Modest Mouse - The Moon And Antarctica

My Thoughts: (Reviewed by Dirty Frank)

Modest Mouse is a band that I have only come to discover a few months ago. I previously had their new album "Good News for People who Like Bad News", and I immediately was drawn to their unique, alternative style. I can't explain it but I can't get enough of Isaac Brock's haunting scream, and the variety of music to back it up. I'd heard from many people the "The Moon and Antarctica" was "by far their best album", so I went out to the store last week and picked it up.

The cd I got has 4 bonus tracks from a BBC session, which made a total of 19 tracks. Three of these are just reproductions of the original tracks, and there is one instrumental. I instantly noticed a nature/ science type theme on the cd, with tracks called "3rd Planet", "Gravity Rides Everything", "Dark Center of the Universe", "The Stars are Projectors", and "Life like Weeds". I think its cool that they did this, you don't usually find a theme that stays consistent throughout the entire album.

The album starts of with a great song, "3rd world". It's of a perfect sample of what you are gonna get from the rest of the cd. It starts with some soft guitar, and builds up into a slightly distorted heavier sounding chorus. They are one of the few bands I'm familiar with that uses effects on the vocals, I don't know what they do but it sounds cool. After "3rd world" is the most popular song from the album, recently used in a car commercial "Gravity Rides Everything". Great lyrics, great music, just an all out great song. Third on the album is "Dark Center of the Universe". A louder, yell along song with a good guitar riff. These three songs are what I consider the beginning of the album, and it really starts off flawlessly in my mind.

The next song "Perfect Disguise" slows the album a bit, but still another great song. Then comes "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes". Easily one of my favorite tunes on the cd. The entire music is pretty much just a continuous bass line and drum beat. Its great, and then u get some guitar fillers and just weird sounding guitar notes. The great monotone verses with superb background vocals, and the screaming chorus picks up just where "Perfect Disguises" might have left off. Another great rock song, "A Different City" follows this, and then comes a different tone.

Next comes a few softer songs that don't take away from the album, just change the tone a bit. Despite being the shortest song on the album, Track 10, "Wild Pack of Family Dogs" is by far my favorite on the cd. Acoustic guitar and harmonica set the background to the sad, metaphorical lyrics. Two more great songs follow this, "Paper thin Walls", and "I came as a Rat". "Lives" is almost a few songs put in one. Its a soft song, with good acoustic, and lyrics that make you think. Finishing off the original album is the screamin' hard rockin' "What People are made of".

The bonus tracks have the radio edit version of "3rd Planet", expanded versions of "Perfect Disguise" and "Tiny Cities made of Ashes", and the great up beat instrumental titled "Custom Concern". All of these are great, and only add to the already fantastic album.

The first time I listened to "The Moon and Antarctica" I enjoyed it, but I kinda felt like I expected more. Then I remembered their newest album "Good News…" and how every time I listened to it the cd just got better and better, so I stuck to it and it has quickly become one of my all time favorite albums. Even though I like the variety of different styles of music on in their newest album, the more consistent style on this cd is just as good, if not better. If u haven't heard of the band then I think this is the album to get, they provide great alternative/ rock music with the interesting vocals of Isaac Brock. I find it amazing that this 3-man band can produce such incredible music. Not one bad song on this cd, I would say that this is as "damn near perfect" as u can get.

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