SOW: Float On by Modest Mouse
February 27, 2004 | 
87 Comments
The Artist: Modest Mouse
The Song: Float On
The Album: Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Released 2004
I love live music. Lately I’ve been able to catch a whole bunch of great shows. This week along I’ve seen Built To Spill, Brent Arnold and The Spheres, Caustic Resin and last night one of the best around — Modest Mouse.
These were all part of the Up Records: Ten Year Anniversary benefit week. It was a benefit for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America. Up’s founder, Chris Takino, sadly died of Leukemia in 2000.
Modest Mouse truly is one of the best live bands out there. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen them, but they seem to get better and better with every show. I feel lucky to have caught them last night and I’m really hoping to catch them at SXSW. Any of you who will be there for the music portion of the festival are welcome and encouraged to join me.
I’ve posted about Modest Mouse before, and in that post I mentioned they had a new album coming. Well, I’m very happy to say, it’s very nearly here. I’ve not heard the whole thing, but I do have the first single “Float On” which is terrific.
What I’ve heard so far has been amazing. They seemed to have grown a bit and are doing some different things, while at the same time keeping true to their roots and the sound that made them what they are.
Give it a listen and by all means, see them if they come to your town.
Oh and for an example of how to build a confusing user experience (the rather distrubing Flash movie not withstanding) give their Web site a try. Took me forever to figure this one out.
Recommended if you like: Built to Spill, Death Cab For Cutie, The Shins
Filed under: Song of The Week
Comments
1. Adam said:
Holy crap! Modest Mouse has really changed their sound :)
I hope to all things holy that’s not the right mp3, Keith, otherwise one of my firmest musical foundations slipped right out from under me.
Posted on February 27, 2004 02:30 PM | #
2. Adam said:
Wooh, that was a close one :)
Posted on February 27, 2004 02:38 PM | #
3. Keith said:
For those who don’t know what Adam is talking about. For a second there I had the SOW player pointing “Float On” to “Creeping Death” by Metallica.
Pretty funny actually.
Posted on February 27, 2004 02:45 PM | #
4. Kelly said:
That Flash intro is going to give me nightmares for a week. Great band, though.
Posted on February 27, 2004 03:34 PM | #
5. Marcus said:
Sweet! Just bought off iTunes. I LOVE Modest Mouse… great driving music.
Posted on February 27, 2004 07:21 PM | #
6. Cliff said:
I’ve heard the whole album and its damn good. Those who are looking for a step up or similar sound to Moon And Antartica should stop. Its not the same sound as M&A but that does not change the fact that it is still real good. ITs 16songs long and Bukoski is probly my favorite track along with One Chance. If you did not know already the went into the studio wiht two other bluegrass type bands Hackensaw boys who are good and the other i forget. Song 8 has a cool horn song then goes into a deep voice (by issac) The horns can be heard on their first page of their website with a Puppet looking thing. But All in ALL their album is good. And if you like Modest mouse you should liek this album. Oh and Issacs’ lyrics seem, to be more matured and a little bit more up. “ya dont where and ya dont know when/but you still got your words and you got your freinds/walkign on to another day/work a little harder, work another way” and ” if it takes shit to make bliss well i feel pretty blissfully, and lifes not beautiful with out the pain then i would rahter never ever see beauty agin” but he still keeps the same Issac stuff ” My thoughts were so loud i could hear my mouth” and “All the people that you know floating in the river ar logs” everyone shoudl enjoy.
Posted on February 28, 2004 02:46 PM | #
7. jeremiah said:
The whole album is wonderful.
looking foward to the redux version of TMAA as well.
For those of us that missed it - here is one of the new tunes performed on Carson Daily from a week or so ago - http://homepage.mac.com/jcafaro/modestmouse/
Posted on March 1, 2004 11:06 AM | #
8. dave said:
is it just me or has the world gone mad? M&A was horrible, a good few intellectual steps down from their previous albums. i’ve listened to the Float On single.. admittedly it’s a good solid pop song but i’ve got to say MM has lost their uber-esoteric edge that made them famous in the first place. to me, “ya dont where and ya dont know when/but you still got your words and you got your friends/walking onto another day/work a little harder, work another way” sounds straight out banal.. they’re recycling catchy pseudo-abstract phrases, not to mention there’s no kick to the conciousness with their new stuff. the second MM sold out and bought themselves some new equipment they lost the insanity that was so good and pure. i hate to be one of those “back then” foggies but they had something with lonely crowded west and this is a long drive………… Sony’s got everyone by the Indie ears and no one seems to care.
Posted on March 1, 2004 10:55 PM | #
9. patrick said:
i’ve been listening to the whole album as well and i have to agree that the sound has changed a bit, but i believe it’s for the better. the entire album is beautiful (‘float on’ and ‘blame it on the tetons’ are two of my favorites).
modest mouse is coming to my town in a month; i’ve never seen them live, so i’m very excited to get the opportunity.
Posted on March 2, 2004 10:55 AM | #
10. blair fethers said:
where/how are you hearing the new album?
Posted on March 2, 2004 02:08 PM | #
11. Keith said:
Blair – They’ve been playing it on the radio here in Seattle.
Dave – I appreciate your opinion, however I fully enjoyed M&A and having seen some of their shows back in the day I can say they’ve gotten way better in that respect.
I saw them up in Bellingham, WA about 5 years ago and I can safely say it was one of the worst performances I’ve ever seen.
Posted on March 2, 2004 02:53 PM | #
12. nerualson said:
They’ve also been playing Dramamine here in Sacramento sense the past few days and played Float On as well once that i’ve heard. I heard there new cd from a friend and its a big change in modest mouses style. Its always good but ill always be a fan of the moon and antarctica. There going to be playing in Sanfrancisco in April and i plan on going and hearing there new sounds live.
