The lonesome crowded quest - ranking songs 21-25

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.

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

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!

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

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

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

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  

The lonesome crowded quest part 3 - down to 25 songs

This is the third part of a series intended to rank my favorite songs by Modest Mouse. Links to the other two installments can be found at the bottom of this page. By the end of this post, we'll be down to 25 songs. At that point, I'll start going into more detail about why they were chosen, and also why they were eventually eliminated. I'll also link the Top 25 to videos so you can better understand what I mean, and perhaps discover songs that are new to you if you aren't already an avid fan of the band.

Each round of cuts has proved to be more difficult than I anticipated. You can read my rationale in the first part of this series. For the purposes of this round, I listed the remaining songs by album or EP in a spreadsheet (yeah, I know that's both funny and sad at the same time). I figured that it's almost impossible to hold 39 songs in my head at once, but I can establish what the worst remaining songs are on each album and eliminate my least favorite as I go. That way I'm only choosing between six or seven instead of the entire list. I know you needed to know that.

As a huge fan of the band, every surviving song is a favorite at this point. I'm continually reminded of the quality and strength in depth of Modest Mouse's impressive catalog.

If you read part 2, you'll know that I eliminated songs by each release in turn. I'll stick with that format for now. I quickly picked out 12 tracks that I know are safe for this round, leaving 27 on the bubble. I have to lose 14 of those 27. I won't reveal which 12 were automatically safe as they will likely end up being the Top 12 overall.

Two are gone from Building Nothing Out of Something. The first cut is Never Ending Math Equation. The style of the vocals adds a lot to the song, especially the way Brock sings "that never even ever really even ends in the end." The lyrics touch on our entire existence and the musical delivery suits the song well. Interstate 8 is also gone. The swirling guitar and the overall structure work well, but not well enough to make the Top 25.

The one song we lose from Good News for People Who Love Bad News is Float On. Yeah, I know everyone who is even slightly into Modest Mouse loves that song, but the structure is a bit too mainstream for me. It lacks the quirky quality of some of my absolute favorites.

The Lonesome Crowded West is just about my favorite Modest Mouse album, so it pains me to eliminate three songs from it this round. Truckers Atlas is the longest song from the band, and develops into a real jam. I especially like the drumming, but overall, the second half does go on a bit too long. It's great when you're driving, but there are many better songs from the band. Lounge (Closing Time) opens with an irresistible guitar segment, with Brock's vocals intertwined in the mix. It has plenty of great moments, but is a bit muddled overall and I can just about bear to cut it. Convenient Parking instantly creates a mood with its monotonous swirling opening, and it's easy to shout along to. I've occasionally had the song stuck in my head all day. That said, it does tend to become repetitive overall.

The biggest casualty this round is The Moon & Antarctica, which loses four excellent songs. Paper Thin Walls is another song which hits its stride immediately, and the vocals assault you with a lot of information in the first minute. If it has a fault, it's that the second half of the song is almost identical to the first half. A Different City is another unfortunate casualty this round. The structure works really well, with guitar, bass, vocals and drums all meshing together. It has a couple of great guitar breaks and is only cut because of the sheer quality of the Top 25. Gravity Rides Everything continues the space theme which is present on most of the tracks. Brock's vocals are particularly clear and restrained, and it's a beautiful contemplative song. I'm still cutting it though! Life Like Weeds is another excellent song, and I love the opening line..."and in this life like weeds, you're just a rock to me." It works better as part of a whole than as an individual track, but it's almost faultless otherwise.

On to This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About, and two more songs are eliminated. Custom Concern is laid back, slow, and wonderful. Overall, it's just a little bit too one-paced to advance to the next round. The other casualty from the band's debut is Novocain Stain. The first half is slow, reflective, and haunting. There's already enough for it to be a good song, but it picks up tempo and becomes something even better. Like many songs on the album, it has a raw quality which appeals to me. The guitar seems effortless, but you can feel that the band are pulling out all the stops.

