Topic: I don't think there's a We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank thread yet (Read 9561 times)

I Am Not Amused · « **on:** 23 Mar 2007, 07:34 »

So, yeah. The new Modest Mouse album. Discuss, peoples.

I got it and, surriously you guys, I fuckin' love it. Its not a return to their sound on their pre-Good News records, nor is it a rehash of Good News itself. It takes on their new sound and recontextualizes it, makes a great fuckin' cohesive album of it. Its full of energy and surprises, great jarring musical changes that come out of nowhere, beautiful hooks and melodies, and more insane Isaac Brock backing vocals than you can shake a stick at. Plus the Shins' own Mr. Spencer sings harmony on a couple tracks which doesn't sound like it should work but is actually amazing. Also, Brock's lyrics are way better on this album than on Good News.

My favorite track from the album is either "Florida" or "Parting of the Sensory." The former is catchy as shit with insane guitar interplay, theaforementioned Mr. Spencer doing some vox on the chorus, about three times where the music completely changes The latter has the best indie rock/jug band/ho-down outro that has ever graced my ears. Also it has, ISAAC BROCK IN A ROUND WITH HIMSELF> I cannot possibly stress how awesome this is.

The only complaint I have is that I wish MM would start reexploring their experimental side that they showed in their pre-Good News albums. A lot of these songs are quirky, fun and really catchy, but I would love to see them treated in a more non-traditional way.

Overall, I give it an 8/10.

Catacombs · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 07:48 »

The fav song is "Steam Engenius". And the round in "Parting of the Sensory" is so bad ass.

But otherwise i don't think the album is that bad. I think Marr will add something good to the band eventually, though i'd really like if they returned to their roots, even if it was only to some extent.

Johnny C · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 09:15 »

Quote from: I Am Not Amused on 23 Mar 2007, 07:34

Shins' own Mr. Spencer

Mr. Mercer, you mean?

I think the record is alright. It's fun and poppy but by no means album of the year material when it has such stiff competition already.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 09:17 »

Damn, I was just going to point that out.

I still haven't heard this album yet, but that's because samples I've listened to of it--and hearing the 'Dashboard' single--have completely turned me off from buying this. Now, if somebody were willing to post it again (we did have a thread for this album, but it was about a month or so ago when it leaked), I might hear it and change my mind...

When I hear people saying that the new album is poppier and that's somehow a good thing, I want to cry. I think Brock's backing vocals are one of the lamest things about the band.

I Am Not Amused · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 09:42 »

I did mean Mercer. Wow.

Spinless · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 11:31 »

I think that this album has the most obviously devide between good and bad songs on a modest mouse album ever.
On the one hand, there's the shin's songs. On the other hand, I think Spitting Venom is probably one of the best modest mouse songs ever written.

Guys, you might as well just download Spitting Venom and ignore the rest of the album just incase.

Kyros · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 11:40 »

I've been pretty schizo on what I think about this album since I first heard the leak. At first I thought it was great, and not what I was expecting at all after Good News, but after listening to it more in the past week or so I really don't know what to think. Some of the songs I really do love. Dashboard, Missed the Boat, We've Got Everything, and Fly Trapped in a Jar are all pretty great.

The rest though I feel like I can give or take. To be honest most of the lyrics and vocal styles are just plain not good, even in the songs I like. How's that for wishywashy?

Catacombs · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 11:42 »

Quote from: Spinless on 23 Mar 2007, 11:31

On the other hand, I think Spitting Venom is probably one of the best modest mouse songs ever written.

Indeed.

BillAdama · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 13:54 »

I've only listened to it twice so I can't really fully form an opinion about it yet, but so far it sounds real good.

I'd rank it up with Of Montreal, Amy Winehouse, LCD Soundsystem, and a few others as one of the best albums of the year so far.

And I don't care if it sounds more 'mainstream'. Mainstream doesn't necessarily mean bad. There's just a lot of really bad mainstream out there right now.

I Am Not Amused · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Mar 2007, 21:30 »

Personally, when I hear someone say the new album is poppier and that's somehow a BAD thing that gives me this face:

The idea that catchy, radio-friendly pop rock still can't be terrific music bothers the shit out of me, a guy who counts Radiohead's Kid A AND Everclear's So Much For The Afterglow as being in his top 5 favorite records. By just looking at an albums 'poppiness' and crediting it or discounting it based on those merits, without bothering to look deeper. Grrr. HIT YOU>

I'm not trying to single out Gregs, and I'm guessing he's given the album more than a cursory glance, and didn't enjoy it on his own merits, not on just a surface listen based on 'poppiness. ' The comment just set me off about people who make those kind of comments WITHOUT looking at an album critically.

