Rating My CD's: Angular Boredom

43. Modest Mouse -- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank


Sometimes, when I review a CD, I'm stuck for something to say about it. I'm not really in the mood to listen to it, and repeated listenings to get myself in the mood inspire nothing in me. When that happens, blogging lulls occur. I start buying mp3's on iTunes, vinyl at record stores, anything to pump up my energy for a task whereof the taste has left me.

Today, I say the hell with it. This CD is not very good. I can tell because I'm bored with the very process of discussing it.

And I'm surprised this time. Sure, even I knew I was in for a labor writing about Ilad and The Good, The Bad, and the Queen. But back when I first bought this CD, I actually kind of liked it. I've had albums that I disliked at first, only to have them grow on me. I can't recall another occasion where I liked something well enough to say that it was "pretty damn good" only to be sick of it eighteen months later.

This music is too ponderous for me, too cleverly heavy, too "angular." In short, it commits all the sins of Good News for People Who Like Bad News while retaining none of that album's graces. The result is that this album feels like work, and if I wanted to work at music writing, I wouldn't be keeping a volume of unedited snark about all my possible employers out here on teh Intertubes where everyone can see it.

So begone, Modest Mouse. Your name describes your output too accurately to warrant further consideration.

Grade: C

Rating My CD's: We Worked Harder Than This

42. Modest Mouse -- Good News For People Who Love Bad News


Modest Mouse has a certain aesthetic, and I'm not sure if it's an aesthetic I share. These guys clearly take what they do seriously, try to write new and different hooks, intelligent and decipherable lyrics, and labor (as you must labor) to keep it loose. But something about this record just screams "2004" to me, as though that were a time long ago that I've walled off.

I was certainly living differently then: unmarried, different part of the state, different car that I was driving to New York on a monthly basis to see my girlfriend. I ate up a lot of miles in that year, and GNFPWLBN still feels like the soundtrack to those road trips. So maybe that's it.

But then again, maybe not.

Light Blogging Today.

Due to some needed re-categorization of some of my discs, plus a variety of other scut-work.

The Modest Mouse I bought on Saturday is pretty darn good.

Music Fire Sale: A Winner Is Me.

The FYE at the Waldorf mall is closing, and they were in full EVERYTHING MUST GO mode. 60% off on CD's, 70% off on other stuff. I got a cover for my Nano for about $2, and one for Wifey for another $2.50. As to the tunage:

• Black Flag -- My War
• Talking Heads -- Remain in Light
• Julian Casablancas -- Phrazes for the Young
• Modest Mouse -- We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
• Liz Phair -- Exile in Guyville
• Alison Irahita -- Just Like You

The latter two were for the spouse. I swear.

All told, I spent about $50. Huzzah!