Posted on March 2, 2004 04:54 PM | #
13. K.R.Hansen said:
Does anybody have the lyrics to the single (“Float on”??)
Posted on March 4, 2004 03:32 AM | #
14. blair said:
thanks for the response. i just saw MM play at irving plaza twice in early february here in new york (i live in brooklyn). between the new drummer, the addition (again) of gallucci on guitar/keyboards, and a clear path toward more mainstream hopes, it was definitely a change. “interstate 8”, “doin’ the cockroach”, and “broke” still sounded great, but somehow felt different. the crowd was packed with drunken frat-boys and avril lavigne look-alikes. disturbing to say the least. i’ve listened to MM since 1996 (in missouri), and seen them probably ten or twelve times, and i’d say these were the two strangest shows i’ve seen. sloppy, drunken, out of sync, and tailored for the new material. “bury me with it” sounds great, but the lyrics leave much to the imagination. and rhyming “coffin” with “coffin” in “satin in a coffin”? pretty rough to listen to. i am hoping for the best, and have been waiting for a long time. if anyone would be willing to burn me a copy of the new album, i’d be grateful.
Posted on March 4, 2004 09:23 AM | #
15. Mike said:
“Good News For People Who Love Bad News”
This one caught me off gaurd, 4 years really changes a person. It is so different from any of MM other CD. I really like the Big Band stuff in “The Devil’s Work Day”. some say this album is “sober” well, I guess so.. although I don’t understand what the hell that even means.
Posted on March 4, 2004 06:11 PM | #
16. Keith said:
Blair – Sounds like your latest MM experience was quite different from my last few. But then again, I imagine they attract a bit of a different crowd up here in their stomping grounds. They also mixed quite a few older songs in.
Oh and I saw Jeremiah Green’s band, The Vells, play the other day as well. Yikes. I thought they were horrible. He should have stuck with MM and stayed behind the skins.
Mike – I really like the big band stuff too.
Posted on March 5, 2004 07:55 AM | #
17. blair said:
keith:
perhaps it was different from yours, though in recent years, they always seemed to “get up” for the bigger cities. i’ve seen them in places like fayetteville and columbia, missouri, where they were sloppy/nutty. in past shows in new york, they were focused. maybe i’m just wasn’t equipped for the new material, but now i am ready.
i was curious about the vells; i’ve read about them on pitchfork and dustedmagazine.com. j. green is such a great drummer; it is a loss for MM.
can anyone point me toward something beyond the float on 7” to hold me over until april?
thank you.
Posted on March 5, 2004 08:02 AM | #
18. Jake D said:
Can’t say I enjoy the new sound. I have to agree with the comment on intellectual integrity. Issac Brock just can’t write the way he used to. LCW was an amazing album, full of primal beauty and exotic, catchy lyrics. It was the “o.k. computer” of modest mouse. Now we’re seeing alot of synthetic instruments and, like that one guy said, overly abstracted lyrics. I miss the rustic sound of broke if anyone knows what i mean. Experiment with $50 turntables (heart cooked brain) or rain sounds (always rains on a picnic). NOT $80,000 sony equipment. Enough whining, the solution? Try Ugly Casanova if you havn’t yet. Real MM material there. Conclusion: Indie turns pop. what a surprise.
Issac Broke’s career certainly is gunna just “flooooat on by”
Posted on March 5, 2004 08:37 PM | #
19. Brian S said:
Well..you are right about one thing, that lonesome crowded west was the best cd that they put out, but the new cds great too. As with all great bands, they change as they get older. Thats what makes a band good, yea just cause it doesnt sound like lcw doesnt mean it isnt good. And so what that they signed to sony, they still have their creative freedom in the studio, and they are recording with better equipment, but what does that matter??it makes no difference. the music is still great, and there making the money that they deserve. i will say one thing though, it is a shame that their concerets are no longer what they used to be…but its not their fault, its the damn wannabe fans…
Posted on March 6, 2004 11:51 AM | #
20. Keith said:
I find it a bit funny that some of y’all miss the old MM concerts.
They used to suck when they played live. I mean some of the worst shows I’ve ever seen..
Maybe y’all were lucky and caught them on a good night, but frankly I’ll take the way they are now any day. The last 4-5 shows I’ve seen from them have been f’n great.
As far as the new album goes, yes it is different and I don’t like it as much as LCW of M&A, but it does grow on you. Some of the things they are doing with their sound are very interesting to say the least.
Either way – their live shows, IMO, have gotten much, much better.
Posted on March 6, 2004 01:28 PM | #
21. Jake D said:
ya…right…i just love that “brand” sound in todays hit music. Modest Mouse reached their peak years ago, the glory is over. for the rest of you that can get into that pop sound, enjoy.
Posted on March 7, 2004 10:09 AM | #
22. Tiff said:
Ah, Modest Mouse. Excellent choice. They are awesome in concert.
Posted on March 7, 2004 06:31 PM | #
23. Keith said:
Jake, I guess I can see where you are coming from. I like what I’ve heard from the new album, but I do like the older stuff more. I’m not sure about them going “pop” on this one though – I mean M&A seems more “pop” than the new one. To my ears anyway.
Having said that, as far as their live shows, there is no doubt in my mind at all that they’ve taken huge steps forward.
“Sold out” or no, I’ve been a fan from the beginning and I’m just glad their still around and putting on some the best shows I’ve seen lately. I was really sour on them for the longest time as far as seeing them live.