The final two cuts before we are down to the Top 25 come from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. The first is Fly Trapped in a Jar, which contains some of Brock's best vocals. The layered sound and soaring guitars make it one of the top tracks on the album, but it's not quite good enough to make the cut. The final song to be eliminated is Parting of the Sensory, which is something of an epic. I'm running out of superlatives. I love Brock's calm vocals at the start, and the vast subject matter. This song contemplates our existence and the end of it. If I listened to it on the right day, it might make my Top 5.

So we are down to 25 songs, and it was difficult enough getting this far. This is starting to become as impossible as choosing between your children, assuming you have 25 children and adore them all. Have you noticed the titles of the albums and EPs? I can't think of any band that comes up with better titles.

The next installment will attempt to go even deeper, with full lyrics and a video link for each song. These are the remaining songs which make up my Top 25 (in alphabetical order, as always):

3rd Planet
Black Cadillacs
Broke
Bury Me with It
Cowboy Dan
Dark Center of the Universe
Doin' the Cockroach
Dramamine
Edit the Sad Parts
Exit Does Not Exist
Head South
Heart Cooks Brain
I Came as a Rat
Invisible
Ocean Breathes Salty
Spitting Venom
Steam Engenius
Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset
Teeth Like God's Shoeshine
The Stars are Projectors
The Whale Song
The World at Large
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
Trailer Trash
Tundra/Desert

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 4
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  

The lonesome crowded quest part 2 - down to 39 songs

In part 1 of this quest, I identified the 59 Modest Mouse songs that stand out above the others in my mind. After further consideration, I have whittled that list down to 39. It wasn't an easy task, and I'm sure it will only get harder as I continue to work my way through this project. The 20 I cut this round would make an incredible album in their own right, so don't despair if some of your favorites were included. I love every one of the 59 songs, and almost every song Modest Mouse has produced over the last 20 years or so.

So, to work. Which songs have been cut, and why have I cut them? I'll group these by album or EP:

Good News for People Who Love Bad News loses three songs this round. Bukowski is the first casualty. The opening reminds me of the kind of music that might be used in a Pink Panther movie. It stutters along in fits and starts, but ultimately everything comes together. The lack of overall flow is what ruled it out. The View does have that flow, but lacks the depth of the songs that made it through to the next round. The incredible rhythm section channels Talking Heads. The polished quality of this song is reminiscent of the feel permeating We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. I loved hearing Satin in a Coffin at the recent Echo Beach concert, but that doesn't save it from elimination. The banjo works well, and I like the venom in the vocals. I told you this wouldn't be easy.

The Lonesome Crowded West loses two more. Shit Luck is an upbeat rant that always makes me grin like an idiot. However, I can't justify letting it advance to the next round. There's just not enough to it. Polar Opposites works so well in the context of the album. I love the structure, and the lyrics, but the 39 surviving tracks are all better.

No One's First and You're Next loses Satellite Skin. The chunky intro is pleasing to the ear, and the first verse works perfectly. However, the pattern is repeated a little too often and that lack of variation eliminates it from further consideration.

The Moon & Antarctica wouldn't be too out of place if it had been released as a seventies concept album. It has the best overall flow of any Modest Mouse album, and it seems wrong to play some of the songs without the others. As a result, I've cut five brilliant songs this round. The dreamy intro to Perfect Disguise works wonderfully, and Brock's vocals fit the mood. It just loses something when played on its own. Admit it, you're waiting for that bass to kick in at the end of the song, signifying the start of Tiny Cities. The Cold Part is also gone and it pains me to lose it. What an incredibly atmospheric song. Try it when you're driving along on your own in the dark. It's a song that searches for something just out of reach, and, unfortunately, the next round is out of reach for this one. Alone Down There feels too closely linked to the two songs bracketing it on the album. While I love it, I feel justified in cutting it this round. Lives is the fourth casualty, although it contains some great changes in tempo and excellent lyrics. I love the different moods and the line about the dull sound of sharp math. Like Shit Luck, What People Are Made Of is a rant that always makes me smile. The wall of sound and the urgency in the lyrics make it difficult to cut, but it's gone.

