There are 25 songs left and I finally managed to figure out which five should appear in this installment. I'm actually curious to see how the rest of the songs will be ranked, because I haven't decided in advance. I listened to each of these five songs a few times at work today and tweaked the order a little. I even switched one for a song that I thought would easily make it beyond this point.
The remaining songs last 2 hours, 17 minutes and 28 seconds, so they would fit onto a pair of CDs. I know you needed to know that. If you're making a 320KB MP3 playlist, you'll need 316MB for these 25 tracks.
I'll stop keeping you in suspense:
25. Breakthrough (This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About)
I got one two three four, five, six, six, six
Running round the neighborhood, pejorative jinx
He said, "The groom's down on me 'cuz he ate the rice"
It was well intentioned but bad advice
Hell yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Let it breakthrough, oh let it breakthrough
Oh let it breakthrough, oh yeah
Let it breakthrough, oh let it breakthrough
Oh let it breakthrough, oh yeah
Let it breakthrough, oh let it breakthrough
Oh let it breakthrough, oh yeah
Open the curtain and let in some sky
It's almost half past two and you can tell by the light
Oh yeah, open your window
And let in the atmosphere, oh yeah
Let it breakthrough, oh let it breakthrough
Oh let it breakthrough
Let it breakthrough, oh let it breakthrough
Oh let it breakthrough, oh yeah
Open the curtain and let in some sky
It's almost half past two and you can tell by the light
Open your window
And let in the atmosphere, oh yeah
Let it breakthrough, oh let it breakthrough
Oh let it breakthrough, oh yeah
I was inverted, I mean converted
I mean, I don't understand
I was inverted, I mean converted
I mean, I don't understand
Here's another track with a definite Pixies influence. Brock even sings like Black Francis at times. What I like most about Breakthrough is the venom in the vocals and the urgency of the guitars. I once thought that This Is a Long Drive was a hard listen because it was so raw, but now I love it for the same reason. It has grown on me more than any other Modest Mouse album.
The structure is also blatant Pixies, with the quiet-loud-quiet thing going on. Modest Mouse has so many original-sounding songs that I don't mind hearing a few that sound like other bands that I love. Custom Concern follows this track on the album and offers a great contrast with its laid back vibe.
Here's the video:
24. Edit the Sad Parts (This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About - Bonus Vinyl Track)
Sometimes all I really want to feel is love
Sometimes I'm angry that I feel so angry
Sometimes my feelings get in the way
Of what I really feel I needed to say
If you stand in a circle
Then you'll all have a back to bite
Back logged voices on the seven wonders
We're all so funny but he's lost his joke now
A communication from the one lined joke
A stand up comic and a rock musician
Making so much noise you don't know when to listen
Why are you judging people so damn hard?
You're taking your point of views a bit too far
I made my shoes shine with my coal
But the polish didn't shine the hole
If you stand in a circle
Then you'll all have a back to bite
Back logged voices on the seven wonders
We're all so funny but he's lost his joke now
A communication from the one lined joke
A stand up comic and a rock musician
Making so much noise you don't know when to listen
Think it over
There's the air of the hype of the high rollers
Edit the Sad Parts appeared twice on Interstate 8, with one of the versions being live. The song also appeared as a bonus track on the vinyl edition of This Is a Long Drive for Someone With Nothing to Think About. There are so many things I like about this song. Brock's vocals are excellent and fit the various phases of the song well. It opens with a line that I love:
"Sometimes I'm angry that I feel so angry"
That always makes me grin for some reason. The drum sound is particularly great throughout, and the guitar varies from something that adds depth to something that drives the song with chunky riffs. There's a lot going on in some parts of the song, but some sequences are laid back and reflective. It almost makes me feel nostalgic for something that I have never experienced.
Some of the songs that I like best seemed like a sprawling mess on the first few listens. Eventually, everything feels like it is where it supposed to be and it all makes sense. This is one of those songs.
23. Broke (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
Here's another song that appears on Interstate 8 as a live track, but there's a studio version on Building Nothing Out of Something. It's a beautiful break up song full of clever lyrics that play on the broke theme. The line that I think of the most because it happens around me most days is:
"Sometimes I'm so full of shit that it should be a crime"
The opening to the song is just superb. The guitar is delicate and tranquil with Brock's vocals matching the mood. As the song progresses, everything slowly builds. By the end, Brock is ranting and the band is really going for it. It ends as well as it began.
Here's a live version:
22. Truckers Atlas (The Lonesome Crowded West)
I'm going to Colorado to unload my head
I'm going to New York City and that's in New York, friends
I'm going to Arizona
Sex on the rocks all warm and red
And we bled
And the writing in the stall said
We write our maps in the stalls
I'm going up to Alaska
I'm going to get off Scot-fucking-free
And we all did
This truckers atlas roads the ways
The freeways and highways don't know
The buzz from the bird on my dash
Road locomotive phone
This truckers atlas roads the ways
The freeways and highways don't know
The buzz from the bird on my dash
Road locomotive phone
I don't feel and I feel great
I sold my atlas by the freight stairs
I do lines and I crossed roads
I crossed the lines of all the great state roads
I'm going up, going over to Montana
You got yourself a truckers atlas
You knew you were all hot
Maybe you'll go and blow a gasket
You start at the northwest corner
Go down through California
Beeline you might drive three days
Three nights to the tip of Florida
Do you speak the lingo?
Oh oh no
Do you speak the lingo?
No no
How far does your road go?