Posted on March 7, 2004 07:20 PM | #
24. jazzy said:
WORST NEWS EVER! i work at a certain retail store and they send every store(nationwide) the same cd to play, and for spring, “ocean breathes salty” is on the cd!! I was excited at first, but people ask on a daily basis who sings it, i lie and tell them i don’t know. I wish modest mouse was still a well kept secret.
Oh and I’ve seen them multiple times live, but the last time at the ATP festival in long beach, they were absolutely terrible! Isaac was “losing his voice” i would have been really pissed if built to spill, the mars volta, and black heart procession hadn’t made up for their slack.
Posted on March 7, 2004 08:35 PM | #
25. Jess Boldt said:
I think that their new albulm is perfect for summer. It really seems to keept MM’s lyrical power as well as changing directions enough to keep things interesting.
Posted on March 8, 2004 08:02 AM | #
26. Buzz said:
A live (?) version. In .ra, unfortunately:
Float On — Modest Mouse
A better, less cluttered version than the studio, IMO. Better, starker vocal. And the drums have more space.
It’s from a Canadian Broadcasting Corp site.
Brought to you by Dummytext.com
Posted on March 8, 2004 09:37 AM | #
27. Lucas said:
I think that from the sound of this new single that modest mouse hasn’t lost it’s touch. It does seem different but not so different that I’m frightened. You can still hear their singnature note-bending in the background of this song. That’s a very good thing. I think that his voice still sounds great, and he hasn’t forgotten how to write lyrics.
Posted on March 8, 2004 04:50 PM | #
28. ryan said:
to all,
i think the change is good. they may have a wee bit different sound, but isaacs lyric writing skill is still great. just meaningless rable showing minor parts of life. while it is a bit worse then LCW or even Building Nothing out of Something, its still a great album and shows the diversity MM has. They still rock as hard as ever.
Later masterbaters,
ryan
Posted on March 9, 2004 06:18 PM | #
29. Jango said:
Christ…It’s so cool to be an Indie kid who was into Modest Mouse and now finds them growing away from the “uber” cool roots. (c’mon…ditch the uber thing. That’s not tired, it was never live.)
If you think Isaac Brock has passed his prime, if you think the “new sound” is missing something, if you think the new crowd is annoying…well, there’s no arguing with your point of view. But I’m sure glad I don’t share it.
I saw the shows of years ago and they were sloppy as hell…not sure what the Irving Plaza reviewer was going on about, I saw those shows and I’ve seen them play MUCH sloppier and you know what, I loved those sloppy shows. And I loved the Irving Plaza shows. And I love the new sound. I love to see the bands I love grow. I thank god MM hasn’t put out 3 Lonesome Crowded Wests. I would rather see them play with new direction and fail than get mired in retaining this ephemeral Indie crown.
Another thing…every Modest Mouse album I have grown to love (and I do love every one) I have grown to love over 10 or 12 listens. All the best music (to me) works that way. People are railing against THE NEW after a listen or two (save for the people who have advanced copies) or after they got a taste from Float On. Ask yourself, was your mind already made up? There are some, and I count a few among my friends, who had their mind made up about future MM releases after they signed with a major label. Bulls#!t.
But keep your ears peeled…there will be another Modest Mouse coming along and they will fit your predetermined trajectory of the tragically destined Indie band…and you’ll be able to say you knew ‘em before they were big, you’ll be able to say “he” has lost his touch, his edge, his genius… And that will be your experience.
Neil Young put it best:
All you critics stand alone
You’re no better than me for what you’ve shown
with your stomach pumps
and your hook and ladder dreams
My advice: ditch your truckers hat and do something for the love of it and ease up on Isaac. One thing is clear when you see that man play: he does it for the love of it and if you want to pass, pass. He won’t miss you.
Signed,
A loyal fan
Posted on March 10, 2004 02:38 PM | #
30. Jango said:
Neil Young actually put it differently…
All you critics sit alone
You’re no better than me for what you’ve shown
with your stomach pumps
and your hook and ladder dreams
My bad…critics don’t stand. For anything.
Posted on March 10, 2004 02:53 PM | #
31. Aaron said:
I have heard Float On and like it a lot. Definitely different, but, like always, MM has crafted something new and great.
I was hoping someone could answer a question for me. I got a copy of a song called “South of Heaven” recently. My source said it was “Modest Mouse with Califone.” It does sound like Tim Rutilli’s voice to me, and it may be Isaac’s in the background. Does anyone know what this song is? Where it was recorded and by whom? I can’t find any info on any Modest Mouse or Califone websites.
Posted on March 11, 2004 12:04 AM | #
32. Jango said:
South of Heaven is a Slayer tune… Modest Mouse and Califone recorded it for the “I Love Metal” compilation…
See here:
http://www.charts-music.co.uk/9C7500001R7500003PB00002MZ4J-Various-Artists-I-Love-Metal.html
Posted on March 11, 2004 07:00 AM | #
33. Chris said:
Well, now that I’ve given this new album a few listens, I’ll add my two cents. It’s good, I think. They’ve got a new style. It’s a bit “poppier.” Yeah, there are a couple of very forgettable songs, but songs like “The Devil’s Workday” (which is absolutely fantastic) more than make up for it. Those who are dwelling on the few weak spots of the album ignore that there’s a lot of really interesting stuff on here. They also ignore that virtually all albums have their respective weak spots. There’s absolutely no danger of MM putting out an album that is nothing but made-for-radio pop songs, Isaac is far too creative for that. I say it’s a great release from a band that has kept quiet for far too long. It will have a place reserved on my music shelf right next to Lonesome Crowded West.
