green and go to grey and back to grey again"
So he said,"Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South"
Struck by being ashamed of your old space, just wanting that mean heat
You bleached your hair and you pawned your skis
And then you sold out for the shape of the palm tree scene
Surrounded, cut off jeans and cut off jeans are what you mean
When you say, "Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South"
Surf rock bands with no surf just pine trees
Struck by being ashamed of your old space, just wanting that mean heat
You bleached your hair and you pawned your skis
And then you sold out for the shade of the palm tree scene
And said, "Oh what a drag, oh what a backwards scheme
'Cuz here things go from grey to grey and back to grey again
And they get green and go to grey and back to grey again"
So he said,"Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South"
Struck by being ashamed of your old space, just wanting that mean heat
You bleached your hair and you pawned your skis
And then you sold out for the shape of the palm tree scene
Surrounded, cut off jeans and cut off jeans are what you mean
When you say, "Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South
Head South, head South, head South, head South"
If you're confused about this choice, it's what happens after the lyrics are over that makes this song fantastic. The first part of the song is good, but hardly something that warrants a Top 20 spot. The guitar in the last 90 seconds changes everything. I can feel the energy of a young band just going for it, and that's infectious. I can't listen to it without playing every note in my head and smiling while I'm inwardly rocking out. This has to be some of the best raw guitar the band ever produced.
18. Broke - from Building Nothing Out of Something
Broke account so I broke a sweat
I've bought some things that I sort of regret about now
Broke your glasses, but it broke the ice
You said that I was an asshole and I paid the price
Broken hearts want broken necks
I've done some things that I want to forget but I can't
Broke my pace and ran out of time
Sometimes I'm so full of shit that it should be a crime
Broke a promise 'cause my car broke down
Such a classic excuse it should be bronze by now
Broke up, and I'm relieved somehow
It's the end of the discussions that just go round and round
And round, and round, and round, and round
And round, and round it shouldn't have been anyway
No way, no way, that's right, that's right
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh no
It was like everything was evidence of broken
You're living on fancy wine
You'll drink that turpentine
You're starting conversations
You don't even know the topic
I've bought some things that I sort of regret about now
Broke your glasses, but it broke the ice
You said that I was an asshole and I paid the price
Broken hearts want broken necks
I've done some things that I want to forget but I can't
Broke my pace and ran out of time
Sometimes I'm so full of shit that it should be a crime
Broke a promise 'cause my car broke down
Such a classic excuse it should be bronze by now
Broke up, and I'm relieved somehow
It's the end of the discussions that just go round and round
And round, and round, and round, and round
And round, and round it shouldn't have been anyway
No way, no way, that's right, that's right
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh no
Uh oh, uh oh, uh oh, uh no
It was like everything was evidence of broken
You're living on fancy wine
You'll drink that turpentine
You're starting conversations
You don't even know the topic
Building Nothing Out of Something contains a lot of good songs, but Broke is comfortably the best of them. The opening guitar is absolutely beautiful and the lyrics feel honest and real. The structure of the song is just about perfect with the volume and intensity building throughout. It's incredible that one band could craft songs using so many different styles, and end up pulling them all off so well.
17. Ocean Breathes Salty - from Good News for People Who Love Bad News
Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in
In my head, in my heart, in my soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Don't think so
Well that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me. You get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile. I had to think awhile
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I hope so
Well that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me. You get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile. I had to think awhile
Well that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky
You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye
When the earth folded in on itself
And said "Good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell
Are really there, but I wouldn't hold my breath."
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind
Well I don't mind. I don't mind. How the hell could I mind?
Well that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me. You get away from me
Well that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?
In my head, in my heart, in my soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Don't think so
Well that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me. You get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile. I had to think awhile
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old
Well I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I hope so
Well that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me. You get away from me
Collected my belongings and I left the jail
Well thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
I had to think awhile. I had to think awhile
Well that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky
You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye
When the earth folded in on itself
And said "Good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell
Are really there, but I wouldn't hold my breath."
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?
The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind
Well I don't mind. I don't mind. How the hell could I mind?
Well that is that and this is this
You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
You get away from me. You get away from me
Well that is that and this is this
Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
When the ocean met the sky
You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?