This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About has grown on me so much lately, revealing itself as one of the most promising debut albums ever made. That said, I'm hacking away four gems this round. Breakthrough is raw and exciting, with Brock sounding like Black Francis. The guitar in the second half of the song makes this a particularly difficult one to cut, but it's done. Might has a great structure, but it's not really about anything and is a little too short. I love Lounge, so why am I cutting it? The vocal style is a highlight, and the transition into the quieter second half is masterful. Ultimately, I prefer the action and urgency of the surviving songs. Space Travel is Boring demonstrates that raw quality mentioned in Breakthrough. This is another song with definite phases. It works well, but the second half doesn't match the first.

The final cuts for this round all come from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. While I can handle disjointed songs, March Into the Sea is just a little too choppy (no pun intended), and I don't like the ah ha ha lines. In contrast, Dashboard is too polished for me to absolutely love it, and I could do without the backing vocals. I wouldn't want to skip any track on the album, but there are few that I would consider for the final Top 10. Florida bursts into action with the kind of vocals I like the most, but the backing vocals are too poppy for my liking. This song could be incredible instead of very good. I love the lyrics too: "It took so much effort not to make an effort, oh what a flawless design." Missed the Boat is another song that would have sounded better without the polished production. The chorus is too much of an anthem, but there's still a lot to like about the song. Education is the hardest one to lose. The lyrics are superb. The stubborn beauty ending is a slight letdown after everything that leads up to it.

With the loss of those 20 songs, I'm left sifting through 39. I think it makes sense to lose 14 in the next round so that I can go into more detail for the Top 25. I'll also start linking videos at that point. I've probably outraged a few more Modest Mouse fans with this installment, but it's inevitable with the quality of their overall output.

Here are the 39 songs advancing to the next round (in alphabetical order):

3rd Planet
A Different City
Black Cadillacs
Broke
Bury Me with It
Convenient Parking
Cowboy Dan
Custom Concern
Dark Center of the Universe
Doin' the Cockroach
Dramamine
Edit the Sad Parts
Exit Does Not Exist
Float On
Fly Trapped in a Jar
Gravity Rides Everything
Head South
Heart Cooks Brain
I Came as a Rat
Interstate 8
Invisible
Life Like Weeds
Lounge (Closing Time)
Never Ending Math Equation
Novocain Stain
Ocean Breathes Salty
Paper Thin Walls
Parting of the Sensory
Spitting Venom
Steam Engenius
Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset
Teeth Like God's Shoeshine
The Stars are Projectors
The Whale Song
The World at Large
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
Trailer Trash
Truckers Atlas
Tundra/Desert

Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 1
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 3
Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 4
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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 

The lonesome crowded quest - ranking my favorite songs by Modest Mouse

When I was a child, I used to rank my favorite things. As I got older, that tendency stayed with me. Music has always been something that I have been interested in, and at some point in my late teens, it became an obsession. If you read my Music That Matters series, you'll know that I'm mainly into alternative rock. Since I made that list, I've been playing Modest Mouse albums every day, hoping that a deeper appreciation of the band's music would enhance my enjoyment of their Echo Beach concert.

I'm happy to say that it did.

As a result of listening to up to 10 hours per day of Modest Mouse for almost two months, I've decided to attempt a rather futile exercise. I find that some part of me needs to know which songs I love the most. With a lot of my favorite bands, that kind of task is easy. I know that my favorite Television song is Marquee Moon, and that Dirty tops my list of favorite Sonic Youth albums. I could put together a convincing Top 10 list of films in about 30 seconds flat. However, for some unknown reason, I'm finding it difficult to rank Modest Mouse songs.

The reason is that there are so many top quality candidates. It's not as simple as picking up each CD and writing down the obvious choices from each. Two of the CDs demand that virtually every track make the list.

Here are a few of the questions I have been asking myself:

How many songs should I attempt to rank?
How should I start?
How should I narrow down the initial selections?
Does it matter if one or two albums dominate the list?
Do the songs work well on their own, or only in the context of the whole album?
What's the point?
Will anyone on the planet care?
By the time I finish the ranking, will it already be out of date?
Should I explain my choices; if so, for the Top 10, Top 20, a larger number, or every song I consider?
Why isn't there a machine that plugs into my brain to do this kind of crap for me?