Posted on March 16, 2004 11:28 AM | #
34. taylor said:
just had a days worth of listening to the new album…it is just like every other album in that it is its own entity…each album has been differently themed, just as this one is … to encapsulate a mood, an energy, a state of being, a new sound, new thoughts…either you’ll continue to love one of your favorite bands or you’ll stop. perhaps you are a new listener and this is what brings you in, but looking back you may like the earlier years better…isaac is genius…
Posted on March 17, 2004 02:01 AM | #
35. bart said:
modest mouse rocks
isaac is a genius
drop the “indie” elitist attitudes
if you like it, listen to it
if you don’t, who cares
change is neccessary to quell monotony
jango said it best a few columns up
Posted on March 17, 2004 05:05 PM | #
36. alex said:
well imho ugly cassanova > everywhere & his… > lcw > m&a
im surprised everyone thinks this is such a big change for them, i just listened to the album a couple times through and thought there was a much larger jump between lcw and m&a than between good news and m&a. i like the new album a lot. i think isaacs lyrics arent what they used to be but what do you expect he is an alcoholic. anyway its too bad that mm has such a fratboy following, they deserve better than that.
Posted on March 17, 2004 08:39 PM | #
37. chris said:
Cliff Where and How did you here the whole album
Posted on March 18, 2004 01:39 PM | #
38. peter said:
it saddens me that the poster who works in the record store would lie and tell people they didn’t know who the band was. why in the world would you ever do such a thing? if you enjoy a band (or anything else for that matter), wouldn’t you want to share it with people? try to spread whatever joy that you get from it? and think about the band. wouldn’t you want someone to be successful for the amazing product and years (for me at least) of happiness that they have brought to your life? you are the absolute worst kind of fan. grow up.
Posted on March 19, 2004 11:37 AM | #
39. peter said:
sorry, my closing comments may have been a little harsh, and i do not really want to start a flame war or anything. i just feel strongly about what i was saying. i too worked in retail for a long time, and one of the only bright spots in my day was being able to share stuff that i really loved with people in the hopes that they would see what i did, and perhaps enrich their lives as well.
i have an advance version of the new album, and i really like it. the first time i heard it, i thought that it sounded really different, but after several listens, you can definately hear the mouse in there. i think it fits in perfectly with their catalog. an evolution without losing sight of their roots.
and yes, i will be purchasing a copy when it is released in april.
Posted on March 19, 2004 11:53 AM | #
40. Anachronic said:
In his own words and in defense of Isaac and MM, “please…bury me with it”
Evolve friends.
Posted on March 19, 2004 03:15 PM | #
41. argyle said:
i wonder why some people are so intent on keeping great music underground. i know that some people listen to modest mouse or any other respectable underground band and wish that they had never become popular. its crazy to think that what makes music great is the mysterious ‘nobody knows about this band exept for me’ aspect. why stop listening to great underground music when it becomes great popular music? its still amazing, whether its popular or not. Modest mouse has matured in their sound, and it does sound different from their old stuff ,but it sounds great just the same. im not gonna shun beatiful things because i might loose my underground image. what matters is the music, not the scene, not the numbers, not the past, present or future. music is what it is, like it or dont. listening for the image is rediculous. isaac is a creative genius, dont let him slip by.
Posted on March 20, 2004 01:45 AM | #
42. alex said:
First let me say this is something that i dont do. i take a lot of pride in informing people about great bands they have never heard. but i think in terms of bands “selling out” certain things have to change about indie bands for them to make it into the mainstream and people dont want to see their bands lose the qualities that drew them to the band in the first place. just my 2 cents.
Posted on March 20, 2004 08:20 AM | #
43. Cowboy Dan said:
Dude,
Is anyone losing that feeling that they once had for MM. I wear there t-shirts and people in HS are like wtf? I wanna keep it like that. Now people will start liking them because of there pop song “float on” but thats not the MM we wanna remember. Its teeth like gods shoeshine that really dig’s deep and make you really understand who Modest Mouse is. There not some hippy-Indie band who got lucky with their label. Please stop trying to impress the public, its the underground who will drive those extra hours to see MM, not the ones who have heard from TV.
Posted on March 21, 2004 08:30 AM | #
44. Andrew said:
The Bukowski, Black Cadillacs, and other songs show the great lyrics that I’ve come to love and I’ve greatly enjoyed this new album as I have their prior efforts. I guess everyone can’t appreciate everything…
Posted on March 21, 2004 09:16 PM | #
45. ybalony said:
what song did mm play on carson daly?
Posted on March 21, 2004 11:24 PM | #
46. Jim said:
back in 1996 i walked into an east village nyc bar and saw modest mouse playing. from that moment on they have been my favorite band. i see them everytime they come to nyc. this last time was feb. 4 at irving plaza. they played a bunch of new stuff which all sounded cool. and rocked out the old stuff too. isaac actually looked healthier than i had seen him. which i think is a really good thing. the new drummer sounded great as well. i really like “float on” and am looking forward to the new album. side note, i heard “float on” on the nyc “alternative” radio station 92.3 krock the other day. oh and like a true dork, i have already sat down and tried to decipher the lyrics to float on. if you want a copy of what i came up with drop me an email.
