Modest Mouse
The Moon And Antarctica
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NATN Recommended
Modest Mouse
The Moon And Antarctica
Epic, 2000
RiYL: Built To Spill, Flaming Lips, Radiohead's OK Computer |
On past efforts, Modest Mouse songs seemed pretty formulaic: the rhythm nation that is Judy and Green would lock into a groove with Brock's punky dance guitar licks, then Brock would use his abrasive bark to smoothly segue into an interlocking groove, which in turn would drift right back to the original riff. There would always be some semblance of a verse and a chorus, and though the listener could not always discern which was which, it never really mattered because the songs were addictive as hell. That is not the case this time around.
Rather than coming into the studio with unfinished songs ready to be thrown into the Modest Mouse meat grinder (resulting in 70+ minute albums), Brock came to the table with complete tracks. The band then enlisted the studio wizardry of Brian Deck, who was able to transcend the scratchy and tinny sound of their previous discs to create a warm, atmospheric record that allows Brock to accurately explore the musical terrain of his mind. On Lonesome, Brock would insert acoustic ditties such as "Jesus Christ Was An Only Child" amongst rockers like "Doin' The Cockroach" and "Cowboy Dan," but rather than complement his various modes of songwriting, the acoustic songs often played like a failed experiment, they didn't belong. Calvin Johnson's minimal production left the band sounding very one dimensional.
On Moon, Brock is able to use the studio to perfectly mesh his planetary pondering with his backwoods wit, creating an epic, Homer-esque odyssey of his own unique design. On "3rd Planet," Brock cleverly sucks the listener into his world by weaving together lyrics about his personal "gift" for fucking people over, the shape/travel pattern of the universe, and the theory that our bodies contain tiny oceans, all within the first two minutes of the album. He is able to take one of his personal flaws, project it onto a cosmic movie screen, then bring it back into himself, without sounding self-centered. One might even say the song is quite flattering.
The rest of the album is just as amazing: whether it is the sensitive Built To Spill-like "Gravity Rides Everything," The Gang Of Four/Butter 08 romp of "Tiny City Made Of Ashes," or the lumberjack rawk of "Dark Center Of The Universe," Modest Mouse make it all work. They miraculously fuse punchy surf guitar riffs, self-hating lyrics, irresistible beats, a journey to hell, and everyday minutiae with offbeat acoustic jigs like "Wild Pack Of Family Dogs."
The only questionable parts here come towards the middle, when Brock takes on the role of crypt-keeper in the song "Alone Down There," sporting a creepy voice to sing "Hello, how do you do? My name is You," and when he turns into a P.T. Barnum-type of ring master, announcing some sort of freak-show attraction to accompany the guitar maelstrom that kicks off "The Stars Are Projectors." But after enough listens, one will realize that even this type of Dante-rock has its place in Moon's micro-universe.
In the past, Modest Mouse had thrived in its familiar realms. On The Moon And Antarctica, the band adventures into new, unpaved territory, and their collective bravery has resulted in a classic album.
MARK GROESCHNER | Mark Groeschner is the creator of the late, great satirical Web site Public Nigmity. When not soothing the nerves of his pudgy cat Yoda or harassing people from afar on the Internet, he works for the commercial/video production company Brand New School.