Modest Mouse: Strangers To Ourselves

[ReadyMadeFour64]

The day has come! If you did not know, I have been looking forward to this album all year! I even made a thread for the singles off the album. Was it worth it? Kinda...

This album is what I feared. It is a lot of dance and pop music more than the old Modest Mouse. A lot of the songs like Pistol, Wicked Campaign, and The Ground Walks With Time In A Box are very pop-ish and does not sound like Modest Mouse.

This album is not all bad though, I love the songs like Lampshades On Fire, The Best Room, and Sugar Boats. My problem with this is that there are very few songs like this on the album.

There is some ok instrumentation on the album. But it can get really bad. In one of the songs, Issac Brock's voice is lowered and distorted and it sounds bad. It is unbearable.

Was it the album we waited for? No. A lot of opportunities were wasted to make mediocre songs. If you really liked the album, good for you. This just did not make my list of great Modest Mouse albums.

Before I go, I want to talk about something I noticed on the CD. On the back of the CD it says "The Golden Casket VOL. 1." I have a few theories about it. My first theory is that the album will get a second follow up album with the same style. My other theory is that this might be one of the last albums Modest Mouse will make. The casket might indicate something with the band. Not to mention this album took quite a while to put out, and with rumors that the band has been arguing, it could be true.

Anyway...

5/10 "Ehh"

[Overcast]

I liked all of the songs and some of them were great. The Best Room is probably my favorite off the album after my first few listens. Not entirely sure yet, though. Their new direction is both interesting and disappointing IMO. I like what they're doing, but I miss their old stuff. There is enough old stuff to last forever though, so I'm all for experimenting and I'll follow them wherever they go. Isaac Brock's voice is a big reason why I like anything they do. I'd give it a 7/10.

[Robbe264]

As a new fan of Modest Mouse, this was their first album for me.
I love "Lampshades On Fire" & "The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box" was also pretty good imo.
Some songs were just a little bit "meh" for me & even some of them were boring to listen to..
5/10

Maybe i should go & listen to Modest Mouse's old stuff
Suggestions?

[quantumcreep]

Originally Posted by Robbe264

Maybe i should go & listen to Modest Mouse's old stuff
Suggestions?

Stumbled on this site and thread right now through a Google search, and I made an account just to give you your required listening list.

I like the new album, but it's a terrible introduction to Modest Mouse so please try to put it out of your mind and give these a fresh listen. MM comes from a pretty messed up background, so just be prepped for something a tad different than the dancey tracks and casual lyrics (most important distinction for me is that almost all of his older stuff sounds almost explicitly written introspectively, and not for an audience like the last two albums). In a pretty particular order:

1st) Lonesome Crowded West (1997). This is arguably the band's best album. I fell in love with MM because of Isaac Brock's (lead singer) lyrics. He's one of the most gifted songwriters I've ever come across (though you wouldn't necessarily be able to tell from Strangers to Ourselves), and the band's older instrumentation is so f'ing good (it still is for different reasons, but there's just a lot more feeling back then) and innovative that you'll hear stuff you didn't think possible. It's an angry, desolate, affecting album and every track stands out on its own. Note: If you're more into more mainstream stuff and aren't digging this right off the bat, skip to #2 and then come back to this later on.

2nd) Good News for People Who Love Bad News (2004). My first intro to MM and the album that blew them up (you might know the single "Float On"; TBH I heard only heard Float On and my friend immediately took me back to his dorm room to listen to Lonesome from beginning to end and I was in love). It sounds more produced and polished than their older stuff, but both lyrically and musically it takes you on a pretty wild ride through death, depression, and begrudging acceptance. "If life's not beautiful without the pain, well then I'd rather never ever see beauty again. And if it takes **** to make bliss, then I feel pretty blissfully."

3rd) The Moon and Antarctica (2000). My personal favorite. It's like a concept album without a stated concept. Every one of their albums should be listened to from beginning to end, because each are arranged and produced so well (even this last one was very well arranged, IMO), but Moon and Antarctica just has these themes (lyrically and musically) that are pulled out at the best moments possible, in climaxes and valleys. Again, a lot of death and anger, and probably my favorite last track for an album ever (but don't ruin the surprise for yourself!).

4th) Building Nothing Out of Something (1999/2000). This isn't an actual album, but a collection of B-Sides from older EPs. But you couldn't tell by listening to it. It's a beautiful release, very desolate at times, very touching at others. It tells a lot about growing up and Brock really hits hard when he sings about f'ing up simple friendships and relationships.

I really hope you give these a listen and find as much connection with their music as I have. They're not usually the happiest, but god damn, do they hit the nail on the head about so many deeply personal topics that it's hard not to respect them. If you're so inclined, drop me a line at quantumcreep@gmail.com and let me know what you think. Have fun, hombre

[Robbe264]

Thank you so much, man!
I will start with listening right now!

[quantumcreep]

Haha my pleasure man. I should've been writing my paper last night, but I think this was a valid excuse to procrastinate.

[dvmathis]

I have been listening to MM for about 2 years now. There are still a few albums I haven't heard yet, but so far I'm in love. Very inspirational music to me.

Strangers to Ourselves, it is is strange to be so well produced. What I'm missing are those modest mistakes, everything is tight and refined. This is not a bad thing, it is just *ahem* strange.. for them.

My favorite tracks are **** in your Cut, Ansel, and Coyotes.

"the doctor finally showed up, his fur was soaking wet, he said that this should do the trick, we haven't told him what the problem was yet" Love that part xD
This album has its ups and downs, the songs really stand alone, its much more of a collection than a concept record.
Basically I'm glad I wasn't waiting 8 years or whatever for this album..
7/10

[meganzmusic]

Originally Posted by dvmathis

What I'm missing are those modest mistakes, everything is tight and refined. This is not a bad thing, it is just *ahem* strange.. for them.
7/10

I agree with the sentiment, its missing a certain Modest Mouse quality.

It is still a good listen, might need a few more listen to get it, for me personally.

[The Identity Matrix]

I do believe they confirmed that this was the first part of a set of companion albums and that the second part is supposed to be much weirder.

Source: Nirvana's Krist Novoselic confirmed to feature on next Modest Mouse album | NME.COM

[ReadyMadeFour64]

Originally Posted by The Identity Matrix

I do believe they confirmed that this was the first part of a set of companion albums and that the second part is supposed to be much weirder.

Source: Nirvana's Krist Novoselic confirmed to feature on next Modest Mouse album | NME.COM

I heard about it. Should be good!