The day after Valentine's Day saw a massive leak in the shoddy plumbing of the music industry: Modest Mouse's latest LP flooded the internet drip by drip, track by track. Having already pre-ordered the album from the moment iTunes announced such an option; I didn't feel that guilty by indulging in Isaac's latest creative jaunt. As I absorbed each track, now surpassing a play count of fifty times each, I was barraged with e-mails, IMs, text messages, and various encounters seeking my opinion of We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. It's obvious that I enjoy discussing music (especially the music of Modest Mouse) by my participation in this site, but what’s even more obvious are the overwhelmingly negative comments I've been dodging in regard to this album.
I'm going to bite my tongue and let the criticism fly, for it undoubtedly will, but if you're going to be one of the "this album blows" naysayers please give me a legitimate piece of criticism and I'll warrant you with a response. If, however, you're gonna be another ignorant "music enthusiast" then here are my two automated responses to your criticisms (which I shouldn't even have to defend, but I digress):
The "It doesn't sound like their older stuff" Argument: No shit, Sherlock! Hey, I'm like the rest of you in the fact that I hold a soft spot for many of their older LPs - but if you're going to honestly expect a (good) band to reproduce the sound of a previous album on a latter album you've completely lost your mind. Do you know of any band that continues to release successful album after successful album without their sound evolving? Wait, I do! They're called boy bands and Creed and there is a valid reason as to why neither one exists anymore. If you listen to the entire Modest Mouse discography in chronological order there is an obvious and constant evolution in their sound. Such a theme is prevalent in every great band, just look at bands like The Beatles, Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, and Arcade Fire. Bottom line: If you don't appreciate artist growth and maturity, don't listen to Modest Mouse.
The "They sold out and changed" Argument: Who truthfully thought that the lyrical/musical genius of Isaac Brock was never going to produce a hit single? It's a miracle that major labels weren't at his feet after Lonesome Crowded West! Yes, Good News For People Who Love Bad News was on a major label but it was on the same label as Moon & Antarctica - yet everyone fails to factor that into their argument simply because (the oft praised) Moon & Antarctica didn’t have a “Float On” track to thrust Modest Mouse into the mainstream. For a band that has been producing solid music for 10+ years, I’d like to think you’d agree with me that they deserve the rewards of fame and fortune Good News earned them. I know what it’s like to enjoy a band before they “become popular” but in all reality, if a band doesn’t garner popularity how long can they thrive off of a small (intimate) scene? (See: Grandaddy split) Just like the Radiohead “fans” that only know the words to “Creep”, Modest Mouse has a similar situation with “Float On” – you just have to get over it. Finally, look at it from Isaac’s direct perspective: “There’s another way to look at it. You are an artist and you want people to have access to your art. What other way is there to do that? That’s what I thought at first, that I would maybe get a broader bunch of people listening to my music and stuff.”
I usually steer away from writing such editorialized articles, but I’ve been getting tired of hearing “This sucks” or “This blows” about a truly terrific album – all being stated before We Were Dead has even been released! If you flat out don’t like the sound - oh well, that’s too bad. Perhaps your tastes and musical appreciation aren't peacefully coexisting with that of Brocks? Regardless of how you feel, Isaac Brock is a rare find in the music business; a musician who is capable of undergoing dramatic artistic change yet able to maintain a creatively familiar sound we’ve all come to enjoy.
37 comments:
here here! i think the new album is truly wonderful. people making those "arguments" just have nothing else to say because they're too busy whining about the fact that their beloved indie band got a break. shut up and listen!
I heard it and its growing on me...which is a good thing. You can listen to it far longer than albums that hit you across the head. And who ever said every album NEEDS to have a release single??
There's barely ever a 'legitimate' argument for saying something is crap or good. All we're really saying is 'I like the tunes' or 'I hate the tunes' and then trying to think of reasons afterwards. You can't reason with someone - it's always a gut reaction with something like music, surely.
I agree about the gut reaction, but it’s always nice to know what other people think about the tunes you love or hate!
This kind of articles is exactly the reason why you were voted best music blog on the web. Kudos to you and a sincere agreement from me is what you receive.
