Modest Mouse
"Good News For People Who Love Bad News" CD
Epic
Records
Genres: indie rock
band website
Sep 26 - Oct 3 2004 |
"Float On" may have become a hit, but it is not this album's
best song. Good News For People Who Love Bad News, Modest
Mouse's long-awaited 2004 album, is filled with catchy, readily
accessible rock tunes - different but not far off from their previous
work - but it isn't their best record. It is certainly an
ambitious release, with a fashionable record design and
contributions by The Dirty Dozen Brass Band and The Flaming
Lips. And for the most part, it seems as if Epic Records got what
they wanted from it - a successful radio
single for the angst-ridden masses, as well as (presumably) decent
album sales. Congratulations are certainly order, since Modest
Mouse did this all without compromising their creative vision or
musical ideals. But still, The Moon and Antarctica this
ain't. I was stricken with surprise upon my third listen of Good News
when I found myself most impressed by the album's eleventh track,
"Satin in a Coffin." This was an unusual departure
from the band's normal fare - banjo and organ were used to create a
bizarre, Modest Mouse take on bluegrass music. Despite
its unique convention, though, the song was remarkably listenable -
catchy to an extreme level, and successful mostly due to its refusal
to fulfill expectations. Other changes of pace for the band
include the Squirrel Nut Zippers-esque jazz-warpery of
"This Devil's Workday" and the synthy liteness of Flaming
Lips collaboration "The Good Times Are Killing
Me". "Ocean Breathes Salty" and "Dig Your
Grave," meanwhile, are vintage Modest Mouse rock, with
that familiar jerky, tense structure we've all come to love (think
"Never Ending Math Equation" and "All Night
Diner"). Other songs recall the band's calmer moments,
including "Bukowski" and the incredibly infectious
"Blame It On The Tetons" (which are both comparable to The Moon and
Antarctica's quieter songs.)
As for "Float On," well - I'm sure you've already heard
it. Although far from terrible, it doesn't really seem
particularly special - I found it a bit tricky to "get
into", and perhaps slightly too repetitive for its own good, but
there's definitely a sweeping charm there.
Good News For People Who Love Bad News is not a letdown, but
I'm not entirely satisfied with it. It is certainly accessible
enough, though it doesn't seem to vary from the defined Modest Mouse
sound enough. However, it is always a pleasure to hear new
material from Isaac Brock and co., and both fans and newcomers
should find plenty to enjoy here. Whether this album remains in
my disc rotation for months on end remains to be seen, but I can
definitely see myself humming these songs tomorrow.
88%
Matt Shimmer [Vitals:
16 tracks, distributed everywhere, released 2004] |