Posted on March 22, 2004 10:57 AM | #
47. Matt said:
i dont understand why everybody is saying that mm sold out. 4 years is a long time, and isaac brock did work with ugly casanova which it sounds like from acouple of the new songs ive heard from him, has broadened the sound in his music. mm sounds less depressed now, and alot of people are saying that this means that they have sold out. all it means is that isaac brock is maturing. its like how every punk has to grow up somewhat sometime. you couldnt have expected mm to b depressed so much all the time. from their albums out right now i would have to say that m&a is my favorite so far, but has any1 noticed how melancholy it can get at times. b4 any1 can make a judgement on the new album of mm or just mm for that matter, i think they should listen to the whole album. i am listening to alitle bit of “the world at large” from their new album and while noticing their sound has changed i also notice that the feeling in their songs are the same maybe even easier on the ears. now im not 1 of those people who says they r great now and only have listened to acouple songs of theirs, i have all their albums. i was jst sitting at the comp the other day when i heard the float on song on the radio and i was glad to hear that mm would have another record out soon. i think all the mm fans out there should give them a chance at their new sounds for awhile or atleast until u hear the whole album. im excited about the album from what i heard of it so far so i think those of u sayin they sold out should just kind of back off. anyways sony put out their m&a cd and that was their best so far so quit sayin them workin with sony means that they sold out
Posted on March 22, 2004 02:49 PM | #
48. Mackenzie said:
Ok first “Float On” is like the best song to dance crazy to. Like the first part you just wanna snap your fingers and dance, well for me anyway. Ok well this is the first time I’ve ever heard of Modest Mouse and I must say AWESOME sound.
Posted on March 22, 2004 08:35 PM | #
49. peter said:
mackenzie -
welcome! check out their back catalog, you will not be dissapointed. LCW was the album that hooked me, but long drive is my favorite. hell, they’re all good! grab one and enjoy!
Posted on March 23, 2004 12:14 PM | #
50. Abe said:
Damn, Had to type this twice!!
Anyhow to sum up what no one can read because my computer is a F**k up machine. MM is great always has been, lyrically amazing in songs like cowboy dan, Talking sh** about a pretty sunset, stars are projectors, and song 3 on building nothing…(Name currently elludes me). They masterfully bind the beauty of experience with the insignifficance of life. Truth is not static, the band is what it is, appreciate what they were, put it in a box and keep it seperate from what yo think they may have become. Which in my opinion, although it may take a few listens, sounds promising. Jungo hit the proverbial nail on the head a few comments ago. There will always be underground music, but the bands will have different names. Long time fan, Sick of the “sell out or not” Topic
Good to go, Abe
Posted on March 25, 2004 07:41 AM | #
51. Abe said:
Although rediculous I feel responsible for globalizing Modest Mouse.
Two years ago I went on a solo trip to Paris and blah blah blah great time blah blah blah, gave my M&A cd to a girl from Argentina, She loved it or at least I think she did, we spent the day together in vesailles and could barely communicate, like grunting apes drawing pictures to break the language barrier. I dont speak french or spanish, and she was in a similar situation. Anyway, It made me feel really in to it, to spread the wealth. Two days later I was walking around musee de orsay (whatever) and just staring at Whistler’s mother, when to my left what do I see, Some guy wearing the same mm red buffalo tee as me. We pointed to each other and smiled, enough said, the perfect communication, we needed no words to say it. I was glad, and at the same time hungering to change my shirt, protect my clark Kent. (it’s not half as cool if your not the only one). I came home and two years later got married, now I’ve got my kid brother into indie and six degrees has his whole group being MM groupies, so after years of listening, watching a wider fan base grow, blame me. I was that guy sitting solo by the stereo as the party died, listening to my copy of TLCW schooling someone on how cool MM was. so please send your haterd my way, I dont mind, just please start talking about something else, Can someone please post a story on how they came to discover the band, A little narrative for us. Greatly appreciated. Here a quickie, When I first heard MM It was trailer trash, and I hated Hated it, “what is this trash?” now people sitting in my car have been asking the same thing for years, I say to them “Just wait..it gets better”
Posted on March 25, 2004 07:56 AM | #
52. Abe said:
A correction, my apologies, “Jango” not “Jungo” who I apparently made up, hit that old nail on the head.
Posted on March 25, 2004 08:20 AM | #
53. peter said:
okay! i first got into MM on a recommendation from my friend ben. i was back in chicago for a break from school (in colorado) and i was discussing music with him. we shared musical tastes (slint, june of 44, etc) and he told me i had to check out his current favorite band. he played a bit of long drive, and i was not blown away, but filed them away in the back of my brain (this is late 98, early 99, btw). a few months later i was looking for something new to listen to, and went to my local indie record store. low and behold, LCW was on the shelf, and then in my hand as i departed. it took me a few listens to really “feel” it. interestingly enough, trailer trash was the song that really hooked me. totally and completely. Isaac has a way of writing lyrics about general topics that are amazingly personal. trailer trash perfectly described a relationship that i was in at the time. (when i finally heard it on building nothing, baby blue sedan put me in exactly the same space).
so, i finished up school and came home to putz around. eventually ended up working at borders, and befriended a girl who was a MM freak. she burned me interstate 8 (the ep, for those who have not heard it, find it. so so good. has possibly their best song ever, edit the sad parts), and i quickly picked up the rest of their back catalog.
i have been a huge fan ever since. they are amazing. i used to sit and listen to LCW on the headphones with the booklet in my hands and just look and be amazed. i think that long drive is without a doubt my favorite, although every album has held that spot at some point.
good news is really good. if you havent heard it yet, you will be psyched. i have also seen them a number of times, and they have never disapointed. the first time i saw them was at metro in chicago, and one line kept repeating in my head all night long: this’ll never end, this’ll never end, this’ll never end, this’ll never stooop. if only…
btw, i was also that guy walking around europe procaiming the greatness of the mouse. except my buffalo t-shirt was yellow!
(ben is now in a really good up and coming band form chicago: lying in states. they just released their first full length. if you see them coming to your town, check them out. you will be psyched)
Posted on March 26, 2004 03:04 PM | #
54. MIB said:
For Issaquah, Washington’s sake, I think I saw someone dissin’ the Moon & Antarctica in an earlier post!?!? Kind of takes away from their arguement, don’t you think?
Like U2, like Nirvana I would love to see MM go from this quaint talented relatively unknown indie band to world domination. Although I can’t say I am a fan of U2 anymore.
I have heard Good News for People Who Love Bad News in its entirety, thanks to Soul Seek. It is with out a doubt a quality album. My fav tracks right now are some of the most ‘accessible’ MM songs to date including ‘The Ocean Breathes Salty’, ‘The Good Times Are killing me’ as well as ‘Float On’. ‘Dance Hall’ and ‘The View’ are 2 classic MM songs that I am craving incessantly right now…though my favourites change every time I listen to the album.
I do worry that the accessibility and the mainstream features of this album means my craving for these songs may fade faster than for other new MM albums. The songs may lack a complexity that drives hitting replay over and over again. Time can only tell.
Grab MM’s first live bootleg. Going on sale in April. I understand it is going to be sold exclusively through MM’s website.
Posted on March 28, 2004 01:59 PM | #
55. Eric said:
hehe, sorry bout the double post, my com was acting wierd
Posted on March 29, 2004 09:44 PM | #
56. Tyler said:
What more is there to say? It seems like you’ve guys pretty much covered everything.
Well me being that guy who knows everything in and out about modest mouse, I’d have to say that even though the new shit is sick, unfortunately I don’t think it’s gonna workout. After hearing Float On, I honestly believe that modest mouse will go mainstream, which us TRUE modest mouse fans don’t want. But as of now, only hearing ‘Float On’, modest mouse sounds like The Cure. Night bashing the cure or anything because I’m a fan, but times have changed. Now that were in the 00’s it only takes one appearance or song in a show to get big. I believe that since they’ve made their debut on OC, thats all you need to rifle into shit like trl and b.s. radio stations.
I’m gonna have to be one of those ‘back in the day, they were the shit’ guys on this on. Sorry Isaac man but you fuucked up on this one. Even though his new style is catchy, it makes me sick.
Posted on March 30, 2004 04:13 PM | #
57. Lillian Skye said:
this is the weirdest thing i’ve ever read. because it is contradictorary to EVERYTHING i’ve ever heard about modest mouse and personally know. first: every single perosn i’ve ever spoken who knows modest mosue and has seen them live or knows someone who has says they are absolutely terrible live. secondly. there is like a modest mouse cult. and the cd that’s agreed as the best is usualy the first one, this is a long drive for someone with nothing to think about. it sounds less produced, msuic wise and lyrically it seems the most creative and overall best. sad sappy sucker and the lonesome crowded west are also amazing. but the moon and antarctica is their worst. thrid planet is annoying. but since everyone discovered modest mouse by it since thats what they played on the fuucking radio. float on is damn catchy and it gets stuck in my head so hard i have to listen to it six times to get rid of it. but that doesn’t mean it’s superior. and plus. fame ruins music. modest mosue used to be everyones little secret. but now that they’re on the OC…that’s crap. we’re going to have people who don’t deserve to know about bands find out about modest mosue and built to spill buying the cds listening to the single and ruining the whole thing. but wait, nobody cares.
Posted on March 30, 2004 07:35 PM | #
58. PJ said:
Saying that Modest Mouse sold out because they signed with Sony is like saying a baseball player sells out by going to the major leauges. They are by far my favorite band and am glad that other people will soon be able to hear the same music that I love.
Posted on March 31, 2004 08:27 AM | #
59. Chris said:
The new album is great. There’s plenty of good non-commercial stuff on there that is obviously never going to be played on the radio or any TRL crap. Even the commercial stuff like Float on is pretty decent. I don’t need to be the only one who’s ever heard of Modest Mouse. I’m glad they’re finally becoming successful and making some money for being the creative geniuses they are. Good for them, I say. They are finally getting what they’re worth. Their popularity does kind of take away from the coolness of being one of the few who knew who they were, but it seems that a lot of their new fan base just doesn’t GET it… They just like some of the catchy tunes. And if that’s the case, I still consider myself one of the few who know WHO they are. That’s good enough for me. If someone says something about the cool new single Float On and how good it is, I’ll nod my head and smile, aware that they are getting something totally different out of MM than I am, and I’ll put Good News on my headphones and go on my merry way.
Posted on March 31, 2004 11:06 AM | #
60. Michael said:
and plus. fame ruins music. modest mosue used to be everyones little secret. but now that they’re on the OC…that’s crap. we’re going to have people who don’t deserve to know about bands find out about modest mosue and built to spill buying the cds listening to the single and ruining the whole thing.
How incredibly myopic, self-serving and spoiled. Boo hoo hoo. People who “don’t deserve to know about bands”? What the hell? Some of the comments in this thread have been jaw-dropping. Let me clue you in: MM ain’t “yours”.
Posted on April 1, 2004 02:43 PM | #
61. MIB said:
Yeah I’ll second the jaw dropping comment. That whole post, quoted in part, was ridiculous. That’s twice now that someone was messin’ with The Moon & Antarctica.
There is no consensus on which Modest Mouse albums are the best. Not everybody thinks Modest Mouse stinks live and for all the others with their heads up their a$$, Elvis is dead.