Since I began the quest to broaden my appreciation of Modest Mouse, I've learned that there is a lot more to the band than The Lonesome Crowded West and The Moon & Antarctica. While those two will almost certainly be number one and two in any Modest Mouse album list I create, there are dozens of other noteworthy tracks that could potentially break into my Top 10 list of individual songs.

So, as I began this exercise in utter futility, I opened my MP3 folder and started to compile an initial list. This would include every song that I would seriously consider. The final number would decide itself for this first draft. Even as I studied each CD, I found myself leaving off good songs. Not many bands can boast the depth of quality found in Modest Mouse's discography. I bet that some fans will be outraged that certain songs did not even make the first cut. However, this is my list, and I am trying to be honest to myself. There's no point in doing this if I just list what everyone else likes.

Let's face it, there's no point in doing this at all.

How do we even decide that songs are among our favorites? Is it the music? The presentation? The lyrics? How a song makes us feel? Because we attach songs to people or events in our lives? For me, it's a combination of all those things.

I'm aware that some of you may be dead by the time I finish the list, so I'll tell you which 59 songs made the first cut. I'm going to list them in alphabetical order to avoid any bias, and to make it easy for you to see if your favorites are included. I won't bother mentioning which album or EP they are from, because if you are still reading, you probably know.

Here they are:

3rd Planet
A Different City
Alone Down There
Black Cadillacs
Breakthrough
Broke
Bukowski
Bury Me with It
Convenient Parking
Cowboy Dan
Custom Concern
Dark Center of the Universe
Dashboard
Doin' the Cockroach
Dramamine
Edit the Sad Parts
Education
Exit Does Not Exist
Float On
Florida
Fly Trapped in a Jar
Gravity Rides Everything
Head South
Heart Cooks Brain
I Came as a Rat
Interstate 8
Invisible
Life Like Weeds
Lives
Lounge  
Lounge (Closing Time)
March Into the Sea
Might
Missed the Boat
Never Ending Math Equation
Novocain Stain
Ocean Breathes Salty
Paper Thin Walls
Parting of the Sensory
Perfect Disguise
Polar Opposites
Satellite Skin
Satin in a Coffin
Shit Luck
Space Travel is Boring
Spitting Venom
Steam Engenius
Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset
Teeth Like God's Shoeshine
The Cold Part
The Stars are Projectors
The View
The Whale Song
The World at Large
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
Trailer Trash
Truckers Atlas
Tundra/Desert
What People Are Made Of

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
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Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 6 
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Modest Mouse: The Lonesome Crowded Quest - Ranking the Songs Part 8 

Modest Mouse at Echo Beach, Toronto, August 1, 2014

Photo: Tom Pandi

August 1, 2014 was a big day for me; it marked the first time I ever saw Modest Mouse live. I've now seen every band in my Top 10, so it was nice to check the last one off my list.

Since the concert was announced in early June, I've been playing a list of 45 songs that have been played at one time or another on the current tour. I must have listened to that at least 40 times. In the past week or so, I've been playing every CD just about every day. I've also sampled the new songs that haven't been released, so I was highly anticipating an almost perfect night, and expecting to know every song.

It came close.

As usual, my ritual started with a visit to Trimurti on Queen Street West for a pre-concert Chicken Jalfrezi. Then I made my way to Echo Beach via the TTCs' replacement bus service. No streetcar this time. After failing to find any T-shirts I liked online in recent weeks, I pounced at the chance to buy a couple shirts from the official merchandise stall. At $25 each, I couldn't pass up that opportunity. There were a few CDs for $15 each, but nothing I didn't already own. I stuffed the two shirts in the pockets of my jeans and claimed a spot about 50 feet from the stage.

The opening acts weren't bad. Mimicking Birds conjured up a dreamy atmosphere and the vocalist's fragile voice worked well in the overall mix. I was excited to discover that the sound quality was excellent. Then Kevin Drew took to the stage. This was more of a traditional rock sound than I would usually listen to, but the band had some talent. The drummer was the highlight. Around 9:30, Modest Mouse arrived on stage. Two drummers, a violinist, bass, guitar, keyboards, and of course, Isaac Brock with his guitar. Apparently, he feels naked without it.

