Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West

Lonesome Crowded West

By far the Pacific NW bands nest record! Granted i like all of them and am a fan, but if you don't already have this. Pick it up soon! April 5, 2008

If you like musical turbulance...

There are people who love Modest Mouse and there are people who hate Modest Mouse, and both seem to base their opinions on the same things. The crazy lyrics (sometimes nonsensical, sometimes poetry), Brock's nasal/lispy/screeching vocals, the way his guitar sometimes takes off with a mind of its own.

If you're looking for something polished and pretty, look elsewhere. If you're looking for insanity, on the other hand, you'll probably love this. Lyrics like "Eating snowflakes with plastic forks/And a paper plate of course" and "Oh/My mind is all made up so I'll have to sleep in it" are just a few tasty samples of Brock's wordplay. The music is equally unique.

The first track, "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" is a prototype Mouse song - plunges you in headfirst, sweeps you through madness, surprises you with the tenderness of the slower part, and makes sure to shock your senses once more before ending. "Cowboy Dan" is another good example this style.

Instrumentally, Modest Mouse are tops. The last few minutes of "Trailer Trash" are musical bliss. And check out the drumming on the last track - THAT'S how you close an album. I have only the highest recommendation of this band. April 3, 2008

Greatest Modest Mouse Album

I joke not when I brazenly claim that this record stands above just about any indie-rock you can show me.

Modest Mouse was a somewhat obscure band for me to suddenly start obsessing over. I heard Moon and Antarctica several years ago and that started the slippery slope to all of their older stuff. When I listened to this album, I knew almost instantly that it would go down as my favorite record of all time, now currently tied with Neutral Milk's In the aeroplane...

I've read several reviews of this album, most praising its originality, its gritty feel, and the overall image that spills from the music. Although those are all certainly praiseworthy, I can't help but get over the lyrics. Brock's lyrics and songwriting is at its finest on this album. From the get-go, this record bursts unlike any record I've heard. "Teeth Like God's Shoeshine" is quite possibly the greatest opening track I've heard on ANY album - and stands as one of my favorite Modest Mouse tracks. Not surprisingly, this album is free from the filler that plagues most albums. Modest Mouse has never "filled" any of their records, and Lonesome Crowded West is no exception. In fact, it's amazing how good each song is. I wont go through each one, but take my word for it, they are all lyrically-sound and profound.

The best part about this album is it's lack of any stand alone song. It's hard to describe how each song interrelates, but when you've listened to it about 100 or so times like I have, you learn the music so well you can see a bleak and "gray" play unfold in your mind. I get images of a depressing suburban mall (complete with a Home Depot, Bed Bath and Beyond, K-mart, and a Little Caesar's), empty except for a car or two. The sky swells with dark clouds, veiling the sun until it lingers as a perfect circle no brighter than the moon. The wind picks up and becomes sharper while you sit and just anticipate rain. Best part is, there is no rain. It just stays this way - all the grayness of rain, all the heaviness of rain, but no rain. There's only one or two drops that manage to break free. It's a great album and think what you want when listening to it. February 4, 2008

Well done guys! Well executed!

This anthemic collection of awesomeness breaches the sound barrier of my inner soul as my body sways unconcuosly and I gleefully seek pleasure upon the endless depths of the uncromprehendably classic arrangement of possilby am inkling of the one of the most majestic and awe stickingly poopingly songs of todays inagural pop music for loius armstrong and sufjan stevens.
basically this album rocks my face off with a passion.
yeah, and its good too.
Teeth Like God's Shoeshine(5/5)one of the most epic, emotion encompassing, buttsweating, semen producing masterpieces of today's songs.
Heart cooks Brain(5/5)funky,sexy,fun,smart, crazy awesome lyrics that rack the brain like willy james huff. BETCHULAR FEVER!
Convienint Parking(4/5)pretty coo pretty coo
Lounge(Closing Time)an interesting remix to the mouse we learned to love
Jesus Christ was an Only Child(3/5)darn girl! that's some hardcore s*#$ dawg!
Doin' The Cockroach(5/5)one of the greatest dance arrangements never created, this jam is real brawe! That's the spicy meataball!
Cowboy Dan(5/5)freakin classic saget! Its gggggrrrrr8! gr8 sk8 anthem of f8!
Trailer Trash(5/5) a piece of trash...from da vinchi! what introduced me to this great bands classic sound! epic solo!
Out Of Gas(5/5)this jam is full of gas(no pun intended)-MERCUTIO. Great Lyrics-Opinions Are Like Kittens, I Was Givin Them Away
Long Distance Drunk(4/5) a sweet charming song which made me turned on by tila tequila, a once in a lifetime oppurtinity. Don't watch Tila Tequila while listening to this or else!
S*$% Luck(4/5)Awesome fist pumping classic anthem of todays youth!
Trucker's Atlas(4/5)It could be a little longer but overall great song
Polar Opposites(5/5)me and this song are not polar opposittes! we love each other! Shhh... don't tell!
Bankrupt on Selling(5/5)GREAT SONG! GREAT SONG! GREAT SONG! sorry, i didn't know if you heard
Styrafoam Boots/It's All Nice On Ice Alright(5/5) classic anthem when the drums suddenly come in. your heart spips a beat. Frrreakin awesome closer.
But seriously, i do a LOT of cocaine. December 31, 2007

Movie Music

This is my favorite Modest Mouse CD. It is so ecclectic (as most are). But it really swings around into different songs/styles/beats/tempoes, etc. My favorite MM song is "Heart Cooks Brain", I first heard this in the credits to a movie playing on HBO and I stayed up until it aired again on HBO W (like 4 am) so I could find out who wrote it and go get it. But I put it behind me for a year or so and ended up getting Good News... and Moon & Antarctica first. Then ran out and bought every MM CD I could get my hands on and lived happily ever after. Faves-#1. Heart Cooks Brain, Convenient Parking, Out of Gas, Truckers Atlas, Polar Opposites. A great album! December 21, 2007

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