Posted on April 1, 2004 04:23 PM | #
62. peter said:
for all of you who liked MM back in the day, and are complaining about the crass commercialization, selling out, etc. remember the summer of 2000 when M&A was released and everyone was saying the EXACT SAME THINGS?
wow, they really blew up, and i really got sick of hearing all that MM on the radio all the time. get real. didn’t happen then, probably won’t happen now, although i wish it would for the band’s sake. and flaming lips were on 90210 many years ago, didnt really help their careers that much. don’t be so hard on Isaac and the boys.
broken record here, but who cares? so they made a video; it is a really, really cool video (you can see it on www.modestmousemusic.com if you haven’t already). so some more people might show up at the shows. big deal. when float on has passed, and everyone has moved on the next thing, it will be the same group of people that were with you “back in the day”, plus a few more die-hards that got into this amazing band because of hearing them on the radio or seeing their video.
and to comment on a few posts back, i have seen them a number of times and it has always been fantastic. i have heard the bad reviews, and perhaps have just been fortunate enough to see the good performances. i don’t know…
Posted on April 2, 2004 09:10 AM | #
63. Abe said:
man oh man, so…no one wants to talk about the good lyrics, just debate about something you dont have control over. I know this may sound pretentious but it sounds to me like all the complaints are coming straight out of a connor oberst interview.
Posted on April 3, 2004 06:42 AM | #
64. Jeremy said:
Its because of the new drummer. New sound that is. I think its wonderful.
Posted on April 5, 2004 07:59 AM | #
65. modest moose said:
MODEST MOUSE’S MUSIC IS CHANGING CONTEMPORARY MUSIC! THEIR BECOMING MORE FAMOUSE THAN AN INDIE BACK ROM THE NORTH-WEST AND MORE LIKE A NATIONAL ROCK GROUP! I KNOW THEY HAVE THE TALENT BUT WILL PEOPLE FOLLOW THEIR “NEVER ENDING MATH EQUATION” (MOON AND THE ANTARTIC) OF POETRY. I HOPE SO!!!
Posted on April 5, 2004 07:19 PM | #
66. Abe said:
so I got the new album in the mail the other day and have to say that it was different, usually it takes me a few listens to pick up the feel for an album, but I picked this one up right awau, deffinetly has pop appeal, but an excellent album!! Any questions on me LOANING a burn of it, let me know.
Posted on April 6, 2004 08:18 AM | #
67. matt said:
i got the copy of “Good news for people who love bad news” today and after a listen i’d have to say, anybody who thinks that modest mouse has sold out or has lost their touch on song writing or anything, is completely wrong. i have been a modest mouse fan for awhile and i have LCW, M&A Long Drive and this cd and i think that it ranks right up there with LCW and M&A. people think that because modest mouse is not as melancholy as they were in their previous albums, that they are not as good of a band can easily find themselves mistaken after listening to this full album. at first when i heard that they had been on mtv i was a bit worried because they were on mtv, but from listening to this cd i notices how much the band had matured. their music still as ive said before has the same sound good sound to it as their old music but it now has a more upbeat sound which is not only easier on the ears but fun to listen to. the songs are very meticulously written. w/e i gotta go but all u people doubting modest mouses new sound really have to get a copy of this cd and you will find yourself proven wrong. my last words would have to be that this album is a masterpiece right up there with M&A and LCW. w/e im gone have fun with the cd bye
Posted on April 6, 2004 03:24 PM | #
68. matt said:
lol sry if my little review wasnt that in depth but i was too busy listening to the new cd and couldnt keep focused on writtin all i cld keep focused on was the music
Posted on April 6, 2004 03:29 PM | #
69. JIM said:
I got GNFPWLBN yesterday and have listened to it a couple times through. Its awesome. A definate natural progression. I’m happy that they are happier now, it takes alot of work to be that angry and depressed for that long. And just as musicians they have grown quite a bit. They didnt sell out they just grew up.
Posted on April 7, 2004 10:00 AM | #
70. Aaron said:
First off, let me say that I really like the album. It is really great. Perhaps not on par with their other full-lengths, but only time and many listens will truly tell.
Secondly, I am tired of everyone saying that optimism is a sign of “maturity” or “growing up.” I have read this in several major publication reviews as well as some on this page. I am not sure why someone has to be happy to be considered credible and mature. Moreover, I don’t think this album is really that optimistic overall. The most obvious optimistic track is the single Float On. I’ll give everyone that one (I think it rocks by the way), but the rest of the “optimistic” songs should clearly be classified as guarded optimism. (ie. The View says “As life gets longer, awful feels softer. Well, it feels pretty soft to me.” And, while The Good Times are Killing Me does have happy sound, it still conveys a sense of loss.)
Overall, I just don’t think this album has strayed much from the usual MM themes of isolation and the contemplation of death (see Ocean Breathes Salty, Bury Me With It, Bukowski, Satin in a Coffin and One Chance). The album may offer a few more optimistic tracks than the MM usual, but it is not like MM has never been optimistic in the past (see Gravity Rides Everything and So Much Beauty in Dirt).
Posted on April 7, 2004 08:06 PM | #
71. Joan said:
The music video to “float on” is very sad, yet interesting at the same time. between modest mouse and any other band, they are one of the best.
Posted on April 26, 2004 01:46 PM | #
72. Ian said:
I love this album! Actually lets get this right. Im actually not sure about it, but I love the way it feels on me. I have felt this way with every MM Album, and in the end I have adored, and still do adore every single one of them. As with every MM album its a little difficult to listen to at first, but don’t you just love it when you put on an album and hate it? Then a couple of days later some strange riff pops into your head playing over and over, and you dont have a clue where you heard it but Damn it makes you feel good as you listen to it rattle around up there, then thats all you can think about in work, and you cant focus properly because you have this little bit of a tune in your head with no idea where it came from. Then suddenly it hits you and you know exactly who it is and you rush home and play it letting out a sigh that feels like Cold Aftersun lotion smeared over red raw skin, and realise that this is the album that isnt going to leave your stereo in a long time!
I say give it at least 2 months… I mean, it took me a whole year and a half before “Relationship of Command” by At The Drive-In was the only thing that was in my cd player for a good year and a half later!