The setting was close to perfect with darkness falling, punctuated every five minutes by the lights of inaudible planes coming in to land at Toronto City Airport.

I've been finding it difficult to listen to any other bands since digging deeper into Modest Mouse's catalog. Right now, this could well be my favorite band on the planet. If you understand that kind of obsession with music, you have probably played this game; what would your ideal setlist look like? I've mentally compiled a list of songs I was desperate to hear live, and I was curious to find out how many of the songs would actually be played.

The opener started with Brock bellowing "well" a few times and strumming a banjo, so we were underway with King Rat. Then into Ocean Breathes Salty, with the whole band heavily involved in the mix. This is where I first noticed that the second guitar didn't blend perfectly into the overall sound as it does on the album. It was still great to hear it live, but it wasn't quite perfect.

Dashboard was up next. Although I like every song on We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, some are more commercial and polished than I would prefer. The live version of Dashboard has more urgency and a rougher edge to it, so that might help make a good album even better for me. After a brief rant from Brock expressing the desire to be struck by lightning, as long as he lived to talk about it, we were treated to one of the highlights. 3rd Planet has always been one of my favorites and it was performed just about perfectly. "The universe is shaped exactly like the earth." That song, live, in the open air beneath the stars; need I say more?

The first new song, Sugar Boats, had a crazed carnival vibe to it. It makes me excited for the new album, when it eventually arrives. More banjo as Satin in a Coffin kicked in. You can't make the claim that all Modest Mouse songs sound the same. Then it was time for the second-best song of the night, Dark Center of the Universe. I've always thought that The Moon & Antarctica works best as a whole and that something is lost if you isolate the individual tracks, but Universe definitely works on its own. At times driving, at other times haunting, the lyrics always compelling; I'm so happy I heard it live.

Fire it Up, what can I say? It honestly was beautifully done. The World at Large was magnificent. Another song that works well live and outdoors. The crowd was joining in throughout. I appreciate Good News for People Who Love Bad News more each time I hear it. Then another new song, Shit In Your Cut. Massive bass defined that song. It's always hard to evaluate songs that you're not familiar with, but again, it left me excited for the new album. 

Out of Gas was a pleasure, and I would happily savor every minute of any track from The Lonesome Crowded West. If you haven't explored the band's full catalog, you really need to. I wrote about why a few days ago. The crowd favorite Float On followed, and was hard to fault. With so many people joining in, it had a community feel. Finally, I was among like-minded people with taste close to mine. I'm also older than the band and almost everyone who attended, but I can't do much about that. I can't imagine not loving this music when I am 70.

I would have been pretty gutted had they not played Doin' the Cockroach, but it finally showed up. Lucky 13? It was the clear highlight of the night for me. The live version was just enormous. Keeping that tempo, the final song of the main set was A Different City; easily the best that has ever sounded, and I have always loved it.

The first track after the break was the only selection from the band's mighty debut, This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About. My appreciation for that album has soared over the past few weeks. Custom Concern is slow, thoughtful, majestic, haunting, and a few other things. I was very happy to hear it. Then another treat, the bass-laden Tiny Cities Made of Ashes. Modest Mouse becoming a more psychotic version of Talking Heads? There's a lot going on in that rhythm section. If it had been omitted, I probably would have been unhappy about it. The final track was The Good Times Are Killing Me, which featured plenty of crowd involvement during the chorus.

My overall experience was very good, but short of perfection. I was uncomfortable all night because I only had a few inches of space in which to move. A couple of women in front of me found it necessary to hold a conversation during many of the songs, and occasionally rounded things off by jabbing me in the stomach as they danced. But that's all part of the experience and I wouldn't want to stifle anyone's enjoyment. The mix was slightly off, but the sound quality was excellent. Brock is clearly a bit of a madman at times, rocking so hard on one track that his hat fell off. He barked, whined, screamed, and, at times, delivered more tranquil vocals. 