Great article with even better observations on human nature. 2 things, though: hard to sing along with a guy who went to the Darius Rucker School of Elocution, AND it's quite a stretch to put AF and MM in the same sentence with the Beatles. Otherwise, what I've heard so far is rich. -obd
i comepletley agree with your sentiments about comparing them to the beatles, since they're a far superior band. just making the loose connection of their growth, from their please please me days to their revolver days.
nice post
hype and antihype aside:
1. the new album just isn't that good (maybe after 50 exposures per song...but that's just the good ol' mere exposure effect working its mojo), and
2. their old albums are more distintive sounding, but
3. "float on" is a damn good song.
of COURSE, these are just my stupid opinions. but every opinion is a mix of fact and emotion and is rooted in subjectivity and blah blah blah. modest mouse doesn't need defending. they'll be just fine, thanks. methinks the captain of this ship is wrestling with his own demons on this one...
amen.
I don't think he is wrestling with demons at all, just stimulating discussion quite nicely. He's obviously more than content with MM and never said "Float On" was a bad song - any fan knows it's a keeper. Nice article!
such a great post. Me and my buddy were having the exact same conversation last night and came to the same result. thanks, looking forward to this album.
It's interesting that in saying people shouldn't hate on this album, you spent a bunch of time defending "Float On." You're absolutely right about that one - anyone who condemned Modest Mouse because they created one of the catchiest songs of the decade is a little nuts.
But "We Were Dead..." isn't the same. Call it subjective, call it silly, call it whatever, but it's just not very good. I really want it to be good. I keep listening hoping that I'll start to love it, but I don't. And it's not because they changed.
Of course, change is inevitable but it's not a good in and of itself. It's just kind of boring - all of the emotional edges and jagged sounds which made me love them are gone.
The thing that really kills me is that I like the crappy live recordings that came out in November better than any of the studio versions.
It's not a terrible record, but it's certainly their weakest and a major disappointment from my favorite living band.
"...they're called boy bands and Creed..." has got to be one of the best lines ever. Thankfully, Isaac is no Justin T. I think MM will be OK. -leigh
THANK YOU!!! I completely agree with you on all points, enough said.
"shoulda been, coulda been, worse than you'd ever know" .... and it is. Thanks, Isaac.
For the most part, I think that this is a great post. I appreciate the fact that you stand up against people who rely on those two insignificant arguments way too much as a means to dismiss an album.
However, with that being said, I also don't think it is fair of you suggest that a person's musical taste need to evolve because that person does not like the sound of the new Modest Mouse album. Perhaps it is because of evolving musical tastes that causes the naysayers speak their displeasure over a song like "Dashboard". I mean, lets be honest here, the song is as slick and
(over)produced as the Fall Out Boy songs that probably get played before and after it on alternative radio stations around the country. To discern "Dashboard", or any other song off the album, as good or better or even worse than Fall Out Boy, Creed, pop bands, old Modest Mouse, anything, simply means that you (or he or she or I) have formed an opinion, and nothing more. I hope I'm not coming across as abraisive, or that I'm trying to start a conflict, I certainly am not aspiring to accomplish either. To be honest I think some of the new songs are quite good, "Spitting Venom" especially. I guess I'm sort of on the fence about the album as a whole though, maybe after a few more listens I'll have a different opinion.
Charles: I completely understand what you mean about the songs "losing the jagged and emotional edges" that many tracks used to pronounce so boldy. My favorite album is (and remains) This Is A Long Drive which is a completely different sound than We Were Dead. At the same time, part of me suspects that this sound has changed as Isaac has gotten older, been exposed to more music, etc.
It might be worth taking into consideration where Isaac was recording in the mid-90s compared to where he recorded 6 months ago. Not only has new recording technology opened doors over that timespan, but he's been armed with an aresenal of equipment that he couldn't even dream about using while on Up Records. I'm not saying this is a leading reason as to why their sound changed, but could easily be a reason as to how it changed.
So while the edge has lessened, his instrumentation and musical experimentation have grown by leaps and bounds. I've personally enjoyed bearing witness to the change, while a lot are still clinging to nostalgic days gone by.
As a sidenote to my post - I'm not attempting to change opinions on how anyone personally feels about the music, that would be absurd and impossible. Music wouldn't be nearly as great if everyone had the same opinions - hell it would suck. This post (FYI) was instigated by the weeks of incessant arguments I've been suckered into [via web and real life encounters] with the (near) same two reasons behind every argument. As has been said in the comments multiple times, I don't need to defend Modest Mouse at all. I'm glad to see other arguments though, it's definitely an interesting/respected point of view I may not have been exposed to otherwise.
I think the album is great and am glad that they are progressing musically. There are only a few things that kind of annoy me about the album.
1. Marr, or whoever is singing backup vocals. The layer of high pitched cheesy pop backups brings some of the songs down. Example - We've got Everything.