Oh no, you don't know
I'm going to Colorado to unload my head
I'm going to New York City and that's in New York, friends
I'm going up to Alaska
I'm going to get off Scot-fucking-free
And we all did
And the writing in the salt says
We ride out to the stars
I'm going to Arizona
Sex on the rocks all warm and red
And we all did
This truckers atlas roads the ways
The freeways and highways don't know
The buzz from the bird on my dash
Road locomotive phone
This truckers atlas roads the ways
The freeways and highways don't know
The buzz from the bird on my dash
Road locomotive phone
I don't feel and I feel great
I sold my atlas by the freight stairs
I do lines and I crossed roads
I crossed the lines of all the great state roads
I'm going up, going over to Montana
You got yourself a truckers atlas
You knew you were all hot
Maybe you'll go and blow a gasket
You start at the northwest corner
Go down through California
Beeline you might drive three days
Three nights to the tip of Florida
Here's another song from my Driving playlist. It's perfect for that situation. The lyric-heavy first half flows so naturally and has me shouting along. So addictive. The second half of the song just lets the band play and experiment. The Lonesome Crowded West documentary is also highly recommended and explains how some of the songs on the album evolved.
The mood ranges from plodding, to mystical, atmospheric, and searching. It's relentless in a way, just like a truck on a long journey. The percussion is some of the best found on any Modest Mouse song. I like Brock's vocal delivery as well. Overall, it's quite a journey.
21. Tiny Cities Made of Ashes (The Moon & Antarctica)
We're goin' down the road towards tiny cities made of ashes
I'm gonna hit you on the face
I'm gonna punch you in your glasses, oh no
I just got a message that said, "Yeah hell is freezin' over"
I Got a phone call from the Lord sayin'
"Hey boy get a sweater, right now"
So we're drinkin', drinkin', drinkin', drinkin', coca coca cola
I can feel it rollin' right on down, oh right on down my throat
And as we're headed down the road towards tiny cities made of ashes
I'm gonna get dressed up in plastic gonna shake hands
with the masses oh no
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away?
Does anybody know a way?
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away?
Does anybody know a way?
We're goin' down the road towards tiny cities made of ashes
I'm goin' to hit you on the face
I'm goin' to punch you in your glasses
I'm wearin' myself a T-shirt that says "The world is my ashtray"
Our hearts pump dust and our hairs all gray
And I just got a message that says, "Yeah hell has frozen over"
I got a phone call from the Lord sayin'
"Hey boy get a sweater, right now"
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away?
Does anybody know a way?
Does anybody know a way?
We're drinkin', drinkin', drinkin', drinkin', coca coca cola
I can feel it rollin' right on down, oh right on down my throat
And as we're headed down the road
Towards tiny cities made of ashes
I'm gonna lay down in the spa
Where they coat you in molasses, right now
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away?
Does anybody know a way?
Does anybody know a way that a body could get away?
Does anybody know a way?
I was originally choosing between two other songs for this spot, but while playing them to decide, I found that it was too early to cut either of them. So Tiny Cities Made of Ashes was a somewhat surprising casualty.
The song has to rate as one of the most unusual that the band has ever produced. It has a dance beat and numerous takes or breaks. The lyrics start off smoothly and then alternate between ranting and calmer verses. The bass is an important part of the mix and the lyrics play off that beat. Guitars weave in and out over everything, with angular spirals punctuating the sound.
I really don't know what to make of it all. It's weird and wonderful and I love it.
Here's an extra funky extended live version, with Brock morphing into a manic version of David Byrne at the end:
Why did I cut that again? Because I had no other choice. Every installment is harder than the last. The next part will reveal the first five tracks in my Top 20. That's a job for the coming weekend. Thanks for reading.
As always, here is 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
90. She Ionizes & Atomizes
89. Other People's Lives
88. Whenever You Breathe Out, I Breathe In (Positive Negative)
87. One Chance
86. Polar Opposites
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
90. She Ionizes & Atomizes
89. Other People's Lives
88. Whenever You Breathe Out, I Breathe In (Positive Negative)
87. One Chance
86. Polar Opposites
85. Might
84. Pups to Dust
83. Sunspots in the House of the Late Scapegoat
82. All Night Diner
81. March Into the Sea
80. Coyotes
79. Blame It On the Tetons
78. The Good Times Are Killing Me
77. Perfect Disguise
76. A Life of Arctic Sounds
75. Satellite Skin
74. Ohio
73. People as Places as People
72. The Waydown
71. Guilty Cocker Spaniels70. Florida
69. Missed the Boat
68. The Cold Part
67. Whenever You See Fit
66. Wicked Campaign
65. Lives
64. Beach Side Property
63. Bankrupt On Selling
62. Shit Luck
61. Little Motel
60. Satin in Your Coffin
59. Shit in Your Cut
58. The View
57. Ansel
56. Custom Concern
55. Sugar Boats
54. Dashboard
53. Education
52. Bukowski
51. What People Are Made Of
50. The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box
49. Alone Down There
48. Float On
47. King Rat
46. Lampshades On Fire
45. Be Brave
44. Night on the Sun
43. Interstate 8
42. The World at Large
41. Head South
40. The Best Room
39. Gravity Rides Everything
38. Tundra/Desert
37. Paper Thin Walls
36. Convenient Parking
35. Life Like Weeds
34. A Different City
33. A Manic Depressive Named Laughing Boy
32. Grey Ice Water
31. I Came As a Rat
30. Black Cadillacs
29. Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset
28. Ocean Breathes Salty
27. Novacain Stain
26. Invisible
25. Breakthrough
24. Edit the Sad Parts
23. Broke
22. Truckers Atlas
21. Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
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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