Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank
(2007)

Review by Sean Lynch

It would be very easy for most people to take a quick listen to Modest Mouse and go "Indie for the sake of being Indie, Weird for the sake of sounding Weird". 

And to a certain extent I can understand the viewpoint. While US band Modest Mouse have been around since the early 90's, it wasn't until 2003's "Good News For People Who Love Bad News" that the howling vocals of Isaac Brock came to the attention of the mainstream (thanks in part to the folk over at The O.C.).

That album took me a good four months to finally enjoy. It took weeks of giving it a go, putting it down and giving up, then trying again a few weeks later. Then finally - it all made sense. The same can be said for their follow up "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank".

So far, I've given it two tries. Given it a rest after deciding that "It's just not that good", then given it another go. So in essence, this review can only really be complete in 3-5 months time. Sadly - my bosses just don't have that kind of time, so I'll have to pass judgment on the album at this point in time.

The albums first single, Dashboard, is clearly one of the more radio friendly singles off "We Were Dead" - but from there, everything else takes a little getting used to.

The major set back, when it comes to accepting Modest Mouse into your brain, is getting past the Elliot Smith/Tom Waits vocals. While I'm a fan of both musicians, even I can admit that at times there is fine line between genius, independent rawness and just plain bad singing. This is most often the case when it comes down to deciding on whether you love or hate a Modest Mouse track. More often than not, it is Brocks vocals that make these tracks so special - and more importantly - work.

The opening track to this Sea Travellin' epic album, March Into The Sea, is one of those that works. Parting of the Sensory is subtle but sweet, as is the sea-time lullaby Little Motel. 

The rock tracks work well, in particular Invisible, but more often than not - "We Were Dead" suffers from a bad case of 'The Averages'. Spitting Venom, clocks in at a whopping 8 minutes, and while it has it's moments - it's hardly going down in history as one of the better long songs (if your after a good one, be sure to check out the 7 minute opening track on the latest Kings of Leon album).

A lot has been made of the inclusion of Rock legend Johnny Marr to the lineup (any Oasis fans will be well aware of the enormous Hard-On the Gallagher brothers have for the guy), along with the fact that Indie-Band-Of-The-Moment (The Shins) lead singer, James Mercer, sings backup vocals on the tracks We've Got Everything, Missed The Boat, and Florida. But for mine - it's just a bit of extra bells and whistles.

Look, for all I know, in another four months time, I won't be able to stop listening to this. But it seems that history is repeating itself - and I will be listening to "We Were Dead" in two weeks block, always resulting in feeling slightly unfulfilled.

RATING: 3 out of 5