Spinless · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Mar 2007, 06:56 »

I can think of a lot of reasons why the 'poppier' is a bad thing. And a lot of reasons why it's a good thing.
Expanding on something Kieffer said in gabbly, I do think that Florida is a really great Shins song.
Shins. Not Modest Mouse.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Mar 2007, 07:55 »

I actually haven't heard the album yet, just to clear that up. I've only heard 'Dashboard' and clips from it. But to be frank, I wasn't impressed by any of those. Say what you will about 'Float On', and I'm sure everyone has a lot to say, but that is a great fucking pop song--on its own terms. 'Dashboard' is an attempt to be a great pop song on someone else's terms.

Now I know it's frowned upon to ask for this sort of thing publicly, and feel free to delete this part of the post if it's uncouth 'round these parts, but if someone wants to post the album again, or even email me a link to download, I'll be more than happy to give the album a full, fair chance.

I Am Not Amused · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Mar 2007, 08:50 »

I don't have anywhere to post, but if you have AIM (RacecarBrown) or Soulseek (I Am Not Amused), I could, um, tell you how you might obtain it.

BSG · « **Reply #13 on:** 28 Mar 2007, 16:13 »

Wow, you guys are kind of music snobs, eh?

I thought Florida was a fantastic SONG. Why do you care if it sounds like shins or if it sounds like modest mouse.

I thought the "poppier" feel was fantastic. Pop's name is marred by today's Pop, but that doesn't mean pop itself is a bad thing.

Either way, I think there's a lot of tracks on the album that are very forgettable, and that's about the only problem I have. The whole thing is really good front to back, and Dashboard is a very catchy single.

I'll be going to the Minneapolis show on the 20th! Whooh!

CamusCanDo · « **Reply #14 on:** 28 Mar 2007, 17:14 »

On a quick sidenote: Isaac Brock is starting to look like Antony Hegarty.

Just sayin'.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Mar 2007, 13:10 »

Something strange is happening: WWDBtSES debuted at number one of the Billboard charts. The Arcade Fire was number 19, beating John Mayer. Explosions in the motherfucking sky were number 156 or so, beating P. Diddy. Anyone else suprised by all this or is it just me?
As for the topic, I've been listening to this album off and on for a couple months now and it is growing on me a bit more. I don't love it. I think it has plenty of weak moments. But as a whole it's a nice album that certainly does sound like Modest Mouse. Just not really good Modest Mouse.

Johnny C · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Mar 2007, 15:27 »

Our subculture is growing. Eventually it will become bloated and we will wind up with our own personal versions of Starship and Asia.

pilsner · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 Apr 2007, 00:21 »

Decent album. Nothing as provoking as Karma's Payment or Dark Center of the Universe though. Maybe Brock was too distracted by the heat generated by Johnny Marr's genitals (which is rumored to melt steel)?

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 Apr 2007, 09:08 »

I am interested at the people saying that Spitting Venom is the best song on here because it is also obviously the most old-school Modest Mouse type song on the album to the point that it reuses older Modest Mouse guitar lines and lyrics. (mostly from the song "White Lies Yellow Teeth").

It seems to me that people are clinging too much to Modest Mouse' old sound.

amok · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 Apr 2007, 09:17 »

Quote from: TheFuriousWombat on 29 Mar 2007, 13:10

But as a whole it's a nice album that certainly does sound like Modest Mouse. Just not really good Modest Mouse.

If I thought it was a turgid exercise in mediocrity, is there any chance I'll like any of their previous work? I kind of want to make an effort like Modest Mouse just because of how absolutely stonkin' massive they are in the indie community, so I grabbed the latest one (partly because of all the fuss about it and partly because I'm ever so slightly gay for johnny marr) but goddamn I forgot what anything sounded like as soon as I got done listening. It's just so damn... bland. Did they used to do exciting things or should I just cut my losses and leave MM alone?

JediBendu · « **Reply #20 on:** 04 Apr 2007, 20:18 »

Quote from: TheFuriousWombat on 29 Mar 2007, 13:10

Something strange is happening: WWDBtSES debuted at number one of the Billboard charts. The Arcade Fire was number 19, beating John Mayer. Explosions in the motherfucking sky were number 156 or so, beating P. Diddy. Anyone else suprised by all this or is it just me?

I wouldn't qualify that as "beating" those artists. Just cause John Mayer and P. Diddy have slipped down the charts since their records actual release dates does not mean that Arcade Fire or Explosions In The Sky has "beaten" them in any way.

TrueNeutral · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 Apr 2007, 04:36 »

Quote from: amok on 04 Apr 2007, 09:17

I kind of want to make an effort like Modest Mouse just because of how absolutely stonkin' massive they are in the indie community,

You do realize the indie community is pretty much as retarded as any music community, right?

amok · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 Apr 2007, 04:44 »

Yeah dude don't worry I'm not trying to score points or fit in, I just figure that if shitloads of people who like some of the same bands I do think this lot are genius then there's a stronger chance that there's something to them. Not exactly a foolproof formula but I'll try a lil' harder than I would for highly recommended bands from other areas I guess.