The biggest disappointment was that the set wasn't longer. Sure, we had around 90 minutes, but the previous stop on the tour featured 24 songs as opposed to the 17 we were given. I badly wanted to hear The Whale Song, Dramamine, Black Cadillacs, Bury Me with It, Teeth Like God's Shoeshine, Broke, Tundra/Desert and Spitting Venom. I could probably list 50 more.

Would I see Modest Mouse again? Just give me that chance.

Full Setlist:

King Rat
Ocean Breathes Salty
Dashboard
3rd Planet
Sugar Boats
Satin in a Coffin
Dark Center of the Universe
Fire It Up
The World at Large
Shit in Your Cut
Out of Gas
Float On
Doin' the Cockroach
A Different City

Encore:
Custom Concern
Tiny Cities Made of Ashes
The Good Times Are Killing Me

In praise of Modest Mouse

So, I'm going to see Modest Mouse in five days time. I've only been a fan for around 10 years and this will be the first time I have seen them perform live. This is the last band from my Top 10 that I am yet to see, so I'm excited to say the least.

When I found out about the tour, I was on the fence about whether I should go. None of my friends like the same kind of music as me, so I'll be going alone. It will take seven or eight hours out of my day for a 90-minute concert. It will also cost me over $100 for the day, and I am very cautious about spending money on things I don't absolutely need.

The other consideration was the likely set list. A month ago, all I wanted to hear were The Lonesome Crowded West and The Moon & Antarctica. Both albums are close to perfect and I have played them often since I first heard of the band. Initial efforts to get into their other albums largely failed. I remember being very disappointed with We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank when it was released.

After taking the plunge and buying the ticket, I decided to do my research and find out what was being played at the band's recent shows. I made a playlist of about 45 songs, took them to work, and played them every day for the past month.

A funny thing happened.

It turns out that there aren't just two great albums by Modest Mouse. Indeed, I find it almost impossible to narrow down their best tracks to a playlist under three hours. Weird, right? How could I have missed that the first time I listened to the other albums? Well, I think it's due to a few factors.

The songs are usually layered and complex, and too dense to take in casually. This is not pop, or a band that relies on hooks. However, when you really make the effort and dig deeper, all kinds of interesting things emerge. Like almost every vocalist I love, Isaac Brock can't really sing. It doesn't matter a bit. The lyrics are intelligent and thoughtful for the most part. What separates Modest Mouse from the pack is the way the oddly-shaped components work together. Some of the guitar work is up there with the best I have ever heard, but each instrument is important.

I think a lot of my friends think I am elitist or deliberately choosing weird things that I claim I get and they don't. That's not the case at all. I honestly couldn't give a damn about investing time and effort in things that I don't like, just so I can make that claim. I obsess about certain bands because I love the music. It alters my mood and makes me happy even when the rest of my day is going badly.

Why am I even bothering to write this post? Because I like to share the things I care about. That's the same reason I write about movies. I rarely review something I don't like.

I'm hoping that someone out there who initially dismissed Modest Mouse will revisit their discography and discover something amazing. I've already said that I find it almost impossible to pick out the band's best tracks, but I'll try:


This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About (74:03)

Dramamine, Breakthrough, Custom Concern, Lounge, Beach Side Property, Head South, Novocain Stain, Tundra/Desert, Exit Does Not Exist, Talking Shit About a Pretty Sunset, Space Travel Is Boring

Long Drive is a 74-minute debut that is often raw, but ultimately rewarding. Probably not the best place to start, but a must-own once you get into Modest Mouse completely.


 
The Lonesome Crowded West (73:58)

Teeth Like God's Shoeshine, Heart Cooks Brain, Convenient Parking, Lounge (Closing Time), Doin' the Cockroach, Cowboy Dan, Trailer Trash, Out of Gas, Shit Luck, Truckers Atlas, Polar Opposites, Bankrupt on Selling

Another 74-minute album, and you can see that I've listed almost every track. The songs are varied and incredible in different ways. This is the album that I most often think of as the band's best, but it's close when compared with...


