Two Drunk Guys Review The Classics| Modest Mouse | The Moon and Antarctica
Bake: I’m drunk and bored so let’s get this bitch going. I like this album. I truly do. I like Good News more than most and I think the Lonesome Crowded West is ridiculously overrated. But this album I think I like this as much as your average bear, no more no less. But you know what I fucking hate? The album cover. It pisses me off and I don’t think I can forgive Modest Mouse. Alright, I forgave them a decade ago and listened to all their shitty albums since. But I still think it’s fucking stupid.
Cam: Now that I think of it I don’t know I’ve ever had a version of this album that wasn’t on a iPod or CDR (that’s how we used to steal music once). So I guess I never paid that much attention to the cover, but ya it is not great. I think they reissued it with a better one and I can see why. Other than the cover I fucking love this album, it’s probably my favorite of all their records. Half the songs are so weird that I have trouble listening to them but the rest are so good that I don’t even care
Bake: Hey, I had to get some bitching and moaning in since I mostly have good things to say about this album. It’s pretty solid straight through but the standout tracks for me are “Dark Center of the Universe”, “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes”, “Paper Thin Walls”, and “I Came as a Rat”. I liked “Dark Center” and then I saw Modest Mouse play it live a year or two ago and I love it even more. It’s got that eat shit attitude that I can appreciate as someone who also took a long time to become the ass that I am. They played “Tiny Cities” too which has always seemed to border on that line of awesome and obnoxious, and remains one of the weirdest indie rock songs you could conceivably dance to. That bass line is sexy.
“Paper Thin Walls” is one of the first Modest Mouse songs I remember listening to and I’m pretty sure it’s just 3 minutes to remind you that everyone sucks even though musically it sounds pretty damn positive. I have no clue what Isaac is talking about on “I Came as a Rat”, I’m just drawn in by the tempo change, their distinct guitar sound, and them just fucking around. What songs do you want to get all gushy about?
Cam: Dark Center of the Universe is my jam, I love that song everything about it is perfect. The guitar sounds crazy and the lyrics make me feel fine with the fact that I’m an asshole…. to be honest I wish there were more songs that did that. Another one I’ve always loved is “3rd Planet”. I don’t know what he’s singing about but I’m pretty sure there’s a part where he says “baby cum angels” so I’m not really sure I want to read into it too deeply.
I really like “Life Like Weeds” as well. It’s one of those tunes you’ve got to listen to 4 or 5 times before it starts to sink in. The weird Isaac Brock guitar comes in pretty heavy in the first half but then it breaks into that slow string part. The weirdness of the first half makes the payoff so much better when the strings come in.
Bake: Yeah there are definitely songs on here that grow on you over time. I think “The Stars are Projectors” is my best example of that. When this came out I couldn’t sit through 9 minutes in the middle of the album. Now it weirdly holds the whole thing together for me. Two minutes of violin solos? Bring it on! I’ve got nowhere to go. “A Different City” also grew on me but I’m not sure if it’s because the guitar reminds me of an old 80s song (strangely enough I think by The Cult) or because I think Brock is talking about becoming an old hermit like I am.
Cam: I’ve never been too crazy about “A Different City” or “Tiny Cities” or “Alone Down There”. They’re just a little to weird for me but I love “Lives” and “I Came as a Rat”. They’re both equally weird… so I don’t know man. Somehow that’s the genius of this album. Everybody I know has different favorites from it.
Bake: I always liked “Tiny Cities” even though it is pretty damn weird. I feel like that’s what they were going for on their newest album with “Pistol” but I fucking loathe that song so its hard to say what will hit with me. I really don’t know why it works for me. Maybe because it reminds me of some strange songs from my childhood? All that is long repressed so its hard to tell.
I feel like I usually hate songs where artists are just trying to get weird for the hell of it, but Modest Mouse is weird as a whole so I’m more accepting. “I Came As A Rat”frankly is wonderful. Not on this album but also enjoyable is “King Rat”. Why rats? Is it the “mouse” connection or are rats just good writing material? You’re the artist here, you tell me.
Cam: Ahhh they’re beautiful animals I guess? Shit I don’t know I’m not going to try and speculate on what goes on in the depths of Isaac Brock’s brain.
I’d have to agree with you, Modest Mouse has always been weird in the most perfect way. Bands getting weird these days tends to make me think of a bunch of guys with sides of their heads shaved, dressed as if they were all from different time periods playing beep and boops. I dont understand it… but in the words of Abe Simpson:
“I used to be with it, until they changed what it was. Now what I am with isn’t it and what is it seems weird and scary to me.”
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[…] win over too many new fans and it probably won’t bring back too many of those that left after The Moon & Antarctica but Strangers to Ourselves actually has a lot of the trademark Modest Mouse weirdness on here. […]