A Note on Modest Mouse
Modest Mouse is weird. This blue collar, rag tag tribe from the logging lands of the Pacific Northwest have manged to move from obscurity in the early 1990's to mainstream rock fame early in the 21st century. The band is built steadily around two big pine trees: lead singer Issac Brock and bass player Jeremiah Green. Together, they explore sonic territory that few others have. Something about their sound is completely original. Immediately, you could tell is a song was penned by these guys in less than 10 seconds. It's hard to put a finger on what that uniqueness really is- is it a strung out guitar, a jumpy bass that seems unchained to the guitar chords? There's always something out of tune. Lots of space. Loud and quiet. These songs are trying to climb to the stars, only to get up there to look below and document the human struggles on the ground. They meditate on the green, rainy, hungover days. Brock's abstract lyrics often come to the forefront in these mom...