Posted on April 28, 2004 12:37 PM | #
73. joe pantiliano said:
Who in the hell did modest mouse steal “Float On” from. Sounds like 80s to me.
Posted on April 30, 2004 10:04 AM | #
74. Rob said:
Reading the posts I think there is a massively widespread opinion of the band and what they are doing now. I got burned cd of MM old stuff like ‘Dramamine’ ‘closing time’ ‘cowboy dan’ and a bunch of others from a really wierd aquaintence of mine. From them on I had this connection to MM. It was like some dude put it, “a well-kept secret’ and I felt like I had been let in on it. Some kid I go to school with asked me if I had heard that ‘new band’ Modest Mouse and I just felt cheated.
The new stuff is good, I like Float On and others on the new disc, but it feels different, Songs like “teeth like god’s shoeshine’ have some serious emotional weight to them (not the song, but the memories of where my life was when I was hearing it for the first time). And while change is good for a band, the indie power that was MM is now poppy crap. I still like them, their just not as powerful.
Posted on May 12, 2004 06:09 AM | #
75. Kevin said:
I like them, always have, always will. I have been listening to MM for about 6 years now, and I think all of the albums are great. As a band moves forward, and grows it is going to change some. It just can’t be helped! How can anyone expect them not to. Would you want them to sound the same on everyone? As we all grow from what ever age we are, do we not change ourselves? Are you a sell out cause you traded your skate board for a car? They are simply moving on, growing into there music, evolving into better and better things. This new album may not sound like all the others. To me, it sounds like a mix of MM and Ugly Casanova, but who asked me? We are also hearing a some what sober Brock as well which could have something to do with it. Selling out, or is it getting wiser? Just my 2 pennys worth. They still rock to me man!
Posted on May 12, 2004 12:28 PM | #
76. Jason said:
Modest Mouse is the best band that i ever saw live. but it is a possiblility that it is because they are the only band i ever saw live in my WHOLE life. but yeah this music really does grow on you. the new album is okay, but i , like most of you, will always enjoy the older stuff more. i dont feel that they “sold out” i mean, they gotta eat. they deserve the money. some of thier best music i belive came off of “Long drive for someone with nothing to think about” “head south” “talking shit” “beach side property” what an album
Posted on June 10, 2004 01:49 PM | #
77. jason said:
Oh Yeah.. Did i mention that i love the band?
Posted on June 11, 2004 07:26 PM | #
78. jason said:
Oh Yeah.. Did i mention that i love the band?
Posted on June 11, 2004 07:26 PM | #
79. GET YOUR DUKES UP! said:
MODEST MOUSE RULES
Posted on June 14, 2004 08:44 PM | #
80. Jacquie said:
I’ve been listening to Modest Mouse for quite some time now and I just wanted to know - what are some other bands like MM? I know that nothing can compare - but you know what I mean.
Posted on June 22, 2004 11:24 PM | #
81. jastarian said:
some people may say that the band “built to spill” is similar. my fav. song of thiers is “center of the universe” but overall, i really cant think of ANY band that MM really compares to.
Posted on June 23, 2004 02:42 PM | #
82. sumone said:
all you that just heard “float on” on mtv and says they like them, suck.too many people say they like modest mouse….and im like…man thats cool,they tell me there fav song is float on.i ask them if they know any other songs and they try their hardest to remember what they read on the back of the cd at target….fuck them.anyone who really likes them(listens to breakthrough,stars are projectors,ect.)are true fans….
Posted on September 3, 2004 04:29 PM | #
83. Kam (suicide seven) said:
hey I hear alot of people talking about modest mouse not being as good as they used to be. Let me give you some persepctive.
Float On was the first Modest Mouse song I have ever heard. To me it had a catchy 80’s type feel. I really enjoyed it and I thought these guys are really cool and unique compared to the other crap I’ve been hearing. I had no idea of this bands rich history of musical endeavors. Or their near legendary status as indie underground.
Anyway the point is that one song from a cd you all wanna diss inspired me to go and find out more info about MM. Now I find myself really really enjoying Trailer Trash and Dramamine at the present, but quite honestly I can just put a MM cd on and jam on it. They are that kind of band.
very original, very unique unto themselves.
new fan born from “float on” era
do I wish I would have got on the boat earlier? no. Thats what I love about music man, its the last great mystery. There is always something new and interesting around the corner.
today for me it’s the bad ass original as hell Modest Mouse.
p.s. I am also really rocking hard on Coheed and Cambria.
peace,
Kam
(please check out my band if you are interested in new lo-fi underground music, we would greatly appreciate any new fans!!)
geocities.com/suicide_seven
Posted on September 10, 2004 09:52 PM | #
84. Amy Gagnon said:
OMG lol i love the song float on by modest mouse i say modest mouse is so f***ing kool lol well c yah CHOW! ;P
Posted on September 30, 2004 10:21 AM | #
85. Bill said:
Hello People, Float On is a freakin Talking Heads song by David Byrne thats like 20 years old. Modest Mouse didn’t write it, they didn’t even change the arrangement a bit, it’s a near-exact copy of the original!!
Posted on October 18, 2004 04:39 PM | #
86. mike hunt said:
sup dawgs. this cd is awsome il ove marylan manson dude
Posted on November 22, 2004 02:11 PM | #
87. louie said:
all of u dont know shit about MODEST….”float on” “MTV” “kids Bop 7” this is all u know….u only know what MTV tells u to know…ur all fake…lets keep it real, at your roots, the start of it all…those of u who are modest fans, the ones here b4 “good new” came out, then kick ass…all the others can fall into an endless hole of shit…peace out
LOUIE
Modest FAn
Posted on July 3, 2005 01:32 PM | #
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