I was driving home yesterday listening to Dirty Fingernails, and it was so good that I had to play it twice. There's something so sinister about that sound. I mention it because it was the last song cut before I decided on the final 100. That's how good this music is. Even songs that didn't make this list would blow most other bands out of the water.
Let's get back to the Top 100:
95. Strangers to Ourselves (Strangers to Ourselves)
We're lucky that
We're lucky that we slept
Didn't seem like we realized we'd be stuck in traffic
We're lucky that we slept
Not to be confused the points from the purpose
We're lucky that we're so capable to forget
How lucky we are, that we are, so easy to forget
How often we become susceptible to regret
I do regret
How often we are confused
How honestly we have tried
But we'll forget
We have designed more unusual things as yet
How often we are confused
How honestly we have tried
But will forget
We'll forget
The opening song from the long awaited latest album does a great job of setting a mood. It was the perfect choice to open the album. Brock's vocals are subdued and calm, and it feels like the beginning of a journey. It was the last song played in London two weeks ago, ending a wonderful show. The violin creates a mood totally different from the usual guitar. I've noticed that a lot of Brock's lyrics are introspective and often insightful. Add this song to that list.
94. Of Course We Know (Strangers to Ourselves)
The streets are just blankets and we sleep on their silky corpse
Covered up by them, why would we ever want to wake up?
Oh, no
Well, of course, of course, of course, of course
Of course we just do not know
What in hell are we here for?
We just do not know
Lord lay down, Lord lay down, Lord lay down your own damn soul
Lord lay down, Lord lay down, Lord lay down your own damn soul
Lord lay down, Lord lay down, Lord lay down your own damn soul
The end is like cotton that we wear wherever we go
Covered up by this, why would we ever want to try on your clothes?
Well of course, of course, of course, of course
Of course we just do not know
Well, Lord lay down, Lord lay down, Lord lay down
(Let down your guard)
Lord lay down, Lord lay down, Lord lay down your own damn soul
Lord lay down, Lord lay down, Lord lay down your only son
Of course we know
Strangers to Ourselves shows a different side of Modest Mouse. One of my friends thinks it's easily the best album the band has ever done. I obviously think it's fantastic, but my absolute favorites tend to be raw and filled with squealing guitars. Of Course We Know is the perfect bookend to the opening track, and continues that mood. It feels somewhat epic and suggests that it is searching for something just out of reach. It always leaves me wanting more. Luckily, there is more than 10 hours of music across the band's discography, so always plenty of choice.
93. Space Travel Is Boring (This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About)
Won herself a pass to some far off moon
It was second class but what's to lose?
And looking out her window she could more than assume
That you can't see air or time
She's the only rocketeer in the whole damn place
They gave her a mirror so she could talk to a face
She still got plenty lonely but that's just the case
With time, time, time
Started hearing voices sometime in June
She knew she could go crazy but didn't think that soon
Now she doesn't feel lonely but she'd just as soon
Try, try, try, try
Man shot to the moon
I read a paperback and want to go real soon
I'm shot to the moon
Been there a half an hour, I want to come home soon
Talking of raw, welcome to the final track from the first album (on the CD version at least). I like the contrast in tempo between the first two verses and the remainder of the song. I love Brock's vocals on this. It's strange to use a short song that begins so urgently as the closing track on an album, but the slower second half of the song makes it work.
92. Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice on Ice, Alright (The Lonesome Crowded West)
Well, all's not well
But I'm told that it'll all be quite nice
You'll be drowned in boots like Mafia
But your feet will still float like Christ's
Well I'll be damned
They were right
I'm drowning upside down
My feet afloat like Christ's
I'm in heaven
Trying to figure out which stack
They're going to stuff us atheists into
When Peter and his monkey laugh
And I laugh with them
I'm not sure what at
They point and say
"We'll keep you in the back
Polishing halos, baking manna and gas"
Well, some guy comes in looking a bit
Like everyone I ever seen
He moves just like Crisco disco
Breath 100% Listerine
He says looking at something else
But directing everything to me
"Every time anyone gets on their knees to pray
Well, it makes my telephone ring
And I'll be damned"
He said, "You were right
No one's running this whole thing"
He had a theory, too
He said that God takes care of himself,
God takes care of himself
And you of you
He said that God takes care of himself
God takes care of himself,
And you of you
He said that God takes care of himself
God takes care of himself,
And you of you
It's all nice on ice, all right!
And it's not day!
And it's not night!
But it's all nice on ice, all right!
Another closing song from an album. That seems to be happening a lot today. The contrast between the first and second part of the song is significant. I could easily imagine the first half being performed solo. The lyrics make me think, and that's always welcome. If a supreme being exists, I doubt very much it would watch our every step. If you continue this journey with me to the end, you'll realize that God is mentioned often. This song was played live at the last concert I attended two weeks ago, and it's become something more because of that. The frenzied drumming at the end works brilliantly live. I didn't want it to end.
91. Dance Hall (Good News for People Who Love Bad News)
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
Well, I'm giving myself another one
I have too much to say
Dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to angle or telepathy
Because I don't have the words to say
Well, I'm going to act up, but not in your fucking play
I'll let you win the argument if things still go my way
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
Well, I haven't had enough and I said I had my fill
The past does not exist and I'm told it never will
I guess that I'm stuck here like a plant on a windowsill
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to tell you what you want to hear anyways
I could give myself a shot
I could give myself a pill
I'm going to go and try to buy a little more time to kill
I need a can opener cause I got some beans to spill
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
Well somehow or another I fell for every scam
But I was dancing on the tin roof, cat be damned
Committing crimes, running down the alley
I am the captain and you are in the galley!
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to dance all Dance Hall everyday
I'm going to Dance Hall dance all night long right now!
Ah, I like hearing Brock's vocals when he's flirting with chaos. The delivery is manic and full of emotion. As Jonathan Richman once sang, "if the music's gonna move me, it's gotta be action packed." Dance Hall is a rant, but there's so much going on in this song. Are there really 90 better songs than this? Apparently.
Well, that's all for this installment. I hope that Modest Mouse fans will find this interesting and that people new to the band will somehow get into the music because of this massive series. If I seem to be keeping my comments short, you can be sure that the posts will get longer as we move up the list. This is a labor of love and I hope that my passion for this incredible music is reflected in my commentary.
The next installment will cover songs 90 to 86.
Here's the story so far:
100. Birds Vs Worms
99. Fire It Up
98. We've Got Everything
97. Dukes Up
96. Out of Gas
95. Strangers to Ourselves
94. Of Course We Know
93. Space Travel Is Boring
92. Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice on Ice, Alright
91. Dance Hall
Building nothing out of something (overview)
Building nothing out of something - songs 100 to 96
Building nothing out of something - songs 95 to 91
Building nothing out of something - songs 85 to 81Building nothing out of something - songs 95 to 91
Building nothing out of something - songs 80 to 76
Building nothing out of something - songs 75 to 71
Building nothing out of something - songs 70 to 66
Building nothing out of something - songs 65 to 61
Building nothing out of something - songs 60 to 56
Building nothing out of something - songs 55 to 51
Building nothing out of something - songs 50 to 46
Building nothing out of something - songs 45 to 41
Building nothing out of something - songs 40 to 36
Building nothing out of something - songs 35 to 31
Building nothing out of something - songs 30 to 26
Building nothing out of something - songs 25 to 21
Building nothing out of something - songs 20 to 16
Building nothing out of something - songs 15 to 11
Building nothing out of something - songs 10 to 6
Building nothing out of something - the Top 5
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