When We Were Dead … was first released, I read a few iffy reviews of it by people who seem to like one type of Modest Mouse sound but not another. I don’t get that. It seems to me that the variety – maybe even contradictions – in Modest Mouse is exactly what makes them so great. Summer anthems about our pointless lives, gritty yelping over cheerful woo-hoos, sad near-lullabies on the same album as maniacal violin stomps.
The themes haven’t changed all that much since Good News … – Isaac Brock is still concerned with our fleeting mortality, the absurdity of everyday life and human behavior, the futility of dealing with any of it. Which is exactly what makes Modest Mouse so fascinating – music about these kind of things would normally be depressing rainy day music, but I think of Modest Mouse as ideal for summer. It’s music that should be played loud on a sunny day, music that will get my heart pumping when I’m feeling down. What’s interesting about Isaac Brock’s lyrics is that he’s not exactly lamenting the crappy things about the world – they’re just facts that we just have to learn to live with. We don’t have to be happy about it, but life is what it is.
Musically, the greatness of Modest Mouse lies in the details. Songs that might normally just be good indie-pop are made classic by tiny bits and pieces that you barely even notice at first – it took me many listens before I heard it, but I can’t explain how happy that little offbeat bell in “Education” makes me now. I love that “Parting Of The Sensory” starts acoustic-y and gradually becomes a violent mess of handclaps and violins. “Fly Trapped In A Jar” sounds almost disco-y in that middle part. Those are the things that keep me addicted to Modest Mouse.
Modest Mouse – Parting Of The Sensory
(Update: Mp3 link is now fixed, I just realized that I never actually typed the name of the song. Oopsy. That’s what I get for posting in the middle of the night.)
The only way I can describe Patrick Wolf’s latest single, “The Magic Position”, is as an explosion of unadulterated joy. What’s not to love – layer upon layer of absolutely glorious sound. It’s fabulous. It’s my favorite track from an album I already gushed about, so there’s no way I wouldn’t have picked it for Single Of The Month (despite some very stiff competition from Pop Levi’s “Pick-Me-Up Uppercut”, also my favorite track from his album). God forbid Patrick Wolf release any more singles from The Magic Position or Single Of The Month will just turn into a monthly Patrick Wolf lovefest.
Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position
Filed under: Album Of The Month, Music, Single Of The Month, mp3
Both great selections, and I don’t really understand why some people have trouble with the new Modest Mouse either. Btw, you know it’s May, right?
“Btw, you know it’s May, right?”
The Bean will probably answer this, but I thought I give it a shot anyway. The Album/Single of the Month are selected this month for the albums/singles released in the previous month. I think the rationale is to wait until the previous month is complete before starting the selections of the best from among them.
Though it would be funnier if we just messed up the month.
It’s true what aDawgg said about picking the best for the month before, except that he very kindly didn’t mention that I’m running about three weeks late. Posting about April’s best would’ve made more sense three weeks ago. I’m hoping better late than never applies here.
And thanks, Jeff – I’m glad to hear that I’m not the only one who appreciates We Were Dead … !