The opening sentence brings up so many feelings about people I have lost, and thinking about who my friends have lost. The sense of optimism is quickly dashed by the likely reality about the presence of an afterlife, but I find that view refreshing. The guitars shimmer and soar for most of the song and I like Brock's vocal delivery. Sometimes, the best parts of a song are the placement of the silent parts. That's true here for the abrupt ending. Everything has been said and it simply ends.
16. Bury Me with It - from Good News for People Who Love Bad News
We were shootin' at a mound of dirt.
Well nothing was broken, nothing was hurt.
But I probably really should have been at work.
But if my freetime's gone, would you promise me this?
That you will please bury me with it?
Please bury me with it!
Well sure as planets come, I know that they end.
And if I'm here when that happens, will you promise me this my friend?
Please bury me with it!
I just don't need none of that Mad Max bullshit.
Well the suit got tight and it split at the seams.
But I kept it out of habit and I kept it really clean.
But if it's getting' faded, if it's runnin' outta thread,
Could you just do this for me my friend?
And please just please bury me with it?
Please bury me with it!
Well we moved to the left and moved to the right.
And sure as hell we stayed out almost every single night.
But if the party's over, if the fun has to end,
could you do this for me my friend?
Would you just please bury me with it?
Please bury me with it!
Good news for people who love bad news.
We've lost the plot and we just can't choose.
We are hummingbirds who are just not willing to move.
And there's good news for people who love bad news.
We are hummingbirds who've lost the plot and we will not move.
We have good news for anyone who loves bad news.
We were aiming for the moon. We were shooting at the stars.
But the kids were just shooting at the buses and the cars.
So don't drink the water, don't you breathe the air.
If it's gotten to that point then I have to declare:
That you please bury me with it!
Please bury me with it!
Well fads they come and fads they go.
And God I love that rock and roll!
Well the point was fast but it was too blunt to miss.
Life handed us a paycheck, we said, "We worked harder than this!"
Please bury me with it!
Please bury me with it!
We are hummingbirds who are just not going to move.
And there's good news for people who love bad news.
We are hummingbirds who've lost the plot and we well not move.
We have great news for anyone who loves bad news.
Well nothing was broken, nothing was hurt.
But I probably really should have been at work.
But if my freetime's gone, would you promise me this?
That you will please bury me with it?
Please bury me with it!
Well sure as planets come, I know that they end.
And if I'm here when that happens, will you promise me this my friend?
Please bury me with it!
I just don't need none of that Mad Max bullshit.
Well the suit got tight and it split at the seams.
But I kept it out of habit and I kept it really clean.
But if it's getting' faded, if it's runnin' outta thread,
Could you just do this for me my friend?
And please just please bury me with it?
Please bury me with it!
Well we moved to the left and moved to the right.
And sure as hell we stayed out almost every single night.
But if the party's over, if the fun has to end,
could you do this for me my friend?
Would you just please bury me with it?
Please bury me with it!
Good news for people who love bad news.
We've lost the plot and we just can't choose.
We are hummingbirds who are just not willing to move.
And there's good news for people who love bad news.
We are hummingbirds who've lost the plot and we will not move.
We have good news for anyone who loves bad news.
We were aiming for the moon. We were shooting at the stars.
But the kids were just shooting at the buses and the cars.
So don't drink the water, don't you breathe the air.
If it's gotten to that point then I have to declare:
That you please bury me with it!
Please bury me with it!
Well fads they come and fads they go.
And God I love that rock and roll!
Well the point was fast but it was too blunt to miss.
Life handed us a paycheck, we said, "We worked harder than this!"
Please bury me with it!
Please bury me with it!
We are hummingbirds who are just not going to move.
And there's good news for people who love bad news.
We are hummingbirds who've lost the plot and we well not move.
We have great news for anyone who loves bad news.
I have no problem with bands sounding like the Pixies if it's done this well. The music is great, but I have to mention the theme and some of the lyrics. I'm sure we can all identify with the idea of life not being worth living if you take away the things we care about the most. The Mad Max line is perfect, as is the paycheck line, but the hummingbird reference is the best lyric in the song. What an image.
The next installment will showcase songs ranked 11-15 if I can figure out what order they should be in. I'll need a month off after I complete this project.
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 4
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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