The Moon & Antarctica (59:43)

3rd Planet, Gravity Rides Everything, Dark Center of the Universe, Perfect Disguise, Tiny Cities Made of Ashes, A Different City, The Cold Part, Alone Down There, The Stars Are Projectors, Paper Thin Walls, I Came as a Rat, Lives, Life Like Weeds, What People Are Made Of

Again, I've listed almost every track. This album actually flows better when you play it in its entirety, rather than cherry picking the best tracks (which is almost impossible anyway).


Good News for People Who Love Bad News (48:50)

The World At Large, Float On, Ocean Breathes Salty, Bury Me with It, Dance Hall, Bukowski, The View, Satin in a Coffin, Blame It on the Tetons, Black Cadillacs, One Chance, The Good Times Are Killing Me

I wasn't overly impressed with this album the first time I heard it, but that was a mistake. Like their debut, Long Drive, this is an album that works better after several listens. I love it now.


We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank (62:33)

March Into the Sea, Dashboard, Florida, Parting of the Sensory, Missed the Boat, Fly Trapped in a Jar, Education, Little Motel, Steam Engenius, Spitting Venom, People As Places As People, Invisible

I could easily have listed the whole album. I think I was put off by some of the more polished and accessible tracks on the first few listens, but I am now of the opinion that it doesn't have many weaknesses. I certainly wouldn't skip a track. Parting of the Sensory, Steam Engenius and Spitting Venom are all incredible.

Building Nothing Out of Something (55:24)

Never Ending Math Equation, Interstate 8, Broke, All Night Diner, Baby Blue Sedan, Other People's Lives

It says a lot about a band when a compilation of B sides and songs dropped from other albums still includes songs you wouldn't want to be without. You would hardly know that this is a collection of oddities, because it works pretty well as a whole.


Interstate 8 (55:22)

Interstate 8, All Night Diner, Tundra/Desert, Edit the Sad Parts, Beach Side Property, Novocain Stain, Broke

If you don't own Interstate 8, it will set you back close to $200 new or $100 used. It's raw, and partially live. You can find most of the tracks on other releases, but it's fantastic when you are in the right mood.


No One's First and You're Next (33:33)

Satellite Skin, Guilty Cocker Spaniels, The Whale Song

Here's an EP that's definitely worth checking out. The Whale Song is unmissable.





Baron von Bullshit Rides Again (46:28)

No new tracks on the live album, but there are some great versions of some of the band's best songs.







If you like alternative rock and have never fully investigated Modest Mouse, I urge you to do so. You might discover that this music will rank among the best you have ever heard.

One Last Dance - Kickstarter

Do you remember the Kickstarter project for The Fitzroy that was so successful last year? Here's another project from producers James Heath and Liam Garvo, who raised £72,000 for the above project, and £255,000 for Enemy of Man. Their next project, One Last Dance, will be a short film directed by Luke Losey, due to be shot this October in Herne Bay, England.

The film stars Jonathan Pryce, who has been acting for more than 40 years. You may have seen him in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Brazil, or one of my personal favorites, Glengarry Glen Ross. Other actors involved include Shane Attwooll and Sara Kestelman.

Losey directed Orbital's video, The Box, and the film will feature music from the band.

The film tells the story of Jon, and old man, who on a visit to his grandson's dance competition sees a vision of his late wife. They dance, giving Jon a chance to reconnect with his past and reignite his passion for life. One Last Dance is a simple story, beautifully told, about the texture of memory, lost love and the haunting intimacy of a dance. 

I've always found movies about memory and perception fascinating. Those which immediately spring to mind are Memento, Persona and Mulholland Dr.. Another thing I have realized is that to a large extent, we can choose how we feel. It's easy to focus on the negative, and missed chances, and I've been guilty of that plenty of times. But there's also the choice to focus on the positive and help shape our own future. It sounds as if the old man in this film faces similar choices.

If you would like to find out more about supporting the film, please take a look at the Kickstarter campaign. There is a promotional video with details of some of the goodies on offer for those who choose to pledge. The campaign launches on June 20, and has 21 days to hit the £15,000 target.

You can find out more about those involved by visiting the following social media links:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/onelastdance
Twitter - @1lastdance
Director's Blog - http://llosey.tumblr.com/