Two words, Modest Mouse. If this band could take the form of a single man and he could speak the poetry that is their lyrics and his voice could soothe my soul, yet instill a wondrous rage deep down inside me as they do, I would marry that man today. I started listening to MM about eight years ago but, did not truly fall in love until I shed my adolescence and delved into my passion for music in general. I remember it was Beth Murdock who actually introduced them to me and we went as a group my junior year of high school to see them play in D.C. They had just recently released their album, Good News For People Who Love Bad News, which happens to be one of my favorites. Sitting in the stands at Constitution Hall, I felt as if Isaac was speaking directly to my brain whilst tugging on my heart strings. I was obviously a fan before and after that show but, still was uneducated on most of their past albums and their beginnings. When I entered college, their music became my constant companion. Late nights were spent watching YouTube videos in my dorm room whilst trying to block out the sound of chattering sorority girls. I also walked EVERYWHERE in Richmond and always had them singing in my ears via my ipod nano (which was later ruined from an "accidental" beer spill by some asshole at a rugby party freshman year). After leaving college the first time and moving back home in 2007, I started my official Modest Mouse library and collected all of their albums. I would drive around in my car for hours on end with my good friend and companion, "Maryjane", exploring back roads while I was exploring their music.
"I drove around for hours, I drove around for days, I drove around for months and years and never went no place." -From Interstate 8
I personally feel that the sounds and phrases they have created are ground breaking, to say the least. I have yet to find a band I feel so connected to, so familiar yet strange at the same time. Each album they come out with is like a time machine for escaping harsh reality, a portal to some awesome abyss that I can get lost in for days. I often take out blank pieces of paper and just write their lyrics over and over, lyrics that are as beautiful to me as some Shakespearean sonnet to another.
"Language is the liquid that we're all dissolved in, great for solving problems after it creates the problem"-From Blame it on the Tetons
To wind down this post, I will just say that their music has been the soundtrack to my life for sometime now and will continue to be until I leave this world. I dream of the day I can see them live again, unfortunately they are on a European tour at this time and haven't announced any more tour dates in the U.S. as of yet. My dedication to them as creators and masters of music is undying. I just recently got some of their lyrics I am especially passionate about tattooed on my arm and I plan to get more of their words forever imprinted on my body in the near future....
"Change my mind so much, I can't even trust it. My mind changed me so much, I can't even trust myself."-From Talking Shit about a Pretty Sunset
I hope this post inspires those of you who aren't fans to take a listen, I promise you won't be disappointed with the absolute art that is their music.
Fin.
Just as a sample of their sheer brilliance, this is a song from their latest album and the music video was directed by the late, great Heath Ledger. It's amazing!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qi7KDOAj4Xo
Like I said to you before, I can relate to using music as a solace in college, because God was I ever lonely freshman year, and God did I ever love Bob Dylan. His electric trilogy-era music really speaks to sense of bitterness and alienation.
ReplyDeleteIf they ever come into the area, I'll go see them with you. But then again, you probably already have 40 people lined up for that special spot.
Modest Mouse definitely took me through the last couple years of high school and then deep into various parts of college. I love their rambling rhythms of all their songs, Brock's existential and half-mathematical lyrics, and this sort of frustrated optimistic tone where he yells and sings and whispers. Their music was kind of abrasive at first listen, but after a bit of listening to their more relaxed songs, the rest of it started to grow on me very fast. My sister basically introduced me to them indirectly by uploading the album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About onto the computer, and because it was the first music on our library (back in the Windows Media Player days) it always came on first with "Dramamine": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAePJ3cpmn8
ReplyDeleteIt's hypnotic and sort of distant and I began to love it more and more. I'm going to try and post about some more of their albums and songs in this month because they have so many that are worthwhile.