MUSIC REVIEW: Modest Mouse, Lonesome Crowded West
Hello friends, it's time for another review, and I swear, I tried to keep my bias in my pants.
Just the other day, I finally (After searching every record store I could find) picked up The Lonesome Crowded West. So, I went home, transferred it to a MiniDisc, and sat down with a book (SHAMELESS PLUG: Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them by Al Franken) and this album. About halfway through "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine", I realize I'm singing along with the song, despite the fact I've never heard it before. It's THAT good.
This is a themed album, much like The Moon and Antarctica (Minus Paper Thin Walls, I Came as a Rat, and Wild Pack of Family Dogs; I could never stand those songs), It tells a story about the decline of The West, as we see in "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" ("The malls are the soon to be ghost towns/well so long, farewell, goodbye") and Jesus Christ was an Only Child ("Working real hard to make internet cash/Work your fingers to the bone sitting on your ass"), which is what makes this their most brilliant album, and why I never really connected with Good News or This is a Long Drive, because they seemed mostly like a random collection of songs.
The best song on the album, in my humble opinion, is "Bankrupt on Selling", which furthers the M&A feelings. This song sounds a great deal like "Lives"; Beautiful lyrics, slow singing, and an overall haunting feel. It brings me to tears every time I hear it.
All in all, this is a must have. Even if you can't stand Issac's voice, you should just bite the bullet and listen to it, it's a portrait of perfection, where every single song is magnificent. And I, for one, wouldn't change a thing about this thing.
But, on another note, I do have one qualm about Modest Mouse: The outros. They last far too long. I wouldn't normally have a problem with this, but with this album, I want to listen to every minute of it, but I also want to get to the next brilliant track.
Just the other day, I finally (After searching every record store I could find) picked up The Lonesome Crowded West. So, I went home, transferred it to a MiniDisc, and sat down with a book (SHAMELESS PLUG: Lies and the Lying Liars who Tell Them by Al Franken) and this album. About halfway through "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine", I realize I'm singing along with the song, despite the fact I've never heard it before. It's THAT good.
This is a themed album, much like The Moon and Antarctica (Minus Paper Thin Walls, I Came as a Rat, and Wild Pack of Family Dogs; I could never stand those songs), It tells a story about the decline of The West, as we see in "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" ("The malls are the soon to be ghost towns/well so long, farewell, goodbye") and Jesus Christ was an Only Child ("Working real hard to make internet cash/Work your fingers to the bone sitting on your ass"), which is what makes this their most brilliant album, and why I never really connected with Good News or This is a Long Drive, because they seemed mostly like a random collection of songs.
The best song on the album, in my humble opinion, is "Bankrupt on Selling", which furthers the M&A feelings. This song sounds a great deal like "Lives"; Beautiful lyrics, slow singing, and an overall haunting feel. It brings me to tears every time I hear it.
All in all, this is a must have. Even if you can't stand Issac's voice, you should just bite the bullet and listen to it, it's a portrait of perfection, where every single song is magnificent. And I, for one, wouldn't change a thing about this thing.
But, on another note, I do have one qualm about Modest Mouse: The outros. They last far too long. I wouldn't normally have a problem with this, but with this album, I want to listen to every minute of it, but I also want to get to the next brilliant track.