2. The production of Isaac's voice. Granted he doesn't have the voice of an angel, but you can tell that it was EQ'ed to sound higher than normal.
Other than that, I'm on my 20th or so listen and I can't stop.
what about the every song sounds the same argument?
I always thought that music was subjective...
I think the whole idea of arguing over music's value with another person is entirely futile because music is personal. But I am a legally abiding member of the general public and I'll wait til they release their album to hear it
the album blows, fanboi FTW!
yeh this is definitely your best post to date. this album is absolutely amazing and that's coming from someone who's been a fan since mid 90's. Everyone who doesn't like it for the mere fact of their previous endeavors can fuck off, you know you like it.
this is why i visit this site everyday - well said.
i've only allowed myself to get "missed the boat" and "little motel", but i'm on the verge of killing them i'v listened to 'em so many times.
i love the album
there are 2-3 songs i dont like on it, but the majority is awesome
I did not like the album that much at first but then again i didn't like many of my favorite albums the first time i heard them. This is a great album from front to back and i do not see it as a huge departure from modest mouse sound, at least as everyone else is stating. I found GNFPWLBN as more of a departure sticking to the traditional verse/chorus/verse structure. The biggest departure is probably Brocks lyrics but not in any individual song, they are still awe inspiring and full of metaphores, but in the overall lyrics of the album. This is a concept album moreso then any other modest mouse album and Brock lyrics string one track into the next with his disdane and disguist with the way America and the West have developed, manipulated, and condemned society to its timely death. This album is the equation to a band that has been relivent for over a decade and shows that no one, not even modest mouses' most loyal fans can predict where they will go next. I think if anyone gives this album the time it deserves they will realize just how great it is. Plus Brock and Mercer may possibly be the best sound recorded.
anon. obd- darius rucker school of elocution...too funny. whatever happened to hootie? -sz
absolutely brilliant....thank you for that. I am so sick of that crap too.
I love the album and agree with everything you said. Well done. I hate the fact that people lose respect for bands when success creeps in. The people that give arcade fire and modest mouse a hard time are the same people who scan the internet for hours searching for the most obscure band or sound they can find just to show all their chat room elitist friends how crazy and off the wall their musical tastes are. "Dude listen to this track, it's by Fire Crotch and it sounds like a gopher eating a taco in a metal tube. (I am so indie)" Great blog, keep it up man.
"Dude listen to this track, it's by Fire Crotch and it sounds like a gopher eating a taco in a metal tube. (I am so indie)"
That was quit possibly one of the funniest statements I have ever read. Hahaha, nicely said. I'll be sure to post on them ASAP.
artistic evolution does not mean writing two albums of 3 minute pop songs. i am all for mm getting paid and recognized but some recent material has done what no modest mouse ever did: conform.
i believe that saying "it doesn't sound like the old stuff" is a fine arguement because it simply states "i like the old, and not the new". of course musicians grow, but not always in ways that suit our musical tastes.
i think the album is just what i expected: not their best album, but a very solid one, "we've got everything" and "dashboard" are crap songs but if you truly enjoy modest mouse as a whole, they have stayed true to their sound. I think one of the main reasons people seem to be upset with this album is that the songs are slightly more upbeat; songs can be hapy ya little emos!
people refuse to recognize mainstream bands because its "uncool." bands can still be good with massive popularity.
the moon and antarctica had "I came as a mouse." you dont get much fucking better than that. Isaac is a genius. If you criticize him for evolving his music, then i dont respect you. i can understand not liking it. sure. but a true music fan respects these things. people try to avoid the mainstream bands and the mainstream world, but a lot are still trapped in the mainstream state of mind. if it doesn't sound the same, its bad?
no, fuck that. i wouldnt do the work i do for Arizona if everything they had sounded the same.
the end :D
This album directly appeals to me, and I think its fantastic.
band does so much crystal meth
The new album is undeniably Modest Mouse, there is no selling out. Who they selling out to, they still make music like no one else in the music world and experiment with sound as just as wildly now as they always have from day one. To those who say they are selling out, you're nuts! How? I think it's the same old bunch of fools who think that if any artist finds the least amount of success they are selling out. Ludricous in the words of Mike Tyson. Good music will sell and sometimes it takes the masses a little more time to find it and catch on. The music of Modest Mouse has not changed all that much from the beginning. Play This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About or
The Lonesome Crowded West or The Moon & Antarctica and then play the new album and see for yourself, its the same chaotic madness melodies with Brocks angst ridden lyrics and emotion. They are just different songs, you couldn't expect them not to change a bit over the years could you?
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