Spinless · « **Reply #23 on:** 06 Apr 2007, 05:56 »

Rizzo, I'm emailing you a link what I think is the really really good modest mouse album. Chances are, if you don't like this one, you won't like any of it.

Spinless · « **Reply #24 on:** 06 Apr 2007, 07:53 »

Wait what? OH. It's those damn spider jerusalem avatars doing it! I am embarassed now. I'll PM you the link Amok, although it should be in Rizzo's inbox by now. He'll be a little confused...
My bad.

From now on, let's all use our portraits as our avatars yah?

Spinless · « **Reply #25 on:** 06 Apr 2007, 07:55 »

I am still seeing Spider Jerusalem. Not impressed.

amok · « **Reply #26 on:** 06 Apr 2007, 11:53 »

Quote from: Spinless on 06 Apr 2007, 07:53

From now on, let's all use our portraits as our avatars yah?

Quote

I am still seeing Spider Jerusalem. Not impressed.

I am spider jerusalem

thanks for uploading the stuff!

Catacombs · « **Reply #27 on:** 07 Apr 2007, 19:33 »

i gave this album a full serious listen tonight after some time.

its a favorite of mine at the moment.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #28 on:** 10 May 2007, 17:47 »

BUMP because I've finally given this album enough listens to wrap my head around it.

This album is a fucking disaster and I'm shocked that so many people seem to like it, let alone love it. We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank has got to be the absolute nadir of the Modest Mouse catalog. Good News For People Who Love Bad News wasn't a great album, per se, but at least most of the songs were good enough as a sequenced package to be worth listening to. The same can't be said for this album; the difference between good and bad songs is so strong that it's mystifying. What the hell happened?? Johnny Marr joins the band, James Mercer guests, and the result is the most uninspired, watered down Modest Mouse album yet.

It would be too lazy and easy to say "they had a hit song and tried to write a whole album of Float On's", and it's not entirely true, either. But at the same time, it's hard to deny that this is their most self conscious album yet. It's overproduced, and the songs alternate between too cleaned up/trying too hard and too self consciously weird/trying too little. Of the 14 songs, only 6 or 7 strike me as memorable, interesting, or genuinely catchy. Usually I either love an album, hate it, or think it's pretty good as a whole with some weak elements. Well, We Were Dead has some outright bland-to-awful songs. I defy anyone to listen to this album once and remember much of anything from 'Florida' to 'Missed The Boat.' Even the James Mercer guest spots feel wrong somehow; I read a review that described some of them as sounding like "Shins b-sides" and that's pretty accurate, although I'd say it sounds like re-heated versions of Good News For... songs with all the good parts missing.

Look, this album is not offensively bad or terrible. You can listen to it and not object to anything on it. The problem is that it's neither challenging-but-worth-sticking-to, nor is it catchy-and-different-but-not-too-poppy. It's just frustrating that with the help of Johnny Marr and James Mercer, nothing more interesting, original, or catchy could have been concocted. If there's ever an album more deserving of the stone literal 50% rating, I've never seen it. Half of it is good, half of it is bad.

kablaaamo · « **Reply #29 on:** 11 May 2007, 16:09 »

I give all albums I'm interested in one solid listen. If nothing sticks and makes me want to come back, I give up on it, unless I'm persuaded by someone I trust to try again. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank is odd album to me as I think it's awesome when I'm listening to it, but there is nothing that'd compel me to listen to it again on my own.

Except Florida. I really like that track. Don't ask me why though.

alongwaltz · « **Reply #30 on:** 13 May 2007, 09:35 »

I downloaded, listened once, and decided it wasn't worth buying.

Which is sad because I love the first three or four discs. And even Good News, to a point. But this is just so bland.

chamberk · « **Reply #31 on:** 13 May 2007, 17:31 »

Don't really like their old stuff, loved Good News, and thought this was half-good, half-bad. I could listen to Invisible or Missed the Boat all day, but a lot of stuff just bores me to tears. Eh. There's a lot of stuff out that contends for album of the year... this isn't one of them.

ScrambledGregs · « **Reply #32 on:** 14 May 2007, 08:25 »

Yeah, I wouldn't even call Good News... Album of the Year material, but it was still better than this.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: I don't think there's a We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank thread yet (Read 9561 times)

ScrambledGregs

Spinless

BillAdama

Spinless

ScrambledGregs

TrueNeutral

TrueNeutral

Spinless

Spinless

Spinless

ScrambledGregs

kablaaamo

alongwaltz

chamberk

ScrambledGregs