Modest Mouse
Building Nothing Out Of Something
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Modest Mouse
Building Nothing Out Of Something
Up, 2000
RiYL: Built To Spill, Sonic Youth, Gang Of Four, Pavement, Pixies |
Hard-to-find singles such as "Broke," "A Life Of Arctic Sounds," and "Medication" appear here, all serving as prime examples of bandleader Isaac Brock's patented vocal whine and angular guitar lines. The standout "Sleepwalkin'," drawn from the now out-of-print EP Interstate 8, brings out Modest Mouse's softer edge, eschewing the usual hyper-active riffs for the "Blue Moon" feel of a '50s prom dance.
Recent singles "Never Ending Math Equation," "Workin' On Leavin' And Livin'," and "Other People's Lives" will provide ample nourishment for completists. The last of these three, glowing brightly with distorted guitar tones and swirling tape loops, offers a hopeful glimpse at the band's future direction.
On "Never Ending Math Equation," the band rocks the listener back and forth in usual Modest Mouse fashion using a tinny guitar lick, semi-funky drums and sloping bass lines. Brock tosses out lyrics like "I'm the same as I was when I was six years old / and oh my God I feel so damn old," letting his staccato delivery compliment the marching beat beautifully.
Nodding heads of the Indie world, unite!
More subdued tunes like "Broke," "Grey Ice Water," and "Whenever You Breathe" definitely require a certain, peculiar mood for full-listening pleasure. While I wouldn't recommend these tracks for a lively Friday night celebration, I also wouldn't suggest putting them on before bedtime either. The sluggish opening of "Whenever You Breathe" gives way to an impassioned chorus, heart-wrenching in its anguished simplicity. The guitars crash, the drums follow. Your dreamy ears are awoken by Modest Mouse's intrinsic, strange mastery of the loud/soft dynamic.
A must-have for any loyal Modest Mouse fan as well as a solid introduction for any indie novice, Building Nothing Out Of Something offers an intriguing look at the band's unpredictable musical methods.
BEN FRENCH | Ben founded NATN in the winter of 1998-1999 with fellow IU alums Troy Carpenter and Jonathan Cohen. During the day time, he's working for Nielsen Business Media, publisher of Billboard. Ben's favorite acts include Bruce Springsteen, The Clash, Sonic Youth, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads, Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys.